HIGH COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 120, 14 February 1921, Page 5

HIGH COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE

Sir —During a recent extended business viffit to England I had a very considerable experience of the High Commissioners office in Lon. , where I received great assistance and unfailing courtesy and attention. I fee that the people of New oaland d ? f . sufficiently realise the value of thisid flee to the country, or the great he p that it proves to New Zealanders w a UnUke' most New Zealanders, I did not confine my attention to the l and reading-rooms only, but made a thorough inspection of. the b " dd Li’ I six-story one, situated m the Strand, saw all the various branches at work, and was astonished. at the volume a variety of the business transacted. 1 am convinced that the. average iew c. lander has no conception of activities our Government in London. The immigration, branch, which is largest section, receives as many as loi hundred, letters a day, and deaL. witli an average of over one hundred inquiries daily ‘besides the numerous details connected with applications for assisted passages. approval of immigrants etc. Lhi« branch has a certain proportion of th accommodation on New Zealand-bound ships ' allotted to it. arranges all the berthing, and issues contract tickets, in . this respect it does all the work of an ordinary shipping office. The finance branch deals with all ordinary Government accounts, contracts, transports, shipping, Pubhc Trustee business, insurance, public debt transactions, pensions, etc. I heard that as many as 1200 pensions are paid monthly through the High Commissioner’s office. The indent branch arranges for the placing of all contracts on. behalf of the New Zealand Government. Departments, notably the Pabl . la v Works. Post and Telegraph, and Railways, are each responsible for their distinct portion of our European business. I understand that tenders are called toi all supplies, thus ensuring public competition, whereby. New Zealand is enabled to obtain its requirements most favourable conditions. I noticed, however, that there was an absence ot a New Zealand engineer m such Depaitments as Railways and Public Morke,, and would suggest that a man trained t here and having the requisite local knowledge would be of value, and iscwm# efficiency to some extent. The' produce department, also a verylarge branch, with which is amalgamated exhibitions, etc., is doing excellent work, a Customs expert is kept busy assisting in Customs work, and there are numerous temporary branches, such as war graves, transport, staff paymaster, etc. Besides these regular branches the Ilieh Commissioner executes a large number of commissions for the. educational bodies and local authorities in New Zealand. , I made careful inquiries ns to matters of shipping and find that for the last six months there lias been much talk in England about a slump, but so far as I could ascertain no reduction in freights or fares by companies trading with New' Zealand, and I am convinced that the great shipping combines have far too much power in these matters. The energies of our Government may well bo occupied with finding some means of putting a curb on these great combines. One thing seemed abundantly clear to me, that our London office should be better supplied with matter advertising New Zealand. In t'his respect we are far behind such Dominions as Australia, Canada, and South Africa, which sec that their commissioner is well supplied with every description of printed matter dealing with their countries which can be of use to inquirers or serve to advertise tho advantage they offer. / In conclusion I was more than satisfied that our Government is splendidly served by its London office, such faults as exist,' as for instance the absence oi satisfying advertising matter are in no way the fault of the office, which cannot supply what it is not provided with. Tht introduction of New Zealanders into tho office is a step in the right direction, ,nnd has been followed by a marked increase in t'he enthusiasm and efficiency of the office, and this plan, as I have already suggested can be carried farthei with advantage by the introduction oi a New Zealand-trained engineering staff. Of late New Zealand has had greate publicity in London and provincial newspapers, which is, of course, entirely to our advantage. The old ignorance < the colonies is pacing away, and the High Commissioner’s Office must be credited with its due share in this result. 1 I am convinced, after my experience, that the High Commissioner’s Office is fully justifying its existence, and is deserving of much more generous recognition from the people of New Zealand whom it is so faithfully serving.—l am, etC ” JAS. A. WALLACE. 1 Motueka, February 7, 1921. •