SIR HARRY BATTERBEE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23704, 11 January 1939, Page 17

SIR HARRY BATTERBEE

ENTERTAINED IN LONDON IMPORTANT NEW POST A FRIEND AND WORKER (From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON. Dec. 15. Sir Harry Batterbee, who expects to arrive in New Zealand, with Lady Eatterbee, on March 9 by the Rangitata, to take over the new post of High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in the Dominion, was entertained by the Royal Empire Society and the Victoria League this week. He was referred to by Mr W. J. Jordan, New Zealand’s High Commissioner, as a friend of the Dominion, and by Mr Malcolm MacDonald, Dominions Secretary, as “ an Indefatigable worker," with dogged perseverance and possessing very rare tact. , , , Sir Harry, Mr Jordan recalled, hod already visited New Zealand twice, so that it was not a name to him. but a place and a people. He felt sure that Sir Harry would receive kindness equal to that which he himself had received and appreciated in Britain. “On behalf of the Government and the people of New Zealand. I congratulate Sir Harry, and Lady Batterbee. on the appointment, and I express the satisfaction and the pleasure of our people thot he has been chosen as the first High Commissioner to represent Britain in New Zealand ” Mr Jordan said. . . o Mr MacDonald said that although Sir Harry might play an outrageously bad game of tennis, that would not mar his

success as High Commissioner, because he possessed great personal charm, great tact and complete understanding of his .lob. In New Zealand he would be undertaking very important work, but he was a “ carefully selected bottte of champagne of excellent vintage," and he would launch the new office on a long and happy voyage. “ I have not the slightest doubt about his being a succtfcs." Mr Map Donald added. Sir Harry’s '‘Faults’* Above all, he had great knowledge and understanding, knowledge of what the Empire was to-day, and understanding of the point of view of the dominions. Of course, he had his faults. He was very rash in the way . he spent his money. If he saw a really fine mezzotint he made no effort whatever to resist the temptation of buying it. Perhaps in New Zealand he would collect tikis or Maori war canoes, or swordfish or giant tunney. It was certain, however, that both he and Lady Batterbee would collect new friends. “ I confess that I for one, feel a true affection for both sides of that extraordinary devoted partnership of theirs " said Mr MacDonald. Sir Harry Batterbee said that he rejoiced that he and Lady Batterbee were going to a country which would remind them constantly of Home. The charm of New Zealand lay in its similarity to many parts of England and its unique and marvellous variety of scenery. He had read recently that in New Zealand the forget-me-not grew a much larger flower than was known in any other country. He could quite understand that, for no one could ever forget New Zealand once they had seen it, and everyone who had seen it wanted to return to see it again Duties Explained Explaining what his duties as High Commissioner would be, Sir Harry said that, although the post v;as a new one in relation to the Dominion, it was not new in relation to other parts of the Empire There had been United Kingdom High Commissioners in Canada, South Africa and Australia, and Dominion High Commissioners in London for many years past Hitherto, in New Zealand, the Gov-ernor-General had been the representative both of the King and the British Government, but it had now been decided to make a change and to introduce the same system into New Zealand as had alreadv been adopted In the other dominions Henceforward the Governor-General would represent the King only, and he would play the same part in the affairs of New Zealand that the King played in Britain. The United Kingdom Government would be represented by the

I High Commissioner, who would be a “kind of ambassador." Representative of Government Actually, the position would be very different from that of an ambassadiDr. In the first place, as High Commissioner he would be the representative, not of the King, but of the Government, and, secondly, he would be the representative not ol a foriegn country but of another British country within the British Empire It followed that his relations with the Government would be close, friendly and intimate in a way in which the relations of an ambassador in a foreign country could never be. . , In the case of two foreign countries the fear of war. national animosities and historical jealousies were ever lurking in the background, and it was often the duty of an ambassador to hinder or frustrate the policy of the country to which he was sent, dui in the case of two nations of the mitish Commonwealth all things were ruled out. and the Highi Commissioner went as a friend with the sole purpose of assisting and cooperating with the Government of the country he represented. Sir Harry said that his work in the Dominions Office hitherto had been political, but his experience of these Imperial Conferences and general work had shown to him the great im- , portance of personal contact and personal discussion. Telegrams and despatches could never take the place of personal discussion, nor convey the friendly smile and the twinkle of humour with which some unpalatable truth might be accompanied. Importance of Personal Contact The increase in the invention of new methods of communication had rendered very great service in bringing about the'process of information ana consultation, which was the very life blood of the work of the British Commonwealth. and without which it could not continue for one day. But even the great speed of communication could not take the place of personal contact, nor did the wonderful inventions of science, wireless, telephone and mail-bearing aeroplanes make the need for ambassadors and for High Commissioners less. On the contrary the perplexities of die international and inter-imperial relations—which had been brought about by the increasing speed of the tempo of modern life—had rendered the appointment of ambassadors and High Commissioners more necessary than ever. “It has been exemplified, in my opinion, by my appointment to New Zealand,” Sir Harry continued. "‘This lias not been made because the relations between New Zealand and this country have grown more difficult, but because the range of those relations, whether in the sphere of international

affairs, defence, commerce, or trade, have been so increased that the need has been felt of a new channel of communication and consultation. Encouragement of Knowledge “Apart from my duties as a channel of communication, my duties will also be those of an ambassador in the more general sense of a go-between, of a focus to contacts of all kinds. It will be my duty to encourage by every means I can the ways by which the countries of the Empire can get to know one another better. This can be done in many ways by the interchange of visits of people engaged in some form of activity, whether they be Ministers or parliamentarians, or pressmen, or doctors, or artists, or schoolboys; and by intellectual and cultural and industrial contacts.” In this way the people of the Empire could get to appreciate one another’s points of view and realise one another’s difficulties and aspirations. In a word, it would help to develop that spirit of unity, that sense of family feeling symbolised by common loyalty to the King. “We shall do our best to make our house in New Zealand a little piece of England, a meeting place where, we hope, we shall have the opportunity of entertaining many visitors from Home, and where they will have a chance of meeting their kith and kin from New Zealand; where exchanges of views will take place, friendships formed and contacts of all kinds developed. I shall fry to be doing in the political sphere' duties which are performed ,in the social sphere by the Victoria League." Sir Harry paid a tribute to the work done by the league in New Zealand. He also said that he hoped that he and Lady Baitterbee would meet many visitors to the Dominion, especially during the Centenary celebrations.