HIGH COMMISSIONER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2675, 21 June 1905, Page 37

HIGH COMMISSIONER.

New Zealand occupies, for a country of its size and population, a unique position — unique from the fact that its destiny as a young nation is entirely self-contained; unique inasmuch as it is the most distant from the centre of tho British Empire of the Empire's possessions ; unique in its similarity to the three portions of tile Old Land known as Great Britain and Ireland (though there is in this respect a similarity to Japan) ; unique because its productive powers, for its population, are tmrivalled ; and unique because in legislative enactments upon advanced questions it has pieoeded any other country. — (Applause.) It is, therefore, but right that a country which ha 3 a right to be considered in many respects great should have iti representative at the seat of ISmpiro placed upon 0, status and given a standing not inferior to the representative of our Canadian sister and our eigler the Australian Commonwealth, which has power to appoint a IJigh Commissioner. Parliament therefore decided that the position of Agent-gcn-eial should be superseded by on© of High Commissioner; and I feol sure that I am echoing tho sentiments of all who know Mr Re-eves, who has so worthily upheld the colony's position, in congratulating him upon receiving tho first appointment to | this important office.— (Applause.) That he w.UI ducliarso the duties )viik credit A«

himself, and that a reflex of that credit will fall upon the colony, I am pei-fectly sure ; and I join with my constituents and the people of the colony in expressing warm congratulations to Mr Reeves upon obtaining such an honourable position, and expressing the hope that he may have many years of usefulness to his country before him. — (Applause.)