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1913. NE W Z E ALA. N J).

HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR NEW ZEALAND (REPORT OF THE), FOR THE YEAR 1912.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

DEPARTMENT OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONED: REPORT FOR YEAR 1912. Sir, — Westminster Chambers, 13 Victoria Street, London S.W., 31st May, 1913. 1 have the honour to make the following report upon the work executed by this Department for the year 1912. It will be seen that in some respects this report will follow on the lines of that for the year 1911, as, so far as i am personally concerned, the Department was only under my actual control for three months of the year. During the year 1912 the work of the Department lias steadily increased, the following figures bearing eloquent testimony to the volume of the work, transacted by the various branches of the Department : — Despatches received and sent to the Dominion, 9,857. Cablegrams received and sent to the Dominion, 1,189 (168 only in 1892). Foreign Imprest Account, number of payments, 7,589, representing £3,161,121. The Department is broadly divided into three main branches, each under the general supervision and direction of the Permanent Secretary of the Department, who is responsible to the High Commissioner for the proper and efficient performance of the work. These branches are— (1.) The General Section. (2.) The Financial and Commercial Section. (3.) The Shipping and Emigration Section. Attached to the Department and under the supervision of the High Commissioner are the Produce Commissioner, the Veterinarian, the Dairy-produce Inspector, and the Military Adviser and Inspector. The General Section, under the charge of the Chief Clerk, Mr. Row, deals with the dissemination of information concerning the Dominion both to visitors and by correspondence. It also deals with diplomatic matters; educational and other Government or local bodies' appointments of various kinds; the obtaining of all publications ordered by the Dominion; arrangements as to Defence officers undergoing training here; and generally deals with such matters as are not specially undertaken by the other branches. The Finance and Commercial Section is under the charge of the Accountant, Mr. Copus. It deals with the detail working of all financial matters and the accounts of the Department; in addition, the placing and execution of contracts for material (which involves asking competitive quotations in every case where practicable) for various Departments or local bodies, and the obtaining of live-stock form part of the work of this branch, besides all insurance matters (life, fire, and marine), Public Trust Office business, and all work in connection with Government securities. The Shipping and Emigration Section is under the charge of the Trade and Immigration Representative, Mr. Donne. It deals with the arrangements for the shipment of goods procured through the Finance and Commercial Section, and also the securing and arranging of passages for approved settlers. This section now also undertakes the advertising in this country in connection with the Dominion, as well as the preparation and issue on loan of lantern-slides for the numerous lectures on the Dominion which are given all over the country. , The Produce Section, under Mr. Cameron, on which he reports separately, deals with matters pertaining to produce, market cables, and also the work entailed in connection with the collection and display of exhibits at the various Exhibitions, &c, but this latter is at present discontinued. The development of our produce trade has increased to such an extent that it has been impossible, for one man, no matter how well qualified he may be, to deal with it all. It has therefore become necessary to divide the work and to specialize.

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