ARRIVAL POSTPONED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23191, 10 November 1938, Page 13

ARRIVAL POSTPONED

BRITISH COMMISSIONER JAPPOINTMENT OF SECRETARY i MR. G. E. BOYD SHANNON [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION! "WELLINGTON, Wednesday Because of unforeseen circumstances [the departure of Sir Harry Batterbee j:from England to take up the position of [British High Commissioner in New Zealand has been postponed until early in 'the coming year. Advice to this effect has been received from the Imperial authorities by the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage. Sir Harry, whose appointment [■was announced in July, is assistant Under-Secretary at the Dominions (Office, a position he has filled since 11930.

In an interview this evening, Mr. Savage said that the original arrangement was for Sir Harry, to leave England in sufficient time to take up his appointment- in New Zealand next month However, he had now been advised that Sir Harry intended to leave London by the Rangitiki, which was expected to sail on January 5, and to arrive in the Dominion on February 9. Sir. Savage' said he had also been informed that Mr. G. E. Boyd Shannon, of tho Dominions Office, had been appointed official secretary to Sir Harry, arid that he was expected to arrivo in New Zealand about the end of January. Mr. Boyd Shannon accompanied the Marquess of Hartington, now Duke of Devonshire, to New_ Zealand in 19-36, When the marquess visited the country as Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State for Dominion Affairs.