SIR T. MACKENZIE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10848, 14 March 1921, Page 5

SIR T. MACKENZIE

TB BE GALLEIi TO COUNCIL

EX-HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR UPPER HOUSE. INTERESTING CAREER. It is expected that Sir T. Mackenzie (ex-High Commissioner, London) will be called to tho Legislative Council during the present short session. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, long known as “Clutha Mackenzie/' was in Kkiinburgh in 1854. Coming to New Zealand with his parents in the early d tys, he was educated at Otago public schools and aUo received private tuition, He represented Clutha in Parliament from 1837 to 1896; Waihemo, from 1900 to 1902; and Waikouaitt from 1902 to 1912. Sir Thomas followed commerce, land surveying, /Uid bush farming. In 1838 he represented New Zealand at the centennial celebrations in Sydney, New South Wales; in 1889 he was New Zealand Trade Commissioner to Great Britain; in 1594 a member of the Koya! Commission on the Tariff; in 1896419 he r£*presented various New Zealand agencies in London; and in 1897 was appointed a Governor of the Royal Imperial Institute. in 1901 he was & member of the Royal Commission on Education, and in 1903 chairman of the Parliamentary Commerce Committee. In addition to his Parliamentary duties, Sir Thomas Mackenzie has also done a great deal of public work in connection with the local life of being for years a member of and holding the highest positions in connection with the Baldutha Borough Council, the Otago Education Board, the Otago High School Board, and the Otago Hospital Board. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and also of the Colonial Institute. For three months, as head of the short-lived Mackenzie Government of 1912, he was Prime Minister of New Zealand. Apr ousted High Commissioner, London, v the incoming Reform Government, Sir Thomas Mackenzie held that post from 1912 tilt the end of last year when he returned to New Zealand, being succeeded by tho present High Commissioner. Sir James Allen. During the war Sir Tnomas Mackenzie rendered considerable B ® r ” vice to the Dominion, not only m befriending and safeguarding the interests of our soldiers, whether m camp, in the field, or in hospital, hut in looking after the interests of the country generallv and seeing to it, g» far aa he could, that New Zealand s primary products, were disposed of to advantage. In Parliament no will find himself amongst many old friends m both of the old parties. _