WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 December 1933, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS

HIGH COMMISSIONER. ONE YEAR ONLY. (Special Correspondent.)', ~y WELLINGTON, December 8. - ...In retiring from the leadership of the Legislative Council in order, tb resume the office of High Commissioner in London for a year, the Hon. Sir Janies Parr obviously serves the Government : iu some respect that lias not- yet been fully disclosed. In bis own words in farewelling the members of the Council the other day Sir James disclosed the fact that he had no desire for a long sojourn in London. He had not sought the offer of the High Commissioner,ship again, he told his colleagues, but lie had felt that it was a great compliment,' and not one to be lightly considered or rejected. The compliment was deserved and properly accepted. Previous experience will give Sir James an advantage .in maintaining the position for his full time successor.

The practice of the past has been tp select High Commissioners frofn members of Parliament, of Council or House, wiio have made themselves acceptable to the Government of the day. This system, taken all in all, has worked well enough in the past,as Sir James Parr, Sir Thomas Wilford and their predecessors have demonstrated, hut the time ■ seems to have a closer acquaintance with commerce and finance. It was urged the other day that, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart with his knowledge anti experience was the very man who should represent this country in the heart of the Empire. Mr Stewart might 'naive shouldered such a task had he cared to do so, hut the burden lie bore .was sufficient.

This being the case it is obvious that Mr G. W. Forbes, the Prime Minister, Mr J. G. Coates, the Minister of Finance, and Mr Robert Masters, the leader of the Legislative Council and Minister of Education, with half-a-dozen other obligations, are the trio from which the successor to Sir James Parr must be chosen, a little more than a year hence. Mr Forbes and Mr Coates both have bad experience iu London, chiefly, it would seem, in gathering information concermig the great men of the great country and the country itself. Their visits have been quite desirable even if they have cost the Dominion a few thousand pounds. But what, this country requires at the present time is a really capable business man—not n retiring public servant—who in London could, and would, look'after the affairs of this country at the other end of the world at about two-thirds of the present ’expenditure.