IDENTITY OF INTERESTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19885, 11 March 1939, Page 5

IDENTITY OF INTERESTS

BRITAIN AND DOMINION VIEW OF COMMISSIONER BUSY FIRST DAY (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day "The relations between Great Britain and New Zealand are so close and the two peoples have such identity of interests that I am sure my task* will be easy," .said Sir Harry Batterbee, the first High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in New Zealand, in an interview after his arrival from London by the Rangitata yesterday. Sir Harry .spent a busy day in Auckland and was called upon to address three welcome gatherings. He left by the Limited Express last night for' Wellington and will take the first opportunity of calling upon the Governor-General, Viscount Galway and members of the Cabinet. A luncheon is to be given in his honour by the Government on Tuesday.

Tall and with iron-grey hair, Sir Harry has the pleasant gift of putting people at their ease. His two earlier visits to New Zealand evidently make him feel already at ease with New Zealanders and there is a ring of conviction in his voice when he .says that he expects his stay to be really enjoyable, as well as useful. Personal Contact Speaking of his duties as High Commissioner, Sir Harry emphasised that his presence in the Dominion would not alter, but merely supplement the existing system of communication between the two Governments. The written word, he said, gained much if the personal touch could be imparted to it. His duty would be to interpret the views of each Government to the other and where necessary to explain and provide a background for any particular communication.

* "Experience in Canada, Australia and Squth Africa shows that a post of this kind can be of the greatest value," Sir Harry remarked, "and I will do my best to make it so. I hope to see all parts of the country and I am most anxious to get acquainted evq:y class of the \v,prkers, on farms, in factories and in the service of local authorities and the Government.

"I cannot interpret the" views of New Zealand unless I know the thoughts and feelings of its people in general"

Trade Development

The High Commissioner added that another and very important duty was to foster trade and commerce between Great Britain and New Zealand by every sound and practicable means. Here again, he believed that the community of interests would make his tasks easy.

Asked if he had any avocations to pursue in New Zealand, Sir Harry said that he had done a little fishing here already and hoped to do more. He played golf and tennis, but made no pretensions in either.

"Mr. Malcolm MacDonald told me before I left that I was such an atrocious tennis player that it ought to disqualify me for the post of High Commissioner," he added, "but I hope to show that that is not quite true. Lady Batterbee and I are both great lovers.of the countryside and of walking and gardening."