FAREWELL LUNCHEON FOR SIR JAMES PARR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18947, 18 December 1929, Page 1

FAREWELL LUNCHEON FOR SIR JAMES PARR.

HAS NO POLITICAL AMBITIONS IN N.Z. (United Press 4>.ssn.— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, December 16. At the New Zealand Association's farewell luncheon to Sir James Parr, Lord Passfield, Secretary for the Dominions, who presided, paid a tribute to the High Commissioner. He said that as a farmer, a lawyer, and a politician Mr Winston Churchill was his only rival in the multiplicity of offices that he held, notably the portfolio of Education. Lord Passfield recalled his own visit to New Zealand thirty years ago, when he was impressed with the infant welfare campaign which had reduced New Zealand's infant mortality to the! lowest in the world. Sir James Parr, responding, said that; the Constitutional Conference had managed to work out a most difficult programme. They had been expected to reconcile the laws of the old colonial days with the new principles of constitutional equality, under which the dominions were sometimes tempted to think themselves better than the Old Country. New Zealand was fortunate in the succession of great Admirals and Generals who had been there as Gov-emors-General. Now she was getting Lord Bledisloe, who was a great agriculturalist and who would be able to talk in the farmers' own language. Referring to his own future, Sir James Parr mentioned that he had received two invitations to contest seats in the New Zealand Parliament. It appeared that he was expected again to take part in public affairs. He said: “If such is the case, I am sorry for the present to disappoint you. New Zealand has given me almost every public office. For the moment I have no political ambitions in New Zealand. I do not desire to return to politics. My line will probably be cast in other places. I would ra.ther try to help New Zealand in its business here, and otherwise, for the moment, England has great interest for me. There are fine possibilities for useful work. Maybe I shall return to London and engage in private employment, but I can say nothing definite at the moment.”

SIR JAMES PARR WILL TAKE A HOLIDAY. (United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received December 18, 9.35 a.m.) LONDON, December 17. Sir James Parr announced that he would take a brief holiday before devoting his energies to the Empire Free Trade Crusade.