The Timaru Herald MONDAY, JULY 27, 1908. THE HIGH COMMISSIONER.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13656, 27 July 1908, Page 4

The Timaru Herald MONDAY, JULY 27, 1908. THE HIGH COMMISSIONER.

A paragraph'from the " LyUcllon Times" which v« republish in- this issue, lends colour lo the rumours at which we' hinted on. Saturday that the appointment of u successor to the Hon. W. P. Beeves' at the High Commissioner's ..office- in London may'mean the necessity for the election of a new member for Tiuiaru. It may be a. little premature just yet to discuss •that question, bub supporters of Mr HallJones .himself appear to be discus-using it already, and we are vmablo to resist the conclusion that his transference- from the turmoil of political life to tho comparative calm enjoyed by tho official representative of the colony in the metropolis of the- Empiro has been one of tho possibilities of the situation for a considerable time past. As a matter of fact it was talked about latt yeav before Mr HallJones suffered 'lbe collapse to which ho made reference again in .the House ou. Friday, but of course we arc quite unable to say whether the tongue of rumour had anything to go upon in discussing hw future in this connection. Any plans that might have been in-train for his appointment as High Commissioner appeared to be'upset by his sudden break-down iu health which put everything except rest out of the question. It was only natural, however, that the rumours; should'be revived when he relumed from. England strong enough to take- up again the rou'tine work of administration, but apparently not strong enough to lake his old place in the public eye. It has been patent to everybody who keeps air obscr.vauo watch on politics unit while the other Ministers have been here, there and everywhere about the colony during the recess, Mr Hall-JoneiS has hardly been heard of, a eircunitstaneo which would naturally lead to the suspicion that he was the sick man of the Ministry. , s \Vc should prefer to think thali it. wa.s purely caution and riot necessity that had withdrawn him into this obscurity, but the paragraph from the " Lyttelton Times " informs us that id, was his intention to surrender hia portfolios at tho end of the year. It .would'lit* invidious;' and unnecessary just at preuent, to criticise his qualifications for the oftice in connection with which his name has , now beeu mentioned, or to say anything about, the selection of a successor in the representation of Timam, sliould it lw necessary to find a successor. We will only say that the geiiUeman who has been suggested would, we are sure, , make nit excellent and useful representative of the to\yu, but of courso his politics remain, lo be disclosed.