AUSTRALASIAN AGENTSGENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5667, 11 September 1896, Page 5 (Supplement)

AUSTRALASIAN AGENTSGENERAL.

Sir Westby Perceval is to be congratulated upon his appointment as Agent- General for Tasmania. It is so unusual . for the former AgentGeneral of one colony to be chosen to represent another in the same capacity that the announcement just made can only be viewed as a high compliment to Sir Westby. "We were strongly of opinion that our own Government made a mistake in not retaining the gentleman whose services have just been secured by Tasmania, but it is now admitted on . all hands that the Hon W. P. (Reeves has been a more pronounced success as Agent-General than those who knew him best were inclined to expect. By his assiduity in mastering the details of his duties, and by his zeal in furthering the interests of New Zealand, he has so far prevented this colony from losing any of the vantage ground it gained in London when so ably represented by Sir "Westby Perceval. •His literary repute and his graces oH j platform and post-prandial oratory have gained him an entree into many circles and given him an extended influence which, perhaps, no former occupant of the position ever enjoyed ; and it can only be by a sad misuse of his opportunities— and that, of course, no one anticipates— that he can fail in worthily upholding the reputation of New Zealand, the character of her public men and the excellence cf her products. Another cable item states that the Victorian Agent- General ship has been conferred upon Sir Andrew Clarke, who is to receive for his services only a small addition to a pension which he already enjoys. This policy is in pursuance of a demand made for the reduction of the cost of the Agent-General's Department. The wisdom of the course pursued may be questioned, but if Sir Andrew Clarke is patriotic and active, he may serve Victoria as well as though he were receiving a largo salary. A few years, ago. . there was a good deal of speculation as to whether Colonial Agents- General would develop into ambassadors, or would sink to the position oEcommercialconsuls. Apparently the evolution of the office has been in the latter direction, and with the .growth of the Imperial federation idea all prospect of the AgentsGeneral ever exercising semi-am-bassadorial functions may be abandoned. Mr Seddon, from his place in Parliament, declared last year that his Government did not look upon the appointment of Agent- General as one of great importance, and the same spirit of depreciation seems to be gaining ground in the other colonies. It is a significant sign of this spirit to find that the Tasmanian Government has apparently no public man in its own service who is willing, or, at any rate, who is eager to serve the colony in London. Possibly the reason for this is to be found iu the fact that while the Agents- General are expected to be ambassadorial iu their "style" and expenditure, they only enjoy the salaries of consular agents. In any case it is pleasing to find two young New Zealanders and former citizens of Christchurch well to the

front in the " foreign service " of the colonies, and we feel sure that Sir "Westby Perceval's influence in London will still be used, as far as may be compatible with his duty to Tasmania, in the interests of the colony that gave him his opportunity to make a public career.