THE HIGH COMMISSIONERSHIP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14700, 7 December 1909, Page 7

THE HIGH COMMISSIONERSHIP

'liif, public will scarcely bo surprised if the rumour to which our parliamentary correspondent gives currency this morning that Mr Hall-Jones proposes to resign the oftico of High Commissioner in order to 'return to Xeiv Zealand should prove to be well founded. The one circumstance which caused any doubt- in the minds of residents in the Dominion as to the wisdom of the appointment of Mr Hall-Jones us successor to Mr W. P. Beeves was due to the apprehension that was felt that- his health was not sufficiently robust to admit of his giving the necessary attention to the performance of the duties of his office. Unfortunately the •state of the health of the High Commissioner has lately been such as, we fear, to render it expedient that, for his own sake and that of his family, he should consider the advisability of, for a time at all events, relinquishing active work. It is greatly to be regretted that it should be so, but it eamiot be desired by anyone that Mr Hall-Jones should remain at his post in London if he should, as a conse'Hie'.lco, run the risk of 'shortening his We. The name of Mr Thomas Mackenzie is mentioned as that of tho probable successor of the High Commissioner if it. should become necessary in the near future for the Government to nisko a fresh appointment of a representative of the Dominion in London, and it- is recommended by the fact that tho Minister of Agriculture possesses t,

commercial experienco that would ordinarily bo a valuable asset in a High Commissioner. On the other band, it lias to lie borne in mind that among the recent changes which the Government instituted in the London office was the appointment of a Trade Commissioner in the person of Mr T. K. Donne, who went Home to perform the duties of that position, and if this official is really to justify the action of the Ministry in creating tho new post and in selecting him as its occupant the argument that the next High Commissioner should bfc a, man with a- commercial experienco and with a knowledge of , trade concerns necessarily loses weight.