SIR THOMAS MACKENZIE.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13996, 28 January 1916, Page 6

SIR THOMAS MACKENZIE.

COMPLIMENTARY RECEPTION IN

LONDON

NEW ERA IN IMPERIAL

RELATIONS

Lcntfcn, Jan. 26

"A large and representative, reception of New Zealanders was held at the Whitehall Rooms to mark appreciation of Sir Thomas Mackenzie's knighthood. Among those present were Sir James Mills, Mr. James Coates, Captain Muirhead Collins, Sir Peter Mcßride, Sir John McCall, and Sir Newton Moore. Lord Plunket, who presided, eulogised Sir, Thomas Mackenzie's services to the Dominions, and paid a tribute to his wife's kindly attention to New Zealand wounded. Not only had a worthy representative received the honour due to liim, but it was a compliment to the Dominion which had sent 60,000 men . to the defence of: the Empire.

Sir Thomas Mackenzie, in reply,- expressed deep appreciation of the tributes paid to him. After the war there would be a great opportunity for. enlarging markets here and on the Continent. In conjunction with Sir T. B. Robinson: Agent-General for Queensland, he had succeeded in stopping a contract between an important Continental Power and the American.meat packers which would have disastrously handicapped Australia and New Zealand for five years. On. the question of the High Commissioners' status he did not agree with granting them Cabinet rank. The position should be dissociated.from party, and a High Commissioner should represent his country, not a party, although he might have a Minister's powers in certain subjects requiring to' be. dealt with on the spot. We were on the eve of great changes. We were at the close of one form of Imperial control, and at the dawn of another. The overseas peoples had loyally and enthusiastically ranged themselves behind the Motherland to the limit of their powers, and'they had a distinct promise that they would be consulted on the peace terms. Probably in the near future they would be asked to take a proportionate share in the control of Imperial affairs.