THE AGENT-GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1893, 2 March 1888, Page 10

THE AGENT-GENERAL.

It may be presumed that the news which out Wellington correspondent transmitted to us about the Agent-generalship *** given to him by Ministers as what # vulgarly a-dled a « feeler." If so, the reply will laconcially be "Don't." Sir F. D. B e) J; has been t\n excellent Agent-general, bus eight years is long enough for the best ol

Agents-general to hold the post. New South Wales and South Australia, it is true, adopt the policy of making the Agent-general a permanent official; but without going to the length of Canada and Queensland, whose representative dhanges with every change o f Cabinet, there are Bound reasons for limiting the term of office, as in Victoria, to three years, with power of renewal for a second term in exceptional cases such as that of Sir F. D. Bell. The office of Agentgeneral is every year becoming more and piore a political one, to the efficient discharge o f which it is essential that its occupant should be thoroughly in touch with the Colony he represents. This is hardly possible to a man who has been eight years absent, though he keep himself ever so well informed by frequent communication. But it is idle to argue the question, for Sir F. D. Bell was with difficulty prevailed upon in 1886 to accept another term of office, and there is o-ood reason for believing that he would not accept a further renewal . Then as to the salary, the reduction hinted at, whether to £1000 or £800 a year, would be very false economy. As it is, the smallness of his salary (£1250) has prevented Sir F. D. Bell from discharging any social functions in connection with his office such as are usual with the other Agents-general ; and whilst it would be most undesirable for the Agentgeneral to become a hanger-on to the silly skirts of fashion and the money of the taxpayer to be spent in entertainments, there is, us Aristotle pointed out long ago, a fitting mean in these matters which appertains to dignity and is not without political uses. To reduce the salary now given to the Agent-general would mean that the appointment could only be held by a rich man It stands to reason that when Victoria gives her Agent-general £3000, New South Wales £2500, South Australia and Queensland £2000 each, and Tasmania £1250, it is not fitting that New Zealand should advertise herself in the centre of civilisation and the place where it is most important for us to maintain our credit as only being able to afford its representative £800 to £1000. Such retrenchment would indeed be penny wisdom and pound folly.