HIGH COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14833, 26 November 1913, Page 13

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE.

THE CHARGE OF INCIVILITY

HON. T. MACKENZIE'S REPLY,

(fbosi ovk owx coheesponoext.) LONDON, October 17. The newspapers containing the charge of impoliteness on the part of the High Commissioner's office, made by the member for Yv'aikato in the House of Representatives, have just reached London. Tnere is, of course, another side to the question, and in reply to my request for an interview tho iiigh Commissioner said: — ' ; First, let m© say how much I appreciate the defence of tho staff and layselr made by the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, Mr T. Buxton, Sir Walter Buchanau, Mr L. -31. isitt, the Hon. D. i3uddo, Mr J. H. Mr C. E. Statiaam, 3lr J. A. Hanan, Mr E. Newman, and others. Personally, ihave beon so much accustomed in my public iiie to caaiyes oi ono son and another, that 1 Jiave adopted tue rule of not paying any attention. However, 1 have to say a word on behalf of my staff, and 1 have no hesitation in at j once stating that no statf devotes itself j with greater care than does the stall' of I this oihce to assist in every possible way tiie visitors lroni New, Zealand to the Home Country. '"I also have, had charges of incivility made against the ofiico and niiselr". Tiic first case occurred within a week oi my arrival here. It was the case of n man who met mc at my home and said that ho was a New Zcalander in. dire distress, with wile and lamily starving. He said he was a close personal friend of on© of my most reepected New Zealand friends. Ho astonished mc by being able even to tell mc tho nature of communications, that had passed between my Iriend and myself. I told him to como to tho office in the niorniug and I would deal with his case. He was too sensitive, he said, to go to the office. I refused assistance. But it was rather on my conscience during the night, and the distressed New Zcalander was awaiting mc at ray gate the following morning, when I gave him a couple of sovereigns. t His reason for not wishing to go to the office was on account of the incivility of some members of the staff-to him. Ho begged mc not to mention that he had seen mc. I, however, did mention it, and discovered that he was ono of tho regular frauds, for he had been in the habit of visiting the office in order to tako from the visitors' book tho nnmes of new arrivals from New Zealand, co as to be in the position to write 'begging jettors.' "I wrote tb mv friend in New Zealand regarding this man, and ho was I good onough to cable, saying:—'X. is a scoundrel.' A letter followed, in which my friend pointed out that the man had been in his employment and had stolen £1500 from him. "Another charge of incivility against this office was made by a man who demanded introductions from us to people of repute hero. He was very aggressive. As he carried no introductions to us, we refused his request. But we had a much more serious ground than that. We had in our possession a letter from a young woman who had been in his employment, and she stated that he was tho father of her child, and had refused to give her assistance in any way. This man wae a source of great annoyance to the offico, threatening us with all sorts of pains and penalties, which, of course, the scoundrel dared not attempt to follow out. He said 1* was going to report the office to his friends iv New Zealand. "We have had other cases. We find that people who are living here on their means desire to monopoliso on special occasions the privileges that are intended for people who are on a visit from New Zealand. On the last occasion of the opening of Parliament this office had '.at its disposal four tickets for the use <Sf distinguished visitors. A gentleman wito had lived in England nine years had tho effrontery to ask for thro© of these four tickets for himself and friends. Seeing that wo had many distinguished New Zealanders in London at the time —ex-Prime Ministers, ex-Ministers of tho Executive, -with thoir wives—it did not appear to mc that the gentleman mentioned should get a preference, and ho did not get the tickets. But he informed the office that he intended to write to New Zealand and say that there was no use in having a High Commissioner's office in London. "Then there are quite a number of people who think this office is open for their special benefit. We do nil we can to make the visit of our friends pleasant, but there aro times when, of coxirse, wo aro not able to do all they wish. lam pleased to bo able to say that it is only a very few who express other than their greatest appreciation of what the officers do for them, but at, the same time it should be observed that tho reason for this office being open is to push New Zealand's produce, financial, and diplomatic interests in this great metropolis of tho world. "I would like to say a word or two regarding the impression that proT'ails ns to this office not being in touch with New Zealand affars. Many New Zealanders are employed in the office. Some, of course, have been here for a pood many years; others have not been hero very long. I think it will be conceded that Mr Hamer, Mr Donne and myself, aro familiar with tho conditions prevailin.2 in New Zealand. In addition, Mr Spence has recently been sent Home to deal with all questions connected with. Customs, and it must be admitted that he, by reason of tho confidence tho Government hnre shown in him, must also bo posers**"! of considerable knowledge. Finally. I would state thnt I have set asido Wednesday entirely for the reception, by myself, of New Zealand visitors to London."