DUNEDIN ROTARY CLUB

Otago Witness, Issue 3610, 22 May 1923, Page 41

DUNEDIN ROTARY CLUB

Mr IT. C. Cameron late Produce Commissioner for the New Zealand Government in Loaflcp, addressed the members of the Dunedin Rotary Club at the weekly luncheon on Thursday in the Savoy Lounge. His subject was “The Work of the High Commissioner’s Office.” He commenced his work ns Produce Commissioner in London in 1897 under the Hon. W. P. Reeves, when Victoria street had a .staff of 13 members. When Mr Reeves retired in 1909 the number employed in the office had doubled. The yvork expanded and the staff increased until the latter stood at over 100 during the war period yvhen the High Commissioner’s Office was called upon to bear its share in vast yvork connected with our soldiers. Mr Cameron referred to the criticism levelled against the office to the effect that the employees yvere London clerks. He wished to correct that impression. A large percentage of the staff and most of the heads yvere New Zealanders. He felt sure that those yvho hail visited the High Commissioner s Office would bear him out when he said that the treatment accorded visitors from overseas yvas marked by courtesy and civility and that everything possible was done to assist New Zealanders.— (Applause.) Referring to erroneous statements which sometimes appeared in the press he really could not say yvhy they should be made. Perhaps those who wrote them were “Agin the Government.” Speaking of our products he gave the palm to butter—there was no better in the yvorld. the prices, however, were dependent on the market arrangements, and in this New Zealand yvas behind Denmark. Regarding meat he urged that greater ab tent ion must be paid to the improvement of stock, and in this connection he was anxious to meet members of Farmers’ Unions, Stock Breeders’ Associations, etc. He was also desirous of disc rssirg irrigation problems with those people \y ith a view to influencing the right kind of immigrant for work in country districts. Mr Cameron dealt, interestingly with what was being done by (he High Commissioner’s Office through exhibitions of New Zealand products and resources He was very anxious for the Government to arrange for exhibits at the various agricultural shews held throughout Great Britain. The shipping problem was briefly referred to the speaker remarking that so long as an intermittant steamer service to the West Coast of England yvas in vogue we could not expect merchants there to handle our products. He pointed out, hoyvever, that if yvo could take ady r antage of the regular steam ship lines now running to Southampton our goods could be distributed quickly to some of the great centres in the West of England, and in the Midlands. He con sidered Southampton the gateway of Great Britain.—(Applause.) A cordial vote of thanks yvas accorded to Mr Cameron for his extremely informative address.