HIGH COMMMISSIONER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21597, 15 September 1933, Page 3

HIGH COMMMISSIONER

ADDRESS BY SIR J. PARR BUSY DAYS IN ENGLAND "Reminiscences of a High Commissioner" was the subject of the luncheon talk given by Sir James Parr to members of the Lyceum Club yesterday. The president, Mrs W. H. Parkes, presided. Before commencing his talk Sir James congratulated the club and the women of New Zealand generally upon the fact that a woman at last had been elected to Parliament.

In speaking of the work of- a High Commissioner for New Zealand, Sir James said that such an office was one of the greatest gifts that lay in the hands of the Government. It was certainly not more important than the post of Prime Minister, but in its manifold duties and interests, carried out in the heart of the Empire, it was comparable to no other office. In the course of the work were to be met the most famous and the greatest men and women in the fields of art, of science, of, drama, of literature and of statesmanship that the Empire, or even the world, possessed, and the office carried with ifc entry to everything of importance that was taking place. ■ The work had been divided by the speaker into throe divisions —administrative, diplomatic and social, and commercial. On the administrative side the work was very heavy. "There were 135 people there when T arrived in London," said Siri James, "and I reduced them to 97. The heads of departments were practically all ' New Zealanders, but only about 8 per cent "of the junior clerks and typists came from the' Dominion, for the reason that it was too expensive to bring them to England. The diplomatic side entailed attendance at the League of Nations meetings at Geneva. The social side covered many interesting functions, including those at which they were the quests of Royalty or else were entertaining Royalty. In this connection Sir James spoke of the simplicity, charm and naturalness of the Royal Family and of the love and esteem in which they were held. , ■ On its commercial side the office of High . Commissioner entailed the development of markets for the sale of New Zealand produce and the raising of loans, in which ho was the intermediary.