THE HIGH COMMISSIONER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1163, 26 June 1911, Page 4

THE HIGH COMMISSIONER.

' The appointment of Sir William Hall-Jones as High Commissioner in London will expire this year, and the question of choosing his successor has already formed a subject for speculation. Sin Joseph Ward is stated to have denied the suggestion that he has had in view the idea of taking this office himself, but as this denial was made before he attained to the dignity of a baronetcy it is quite probable that his name will continue to be associated with the list of "possibles." A baronetcy is certainly a handicap for a professing democrat, the head of a Liberal-Labour' Administration, to carry j whereas at the High Commissioner's office in London it would be -a valuable asset to a man with social ambitions and possessed of the. financial means of gratifying them. The Prime Minister's henchman and associate on the present visit to London, Sir John G. Findlay, K.C.M.G., has also been mentioned as the possible successor ci Sir William Hall-Jones. It is a little amusing to picture the author of Hum-, buns and Homilies strutting it as the representative of the Dominion in fine company in London, but more unlikely things have happened, and it would undoubtedly be a relief to a section of the Government following if the new knight would betake himself to this new and larger field for the airing of his superior homilies. Whether or not he would make a useful High Commissioner is quite another matter. The whole question of the High Commissioner's office in London should receive the careful attention of Parliament during the coming session. The cost of this Department has grown, to quite substantial dimensions, and it is open to question whether the Dominion receives" anything like value for the moncy. J: spent.- -Sir AVilliam' Hall-Jones is a very conscientious worker, but his health has had something to do with the fact that the Department in London under his control has not come up to expectations. A more active head is required, and the pruning knife might be applied with advantage in certain directions which have already been pointed out in Parliament. Members should give this subject their attention now, and so prepare themselves for dealing with it when it comes before them in Parliament in August or September next, as it is certain to do.