THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 1911. THE HIGH COMMISSIONERSHIP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15100, 24 March 1911, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 1911. THE HIGH COMMISSIONERSHIP

Since the period for which Sir William Hall-Jones was appointed High Commissioner for the Dominion is drawing to a close, speculation is naturally being aroused respecting tho intentions of the Government on tho subject of the choice of an occupant of his office for the ensuing term. That Sir William ITall-Jonos has iio desire for reappointment may probably, bo taken for granted. Tho state of liis lioaJth lijis beau moro or less unsatisfactory during the greater part of his term of office, and ho will almost cer-

tainly bs pleased to be relieved from the

performance of duties to which he has unfortunately been, prevented at times from giving the close personal attention he "would doubtless 'have wished to devote to them. The fact that Sdr Joseph Ward will himself be in England on the dateon which Sir William Hall-Jones's term of offioß will expire—the 14th June has, in conjunction with other circumstances, created the belief in certain quarters that the Prime Minister may 'himself be the nex,t High Commissioner for New Zealand. Sir Joseph Ward took occasion, however, from his seat in Parliament, : last session to declare categorically that there was no foundation for the suggestion that he contemplated the acceptance of the High Commissionership, and the definite assurance he gave on the point should be generally regarded as disposing absolutely of any rumour that couples his name with that of the succession to Sir William Hall-Jon«e. But if the present High Commissioner is to be 'relieved upon the. expiry of the term for which lie wae appointed, the matter of the arrangements for the future should already have received the attention of the. Government. If no decision wdtili' regard to the appointment of a snecessor to Sir William Hall-Jones is to bo announced until after the arrival of the Prime Minister and the Attorney-general in England, then, on the reasonable assumption that the next High Commissioner will be a, resident of New Zealand, it will clearly be necessary that some temporary provision, shall be made for the performance of the duties of the office until Iho appointee to the position • can roach London. The High Commissionership is becoming a position of such honour and distinction., especially in view of the status which, tho colonial representatives are henceforth to enjoy at Court, that the appointment to it is not one to be lightly made. The occupant of the office should be a man of affaire in a liberal acceptation of that expression. He should possess business experience and have at least a fair knowledge of finance and of financial methods. Ho should be capable of speaking interestingly and intelligently on behalf of the Dominion at the functions at ■which, as its representative, he may have a prominent place assigned to him. The value of effective after-dinner oratory is not to be underrated. ' While Mr Reeves occupied the position of Higli CommifmoneT his cleverness as a speaker secured for New Zealand a considerable measure of recognition at Home that it would not otherwise have received. ' And his oratorical abilities have rendered Sir George Reid an important asset in England of the Australian Commonwealth, of which ■ho is. the High Commissioner. Wo may not get either a Keevea or a Reid to represent New Zealand, but we should not be pitching our expectations too high l in looking for the appointment of a High Commissioner who should combine with business aptitude certain literary and oratorical graces. the High Commissioner should be. a man of alertness, judgment, and tact, a man who, while approachable, shall yet maintam the dignity of his office and be on his guard to prevent any "cheapening" of it. It may be added that an impression has become prevalent that the High Commissioner's establishment in London is overgrown. If so, the appointment of a man of business training to succeed' Sir William Hall-Jones may possibly lead to a reorganisation of the- staff. A return which has been prepared at the instance of Mi Massey shows that there are thirty-sis persons, from the High Commissioner downwards, employed by tbo Dominion in its office in London, at a total cost of £9357. The amount of the salary lisj, has been increased by about £2300 in two yearn— an amount that will to some extent be recouped by the operation of the arrange, ment under which the services of the favourably-situated "E. A. Smith" were dispensed with. The whole cost of the office does not appear, however; under the vote for the High Commissioner's Office in the appropriations that are passed by Parliament. Tho total amount of this vote last year was £6310, covering the salaries of thirty-one officera. The High Commissioner himself, who receives £2000 per annum, is paid by virtue of a special .Act of Parliament; the salaries of two clerks in the accountant's branch are eaid to be charged to the Loane Conversion account, where we find no record of any payment to them; the salaries of two other officers, who are described as attendants 4 exhibitions, are said to be charged to the Department of Agriculture (tourist' branch) vote, where there is no apparent trace of any appropriation for the purpose; the salary of the audit officer in London is charged to the" Audit vote; and a payment to Major-general E. H. Steward of £180 as military adviser and inspector is said to be charged to the Defence vote, where, although the .amounts do not agree, it k probably identifiable under a voto of £275, as the proportion of the salary of an Imperial Officer in London as inspector of warlike stores. The distribution over different departments of some of the charges in connection with the maintenance of the office in London may no doubt b3 justified, but it is obvious that, .is long as there is nothing in the vote for the High Commissioner's Office to show that there are members of tho staff whese salaries are provided for elsewhere in the Estimates, the effect is to mislead Parliament and the public. '