HIGH COMMISSIONER ARRIVES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 143, 13 March 1939, Page 5

HIGH COMMISSIONER ARRIVES

Sir Harry Batterbee

WORK AS AMBASSADOR TO NEW ZEALAND

The first High Commissioner tor Great Britain in New Zealand. Sir Harry Fagg Batterbee, arrived at Wellington by the Limited express on Saturday morning from Auckland, where he landed from the Rangitata on Friday He was accompanied by Lady Batterbee and Miss Biggar. Sir Harry s niece. The permanent head of the Prime Minister’s Department, Mr. C. A. Berendsen, travelled with the party from Auckland. Soon after his arrival the High Commissioner made a call on the GovernorGeneral, Viscount Galway. Today he will call on the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, and be will also be given a civic reception to Wellington. Toniot - row he will be the guest at a State luncheon. Appreciation of their welcome to New Zealand was expressed by Sir Harrv and Lady Batterbee when interviewed after their arrival. "We almost feel New Zealanders already,” said Sir He* emphasized that bis appointment in no way affected future appointments of a United Kingdom Trade Commissioner in New Zealand. "I am to be an additional link between the two Governments to supplement official communications which might be made, he said Naturally he was interested in the trade relations between the two countries, and he hoped to foster trade to their mutual advantage. The appointment could be regarded as a recognition of New Zealand in a particu lar way by the British Government. Ambassador in New Zealand. "My job is to be ambassador of the United Kingdom in New Zealand in the same way that Mr. Jordan is ambassador of New Zealand in the United Kingdom,” said Sir Harry. "As a result of consultation between the British and New Zealand Governments it was decided to establish a post in New Zealand similar to those established in the other Dominions. The value of the office in supplementing the channels of communication has been proved in their case.” Referring to his work on the Dominions Office staff and on the secretariat .of Imperial Conferences, Sir Harry said this bad taught him the value of personal contact. Official dispatches, he said, could never take the place of personal discussions. Sir Harry expressed his appreciation of the Government’s action in placing the Ministerial car at his disposal for the trip from Auckland. The term of his appointment, he remarked, was five years, and he would probably travel to England on leave about halfway through that period.