CONGRATULATIONS TO SIR THOMAS MACKENZIE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1509, 12 February 1916, Page 4

CONGRATULATIONS TO SIR THOMAS MACKENZIE.

The Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, High Commissioner for New Zealand, has been warmly congratulated on the honour of Knight Commander of St. Michael and St, George, which has been conferred upon him by the King. New Zealand owes much to Sir Thomas, and Sir Thomas owes much to New Zealand. A Scotsman by birth, he was taken to the “Great Britain of the South” at the age of four, and after leaving school commenced to devote his attention to the agricultural and pastoral interests of the country. As a young man he did much exploration work and led several relief expeditions in quest of lost explorers. A student of natural history, he is quite an authority on the native birds and flora. Nearly thirty years have elapsed since he first entered the New Zealand House of Representatives, having been elected member lor Clutha in Queen Victoria's Jubilee year of 1887. During his long Parliamentary career he has held many portfolios in various Governments, including Minister for Lands, Agriculture, Trade and Commerce, Postmaster - General, Commissioner for Telegraphs, State Forests and Health and Tourists, and five years ago became Prime Minister of the Dominion. THE HIGH COMMISSIONER’S CARE FOR THE SICK AND WOUNDED.

There is, perhaps, no greater authority on New Zealand agriculture than Sir Thomas Mackenzie, and certainly none who knows more about the frozen meat trade, which has been such a blessing to the Dominion. His knowledge and experience in this direction have been taken advantage of by the Imperial Government, who appointed him last year a member of the Advisory Committee to the Board of Trade on frozen meat supplies. Since the outbreak of war Sir Thomas has devoted much of his attention, not only in his capacity of High Commissioner but as president of the New Zealand War Contingent Association, to looking alter the comforts and requirements of the sick and wounded New Zealanders in London, and none will hear with greater pleasure of the honour which has been conferred upon him by the King than the members of the Expeditionary Force, both at home and at the front, notably his son Clutha, who was unfortunately blinded for life by shrapnel at the Dardanelles. Sir Thomas is a man with a great capacity for business, and knows no working hours. Since his appointment as High Commissioner in London some three and a half years ago he has won great popularity, which is not surprising, for he is undoubtedly one of Nature’s noblemen. Having known Sir Thomas for over a quarter of a century I can bear testimony to his charm of manner, and it gives me much pleasure to add my congratulations to the many that were showered upon him on New Year’s Day. Still another honour has gone to New Zealand, Mr C, F. Wray Palliser, the genial and hardworking secretary of the New Zealand Government office, having been made a C.M.G. Successive High Commissioners have testified to the value of the services of Mr Palliser, whose recent long illness has been very severely felt by Sir Thomas Mackenzie. The High Commissioner's office scarcely seems the same without Mr Palliser in the secretarial chair, but I am pleased to say that his health has greatly improved, and his numerous friends will hope that the rest which he is now taking will completely restore him to health. Over and beyond his secretarial duties Mr Palliser is one of the loan agents of the Dominion in this country, and his intimate knowledge of finance and of loan methods in London has been of distinct advantage to the Dominion.