DOMINION REPRESENTATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 January 1926, Page 2

DOMINION REPRESENTATION.

AN AUSTRALIAN PROPOSAL. SIR JAMES ALI JON HOSTILE. [Australia N.Z. Cable Association.] LONDON. January 19. The High. Commissioners, including Sir Joseph Cook and Sir James Allen, are almost unanimously adverse to the proposals from Australia 'to reconstitute Hie London representation on a dual basis, political and commercial. In reference to the political, it is pointed out that Canada and Queensland had both tried that policy and abandoned it. Mr I’urley, Canada’s representative, was a member of the Ministry as well as the High Commissioner. Init tho policy was abandoned after three years’ experience. Mr Purley ultimately resigned from the Cabinet but remained High Commissioner.

Similarly, Mr Garrick was the AgentGeneral and a member of the Queensland Ministry for four years, but the experiment was not repeated. With reference to suggested subdivision of the High Commissionorship into two separate offices, diplomatic and eonimereal. Sir Joseph. Cook and Sir James Allen concur that such a course was practically impossible, and both speaking with several years' experience, declared that the financial and commercial activities were so closely interwoven with the High Commissioner’s other duties, that it was impossible to separate them without detriment thereto.

Sir Joseph and Sir James welcomed a trade commissioner in the highest capacity, but only as an official of the High Commissioner’s Department. Any attempt to endow a trade commissioner with something approaching co-oqunl powers would not only he unprecedented. but fraught with the danger of conflicting authority.