THE COLONIST. Published Daily-(Mornings.) Thursday, March 18, 1909. NEW ZEALAND'S LONDON OFFICE.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12491, 18 March 1909, Page 2

THE COLONIST. Published Daily Mornings. Thursday, March 18, 1909. NEW ZEALAND'S LONDON OFFICE.

The reorganisation of the High Commissioner's office, of which details were given -by. the Premier hr his speech at Marton on Tuesday, night, is a matter of considerable importance. The work of the London "office of the Dominion has grown tremendously of late, and it embraces such; a 'variety of : affairs iin Sv'hich the well being' of New Zealand is vitally concerned, that the High-Commissioner's office may.be. regarded as not the least important of the Dominion's Government departments. The day when the London office existed as a convenience for New Zealanders visiting the Old Country, and a bureau for the information of those contemplating a tour of the Dominion, is past, ' arid the raised status of New Zealand,- and the rearrangement of the Colonial. Office, ■will both tend to make the High Commissioner's department an increasingly important one. It was, therefore, highly necessary that the new apppint-; ments to the staff should be carefully considered, and especially that to fill the vacancy created by the retirement: of Mr Kennaway.. His is a rare typical' of,. the class we alluded tea day or two ago, in which compulsory ; retirement from the Civil i. Service at a certain; age is not altogether to be commended. Mr. Kennaway possesses unusual qualifications for the office*he is •vacating. -He has gro^vn grey in the service, and he understands the work of the High Commissioner's office down to the smallest detail. As secretary of the" department for many 'years.helias practically controlled the work of the office,, the many calls made by : public .functions and otherwise upon; the High Commissioner's time leaving him little opportunity to at-, tend to. routine business. ■ Mr.Kennaway will relinquish duty before the new High Commissioner" is. properlj' settled in his new surroundings, and at a time when he would find the assistance of an experienced arid . unusually able secretary ;of . the- greatest value. ' The loss to the Dominion at the present time of Mr Kennaway's services is very much to be regretted, and while all who are cognisant of the ■value of the work he had done for the; Dominion, will congratulate him upon being able to retire in comfort after a life of usefulness in' the public service,one must also sympathise with the Hon Hall-Jones is being deprived at the ouset of his High Commissioner-' ship,, of the assistance of such a first lieutenant. As to Mr Kennaway's successor, no fault can be found with the Government's choice: : Mr Palliser has a good record of service in the audit office in London, arid there is no doubt that he will prove an equally valuable officer in his new position. Nor is the efficiency of the High. Commissioner's staff likely to suffer ly tho. appointment of Mr Hamer to. succeed Mr Palliser in the audit department. It is satisfactory to note that the Government considers the development of trade, between the Homeland and the Dominion has reached a stage where it becomes desirable to take additional steps . to foster it. With this object Mr T. E. Donne will proceed to London, with a commission also to supervise and regulate immigration in regard to which considerable improvement should be possible. In Mr Donne tho Government has, we think, selected the official best qualified to carry out these important duties, and good results may bo expected from .his appointment.