SIR THOMAS MACKENZIE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18051, 27 September 1920, Page 5

SIR THOMAS MACKENZIE

INVITATION TO NEW YORK.

TWO MTT.T.TON CARCASES OF LAMB WANTED.

TOUR IN THE NORTH.

(FnoM Oob Own Corbespondent.) . LONDON,' July 27. A number of influential American business men are endeavouring- to secure a portion of the New Zealand produce in order to supply the people of New York and the outlying districts with foodstuffs with tuo least possible intermediary cost. They have communicated with Sir 'Thomas Mackenzie, and have informed him that they are out against the Meat Trust and all its ways, and they have already succeeded in defeating it from time to time. They regret that so much New Zealand meat is going into the hands of meat trusts, and they state that they are in a position to disposo of 2,000,000 carcases of lamb and a certain quantity of mutton at prices above tho rate paid by the British Government in the contract now current. These gentlemen, Sir Thomas tells me have urged him to return to New Zealand by way of New York, when they state they will be ablo to demonstrate much more luily the line of action they are taking and the prospects for an increase of trade. ' I cabled to the New Zealand Government about the matter," said Sir Thomas but have not yet received a reply. I am afraid that the work of the session is proventing the Government from considering the question. Time is pressing, however °? ii i 1 am , tc \S° that wav a decision should be reached at once. In the meantime I am fillins up the interval until the itemuera sails with other engagements If the dominion Government sanctioned it I could leave England earlier than I at present intend to, visit New York, attend the Conference of Chambers of Commerce at loronto, and jom the Remuera at Newport JNews. Sir Thomas concluded by repeating his conviction that the time has arrived for the appointment of a thoroughly practical trade representative in .America, to attend to New Zealand commercial and producing interests VISIT TO THE NORTH. When his term of office expires Sir Thomas Mackenzie hopes to be able to W, a wl fc \ he highlands, for his exertions of the last few weeks have left him very much in need of one. He is, however, first paying a visit to Liverpool, Maachester Glasgow, and other towns, where some of the leading manufacturers-and merchants are taking him in hand' and showing him the prospects of trade in their various centres and the possibilities of opening up New Zealand trade with new ports At Manchester ho will be ,the guest of the chairman of the Manchester Ship CanaL and at the invitation of the rnaaaJn*- director of the Sunlight Soap Works ho will Say a visit to Port Sunlight. y FORESTS OF SCOTLAND. As an associate member of the Imperial Forestry Conference, the High Commissioner hoped to tako part in the tour of inspection of various forests of England and Scotland, but owing to pressure of work he had to give up tho idea. Lord Lovat, however, who was chairman of tlie conference, has invited Sir Thomas to stay with -mm m Scotland, and has promised to motor ham to see a number of the more important Scottish forests Sir Thomas Mackenzie is availing himself of this_ land invitation, especially as he is anxious to learn as much as possible about forestry before returning to New Zealand ine High Commissioner is to be entertained at a farewell banquet this week by a, number of prominent Highlanders in London. POSTAGE RATES. AND TRADE. The Times considers as of gTeat importance the point raised by Sir Thomas Mackenzie at the farewell luncheon given in his honour by the Royal Colonial Institute with regard to postal rates to oversea countries. The High Commissioner mentioned that if ono desired to send a newspaper to New Zealand from this country it was necessary either to cut out tho advertisement portion, whan the paper would ro for Id, or olso pay 2£d for the paper intact. He added that unless something were done in that respect, wo should find tho Americans flooding New Zealand with their literature. "This is a state of affairs," says the Times, "which urgently requires altering, and we hope that the attention cf the Go--ermne.nte concerned will be directed to the necessity for a revision of all postal rates of this character. The interests of British trad/? are vitally' concerned." THE HIGH COMMISSIONER EXPLAINS. Replying to a New Zealand correspondent in the Spectator, Sir Thomas Mackenzie (as representative of New Zealand on the Imperial War Graven Commission) explains, relative to the number of namo letters on a war gravo headstone: "I understand, as a result of my inquiries, lhat your correspondent's statement in reference to the full Christian and surnames, that only 18 letters, including word spaces! ere allowed, is correct in so far as it refers to one line, but in making thia limitation the commission lays down no hard-and-fast rule, only intending that ic should serve as a guide to the capacity of the stone as regards length of personal ir>ecriptians. I am advised that in thia particular instance a full-size lay-out drawing has boon snnt to the n=xt-of-Mn in oTder to show that tho commission has met her wishes in every way, for, in addition to tho regimental badge, there arc given the rank of deceased, .the full name, containing 28 letters, exclusive of word spaces, the unit, and a. ah'rt personal inscription. It is true that Ihc names are distributed over two lines. I have been assured that everv special request <:i tho next-of-kin is most carefnllv considered, ord t 1 it is nevcv rejected unless it is absolutely impossible to comply with tho wishes expressed. I am also assured that nny modifiention is made onlv under a.irreement with tho next-of-kin. I believe it has alwny been the object of the commission to endeavour to meet tho wislvs of relatives in even- wav. mid tH.it so far any dimcultios which have arisen have been overcome.."