COMMISSIONER APPOINTED

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21417, 8 March 1935, Page 12

COMMISSIONER APPOINTED

i TRADE AND TOURIST REPRESENTATIVE MR R. M. FIRTH'S POST IN WESTERN AMERICA fFrom Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, March 7. Mr R. M. Firth, District Manager of the Industries and Commerce and Tourist Department at Melbourne, has been selected by the Government to act as New Zealand Trade and Tourist Commissioner in Western America, and will be stationed at either San Francisco or Los Angeles. This announcement was made to-day by the Minister for Industries and Commerce (the Hon. R. Masters). Mr Firth, who is 35 years of age, is a New Zealander, and commenced his career in the Public Service in 1917. After several years' service in Wellington and Auckland, he filled successively the position of district manager of the Tourist Department's bureaux, at Greymouth, Invercargill and Wanganui. In 1928 he was appointed for special duty in Melbourne, and for the last five years he has acted as district manager for the Departments of Industries and Commerce and Tourist and Publicity in that city. Mr Firth's work in Melbourne has been under the general supervision of the New Zealand Trade and Tourist Commissioner (Mr L. J. Schmitt). whose headquarters are in Sydney, and in recent years Mr Firth has had an excellent opportunity of gaining valuable experience on trade and Customs matters particularly affecting the Dominion's commerce with the Commonwealth. He is recognised as a man of pleasing personality, keen, and enthusiastic in his work.

As overseas representative of the Dominion, his position in Melbourne has involved the necessity of his appearing as New Zealand's representative at many public functions, and he has proved himself to be an able public speaker, well informed on New Zealand affairs generally. In the publicity field, he has carried out a great deal of lecturing work throughout Victoria, where he has, on many occasions, spoken from broadcasting stations on New Zealand subjects of interest to Australian listeners. Through his constant contact with shipping companies and travel interests generally, and through varied forms of publicity activities, he has done a great deal to develop tourist traffic from Victoria and South Australia, and the records of business transacted by the Melbourne office show that under his guidance there have been very substanital increases in the number of visitors booked for tours to and through the Dominion.

The Melbourne office, in common with other portions of the department's organisation in Australia, has a great deal to do on behalf of other departments of State in New Zealand, involving such matters as the purchase of supplies and the handling of financial transactions of a very varied nature, and in dealing with' matters of trade between the Commonwealth and the Dominion Mr Firth has shown a great deal of initiative and adaptability in carrying out duties of a diversified character. His experience; and natural qualifications should fit him well to occupy the position of New Zealand's Trade and Tourist Commissioner in* Western America.