WHO WILL IT BE?

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14480, 29 June 1911, Page 5

WHO WILL IT BE?

THE NEXT HIGH COMMISSIONER, It was reported yesterday that the term of office of Sir William HallJones as High Commissioner has been extended to August 31. Interesting speculations have been: raised as to who will bo the next High Commissioner. The "Otago Daily Times" states, Editorially:—"There is one 'name which constantly presents itself, practically to the exclusion of all others, when the question of the next appointment that is to be made to the office corns under discussion anywhere in the Dominion—the name of tho Prime Minister . himself. A . diplomatio denial of the accuracy of the report that Sir Joseph Ward contemplates leaving New Zealand and aeceptin|g the position of High Commissioner may, in all probability, Be circulated during the next few. months: it has already been circulated in the Mother Country, Qa the other hand it has been explicitly stated in quarter* where the enjoyment of tho ministerial confidence ia claimed that, it is the intention of Sir Joseph Ward, in the event of the verdict of the people at the general election being favourable to the Government, to resign the office of Prime Minister in favour of that of High Oommissioaer -And, though we may be disposed toiqneetton the prudenoo of Sir Joseph W»rd or any of liis colleagues counting upon the success of the Government at the election, w» can hardly venture to throw doubt upon the authenticity of the information which has led those who profess to ifaavo an intimate knowledge of the intentions at Ministers to declare that is is virtually settled that Sir Joseph Ward: is to be the successor of Sir William HallJones."! \

A leading! article in the "Dominion" has the following:—"Sir Joseph Ward is stated! to have denied the suggestion that he has' had in view the idea of taking this office himself, but as this denial was made before ho attained the dignity of a baronetcy it is quite probable that his name will continue to be associated with 1 the list of' 'possibles.' A saronetcy is certainly a handicap for a professing democrat, the head of a Liberal-Labour Administration, to carry; whereas at the High Commissioner's office in London it would l be a valuable asset to a man with social • ambitions and possessed of the financial means of gratifying them. The Prime Slinister's henchman and associate on the nresent visit to London, Sir John &. Findlay, K.C.SI.G., has also been mentioned as a possible successor of Sir William Hall-Jones . . . Store improbable things 'have happenned."