HIGH COMMISSIONER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8188, 1 August 1912, Page 1

HIGH COMMISSIONER.

HON. T. MACKENZIE APPOINTED. THREE YEARS ENGAGEMENT. IS THE SALARY SUFFICIENT? In tlio House of llepi'CE'uitaiives yesterday afternoon tlio Friino Minister (Hon. \V. F. Masse}-) announced that tlio leader of the Opposition (the Hon. T. Mackenzie; bad been offered and had «c----'-.epted the position of High Commissioner. Mr Mackenzie, he said, had had a. wide commercial experience both in Now Zealand and at Home, and .ho baa had a long and honourable political cajeer in the Hominion. He lelt sure that a, gentleman of Mr Mackenzie's ability and experience would do credit to himself and to New Zealand ns a whole. Ho intended within the next lew days ■-O ask his Excellency Iho Governor to tnalco the appointment. The Government had made arrangements for Mr I’a Hirer to carry on the duties ot tho position until Mr Mackenzie arrived- Mr i’ulli.-er had given satisfaction to tlio Government, and. ho had no doubt he would continue to do so until tho new High Commissioner arrived in London. Tho appointment would bo for three years. . Sir Joseph Ward tendered his congratulations to tho Hon. T. Mackenzie. ;!(<■» wjks 6iiro tho now occupant would -arry out the high and important duties attached, to that office witii credit to himself and the Dominion. He also paid i tribute to Mr I’alliser. They all wished Mr Mackenzie every success. Mr G. W. Russell congratulated the «.x-Primo Minister, who. ho said, was a man. of untiring energy, intrepid courage, and considerable ability. THE LONDON OFFICE. Mr T. M. Wilford, in congratulating Mr Mackenzie, .said tho good work of yir William Ha 11-Jones should not be forgotten. “In my opinion,” ho said, ' tho present position of tho High Commissioner's oliico in London is a disgrace. It. is in a street where no one 'would ever know there was such an ■office there. When you compare tho position taken by New Zealand with that of any other country you wiH find wo aro doing nothing to Jet the people know 1 hero is such a place. Sir George Reid is a man In a. million. lie lias social attributes which make him an, invited guest- to every function, right from tho highest and most important in the land clown to a mere stage display or a football match.” Mr Mackenzie would fill the bill; ho understood our trade requirements. There was a social side, too. The salary paid to the High Commissioner was inadequate; if a man accepted all the invitations of various representative institnHona h<> was put to great expense. If New Zealand could not get a share in tho Commonwealth {strand side, we should make exhibits ot our products iu Loudon. At_ present, nothing like that was done. Wo wanted some representation in America, too. 'People with whom ho had travelled had sought information about New Zealand, in Now York, and could not obtain it. They ought to .give the High Commissioner opportunities for playing the part for which ho. was-fitted. Tho Hon. Mr Buddo knew of no <?ne who was better fitted for tho position than Mr Mackenzie. A farmer’s man was wanted in the office; and in this respect' tho new appointee was eminently qualified, 110 would bd side by side with many eminent men in Loudon, and the speaker was sure Air Mackenzie would not suffer by comparison. He agreed t hat bettor accommodation was desirable lu London though those returning from Homo had no fault, to find with the treatment they . received ■at the High Commissioner's office. , IN REPLY, Hon. T. Mackenzie in. acknowledgment Raid he was deeply conscious of tho very high honor conferred on him by the »iovernonent. Ho felt it all the more Inasmuch as tho. matter had_ been promoted in the best interests of tlio come try. . He thanked those who had spoken in" regard to his qualifications for the position. Tho work before him. he realised, was very arduous and responsible. The history of our products ami finance proved that the very ablest work was required. "1 shall endeavour,” he void, “to do my best. 1 feel that one of tho meet important matters is greater access for trade with European countries.” Ho was hopeful of giving tome ideas in that respect ia consultation with the Prime Minister. Ho would endeavour to the best of his ability to uphold tho honor ami reputation of nur country in the Old Land.- lie was pleased to hear tho remarks in. regard to Mr Palliscr, a man he had known for many years. He deserved every, word said of him. Mi--Mackenzie said he had lieen encouraged by letters? ho had received from all parts of New Zealand, and by many press • notices. Ho had not by any acts, directly or indirectly, encouraged these notices. The last, fow weeks had been an anxious time of uncertainty for all concerned. He would use his best efforts to - justify tho Government’s selection. (Applause.) LEGISLATIVE COHN OIL. In the Legislative Council the Hon. H. D. 801 l announced tho appointment. Tho .Hons. J. E. .Tenkinson. K. A. Loughnan, and AV. C. I’. Game roes tendered their congratulation-. Air .Tenkinson said the country was to be congratulated on the able manner in which late High Commissioner carried out his duties.

A PERTINENT QUESTION. Hr Myers gave notice to ask the Government if it will procure n block or land in the Strand, London. on which to erect offices for the High Commie-n'om-r.

SOME PERSONAL NOTES. The Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, F.R.G.S., In ISS9 was appointed a Commissioner bv the Now Zealand Government to proceed to England to inquire into the prodt.ee trade. Previous to that appointment he represented the New Zealand Government at the Sydney centennial celebrations. In 1896 Mr Mackenzie again visited England in order to get a grasp of cur produce. trade there, and remained for three years, representing soverrl •colonial mercantile firms in the wool, meat, and grain business, and during that time he exposed and stopped many i muds in connection with the New Zealand meat trade, for which he received the thanks of the London merchants, and some handsome presentations of plate. Mr Mackenzie has at all times shown himsejf deeply iuteje-ted in the welfare of the farming comm unity. In connection with frozen meal ami wool ho euc•■cvsfully forecasted the future at a tiniej when grave doubts weie expressed regarding the farmer-' prospects. In 19f13,l

when the Homo Produce Commissioner urged the opening of meat shops for the sale of New Zealand mutton, and declared that unless something was done the price of meat would inevitably fall, a Parliamentary investigation was made, presided over by -ur Mackenzie. Its finding was entirely contrary to that held by tho London office. This report was commented on by leading papers abroad. Tho “Pastoralists Review" in Australia declared it to bo “The best report yet written on tho meat question, for which the colony had to thank Mr Mackenzie, who," it added, ‘‘knew the trade thoroughly, and was a good, practical man, but they differed from him and his committee as to the favorable prospects of the trade in the future." Yet results entirely boro out the favorable forecasts given by Mr Mackenzie. Again, in May, 1903. in connoctioa with tho wool prospects. when most of those dealing in this important product were of opinion that prices would still further recede, Mr Mackenzie wont tlicnoughly . into the whole question, and declared the future to bo one full of hope, anticipations ivhich were subsequently fully borne out. Mr Mackenzie was elected Prime Minister bv a caucus of Liberal.members in March hist, and defeated on a no-con-fidence motion on Parliament assembling last mouth.