THE HIGH COMMISSIONER.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2377, 5 February 1915, Page 7

THE HIGH COMMISSIONER.

• SirH-Would' you kindly inform me what the dutios of the High Commissioner are supposed to be r" Perhaps ignorantly, I have always the thought' that the gentleman selected to represent us in London was hot so much a mouthpiece of the Government on political questions as its commercial representative, and that his offices formed the head centra whence information was disseminated concerning immigration and shipping, the facilities for settlement, and the openings for trade and commerce, etc. Until the Hon. T. Mackenzie'was appointed by the Reform Government'to succeed' the Hon. ,W. Hall-Jones, our High Commissioners have not shown any great desire to pose in the limelight, nor to speak, as with authority, on behalf of the Government and people of New , Zealand. But Mr. Mackenzie appears to be acting as tho great bo-all and end-all of New Zealand politics, and to bo making himself a little ridiculous in the process. Take his action in connection with the. recent naval engagement . in the North Sea, for instance.- Unconfirmed reports have reached us that H.M.S. New Zealand took part in the fight, and, as one newspaper account had it, actually gave the Blucher the coup de grace,'.by sinking her. The later accounts point unmistakably to the fact that the New Zealand's share in the engagement was, if she took part at all, of only minor importance, the brunt of the battle being borne by the Lion and the Tiger. Yet Mr. Mackenzie, with exceedingly bad taste, made the occasion one for sending a letter very much in the natuie of a homily to the First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. Winston Churchill), in effect, reminding him of tho obligation the Government and peoplo of Great' Britain are under to the people of New Zealand for the gift battleship, and giving vent to opinions which, if expressed at all at the present time, should only come through tho head of the New Zealand Government. lam open to correction, but -1 have always- understood that, in matters of Imperial policy, His Excellency the Governor is the medium through whom views are exchanged by the Imperial and Dominion authorities, and that, unless instructed to do so, the High Commissioner has no r right to express views upon matters .of public policy, even though hem ay have reason to believe that the .views he holds are those of the Government, he represents. In the statement conveyed in your London cabled message on January 28, to which we were told "special prominence was given," Mr. Mackenzie describes as "a most farseeing act of statesmanship," a gift of New Zealand's ship, and after eulogising the part played by '.'the young .States of tho Empire" in the present crisis, ho goes on to say:—"What has already in the way of support, from tho Dominions is only the beginning of things. Canada will undoubtedly soon follow in tlio naval lead already Riven. When the war is over, other conditions will require management, and, in proportion of what each Dominion is doing will be its voice in the Councils of tho Empire, where the first and foremost planks will be efficient defence." What right has Mr. Mackenzie to commit the Government lie represents, and the people of this country to the expression of • opinions such as these If he is merely acting under instructions, that is, of course, another matter. But, if such is the case, how is it that Mr. Massey and liis colleagues remain silent on such im-port-ant questions? Perhaps, Sir, you will be good enough to elucidate tho position for tho benefit of your readers. —I am, etc., INQUIRER. 'SI6I '£ £"«n.iqo>i 'uo^uiijd^