HIGH COMMISSIONER

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11433, 1 February 1923, Page 3

HIGH COMMISSIONER

RECENT ATTACKS. A SPIRITED DEFENCE. Referring to certain personal attacks made on the High Commissioner (Sir James Allen) in the last session of Parliament, Air S. Hurst Seager, the weil-known. Christchurch architect, who has been engaged for some time in designing and carrying out the New Zealand AYar Memorials at Longueval, Lo Quesnoy, and Gallipoli, writes to a friend in Wellington as follows: — ‘T was astonished to see in the Parliamentary reports the expressions of opinion in respect to the High Commissioner's office, and to his living in tho ‘Jap of luxury.’ I was astounded because it was absolutely contrary to fact. .1 have had, as you realise, three years closo association with the office, and am impressed more and more wirli tho enormous amount of work undertaken, and tlie very strenuous work which all tho officers do. People do not realise the work which comes to the office. There is no one in any part of Now Zealand who does not think lie is perfectly justified in writing to tho High Commissioner to undertake some duty for him. I havo just lately lioen asked by tho High Commissioner to examine, for instance, the casting of a sflituo for Mnsterton, and on tile file,in reference to this work there are at least a dozen iettera to which my own report was added, and then in addition tlicro are all the arrangements to be mado for the receiving and transport. I am sure there is no harder worked man than Sir James; how lie manages to get through the amount of work is astonishing. Instead of living as one of the members-said ‘in Oriental splendour,’ he is working without ceasing in tho interest of New 1 Zealand, and. as I know from experience, is most particularly careful in carrying out all work in tho most economical manner. Tlicro is no expenditure, for instance, in coinfection with the memorials, which does not bear the closest scrutiny, and any saving that, can be effected without materially lessening tho value of tho work is made Fir instance. I felt that it was only by having models of our memorials to ex liibit in New Zealand that tho peop’o in New Zealand would fully realise what had been done, but knowing tho attitude of Sir Jamee I felt that the request to have them mado at the expense of the Government would certainly be refused. I, .therefore, had them mado at my own expen.se, and have bee-n busy in tho last few days seeing them packed up.”