HIGH COMMISSIONER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 28 August 1942, Page 3

HIGH COMMISSIONER

DUTIES OF THE OFFICE TALK BY MR \V. J. JORDAN In telling you what representing New Zealand in London means, my mind flashes back to that memorable 6th December, 1935, when Mr Savage was asked by the GovernorGeneral to form a Cabinet, and there was a lot of speculation as to who would bo appointed to the respective ministerial positions, said Mr W. J. Jordan in a 8.8. C. talk. (Mr Jordan’s term as High Commissioner j for New Zealand in London has just j been extended for a further three: years). All the elected members of the Party and the Legislative Council supporters met in Caucus at Parliament House at 11 o’clock in the j morning. Mr Savage asked how the Ministers should be selected, and the meeting unanimously decided to leave the selec-ion entirely to Mr Savage, the Prime Minister, who said that as that was the wish, he would j proceed, and report to anothe meet- | ing at 7 o’clock that evening. We all had lunch together, but no i mention was . made there of his in- ] Mentions. At 2 o’clock a messenger j came with instructions to me to see Mr Savage, who asked what post I thought I should fill. I replied that we had been in Parliament together for many years, and I awaited his 1 instructions and would be content to carry out to the best of my ability any du'.ies entrusted to me. Mr Savage said, “Well, I want you to go to London as Hfgh Commissioner, where you will be a long way from us all, and at times you will have to make decisions, and think, speak and act for New Zealand.” I said “That’s a big job.” I thought of my electorate, and didn’t like the idea of leaving those whom I had served for over thirteen years, and who had always been so kind to me and my family: but it was a call to even bigger duties—to represent the whole Dominion, and 1 asked myself the question which has now been asked me—“ What representing New Zealand in London means.” I returned to my district with the news, and was heartened that the people there were satisfied that the job should be done. I shall always be grateful for the friendship shown to me, and shall always value highly the expressions of goodwill, and the illuminated address and gifts which Mrs Jordan, Gwen and I were given by the several local bodies of the Manukau Electorate, as well as cherish the recollections of the farewell as we sailed from the Auckland 1 wharf. On the way across Canada, and on arrival in Britain, we were the recipients of great kindness. Mr and Mrs Berendsen travelled with us. They had been before and were valuable and congenial companions. On arrival at Southampton, our son Bill was on the wharf with representatives of New Zealand House. We took train and were met in London by Sir James Parr, Mr Malcolm Macdonald, the Secretary of State for the Dominions, and a large and representative gathering of men and i women associated with New Zealand and its activities. A few days later I went to New Zealand House to take up the duties, of the extent of which I still wondered. Sir James Parr was extremely kind. He gave me an introduction to the staff, and from that entry until now I have received and appreciated the kindness, assistance and loyalty of the hundred and more who serve our Dominion in London. But I soon discovered that the High Commissioner is not a person but an institution. LEAGUE AND ABYSSINIA Within a fortnight I went to Geneva to attend the Assembly of the League of Nations. In the course of this, New Zealand was elected to a ! seat on the Council of the League of Nations. The subjects to be discussed were important. The Spanish Civil War had started, there were difficulties in South East Europe. Abyssinia had been over-run and it had to be decided whether that country should be represented at the Assembly, and true to Mr Savage’s prediction, I had to think and speak for New Zealand. I knew the mind of the Government and of the people of our Dominion. I studied the various questions on the evidence given, also the constitution of the League, and the Covenant which our country were pledged to observe, and acted accordingly. Situations have developed as the years have passed, and the attitude of our Dominion, although it was in the minority at the time, may well be reviewed now. It has proved to be right, and we would not recall one word which was uttered, or reverse one vote which was given at the Council table. Nevertheless, it was an anxious time. As for Abyssinia, with the failure of the League, only a great war brought justice to ‘ that unhappy country. The Emperor, after spending years in exile, is back on his throne, and justice has at length been done; but my mind goes back to a day in May. four years ago when the Council of the League of Nations, sitting in Geneva, had under discussion the position of Abyssinia, the Italian conquest of which had been recognised by some mem-bei-s of the League, whilst New Zealand and others had refused to recognise it. The Emperor himself represented his country and Ins people, and I well remember that figure ol' pathos and dignity as he entered the room and in profound silence took his seat. Scenes such as this remain with us as the years come and go. At the Nine Power Conference at Brussels, which was attended by Great Britain, America, China, the British Dominions and European countries, serious matters were again discussed, and if the clock could be put back to that time, probably a ' different stand would be taken bv many countries. New Zealand stood flint to China against Japanese in- ■ vasion. 1 Discussions on the Abdication ach- ’ mg on the instructions of our Gov ; eminent, were serious and interest- ; ing. Representing our Dominion a*- ' standard bearer at the Coronation ceremony was a great experience ’ Mr Savage was he e as the first rep- ? resentative of an independent New t Zealand since the passing of the i Statute of Westminster. We could refer to the many official gatherings s the representative functions attend- t

y ed at the Guildhall and other places, tl the exhibitions attended by the King e and Queen, who show such interest e in our Dominion, the many trade d gatherings in London and the pro- _ vincial towns with Messrs Forsy’h, _ Davis and Turner, who respectively 5 and ably controlled the sales of New e Zealand meat, dairy produce and j-, fruit. e WAR CLOUDS LOOM ° y Then came the daily meetings as e the war clouds darkened over Euh rope, the reports of the Munich Conn ference, the several countries being e over-run, and then the crash as first - Britain and France, then New ZeaII land and then other British cound tries declared war on the aggressor. Oh! if only the League of Nations n had been true to its Covenant and - had stood united to its purpose, what d difficulties might have been avoided. 5. Our Government had wisely favoure ed the separation of the Peace Treaty from the Covenant, so that the relan tionship of nations with Germany - could have been considered, and at ?. the same time the small nations - safeguarded, but the League was too n slow and almost indifferent. e New Zealand was at war with 3 Germany. Our men here came fori i ward to enlist in the New Zealand d Forces. An anti-tank Battery was r formed under Major Duff. A meete ing of New Zealand pcoDle in Britain l was called, and the New Zealand s War Services Association was form- - ed. Hundreds of our young men t were already in the Royal Air Force i here. Our Government appointed e General Frey berg to command our e Army. Soon thousands arrived in . the East. Thousands more landed i in Britain commanded by Brigadier l Hargest, and everything was buzzing with excitement. Women’s Work Parties were formed and hospital visitors appointed. New Zealand House was the centre of all sorts of * activities, and willing helpers were j- not lacking. The New Zealand a 1 Forces Club was established. Money > poured in. A matinee netted over £6.000. Gifts were many. A prison-: 1 ers of war office has been doing 5 great work, sending parcels of cloth- j ing and goods as soon as addresses I ’ were available. The New Zealand Red Cross has been actively represented here and most of the ordinary peacetime duties of the New Zealand r Office have changed. One of our j. tasks was to negotiate for the sale j , of New Zealand wool, meat and some [ ' other of our produce. ; London and many other cities and > towns were blitzed, and women in ' New Zealand collected, made and! j sent clothing to Britain. You all! > gave money, and large quantities are being sent here and we arranged for ’ the distribution. ’ The people of Britain entertain { ollr Service men just as they enter- | [ tained visitors from New Zealand in j peace time. But otherwise all is I 5 changed. In peacetime there were Royal Courts at Buckingham Palace. I at which Mrs Jordan made twenty I , presentations each year, garden par-I . ties which our visitors enjoyed at-! tending, calls for articles on New Zealand for tlie Press, addresses on! various subjects, enquiries from prospective tourists and settlers, and dis-I cuss ions on meat quotas. DUTIES AT N.Z. HOUSE New Zealand House lias manv duties. We purchase all kinds of goods; books for our travelling libraries, machinery, paper and goods for our printing offices. We arrange! for the supply of coinage and bank I notes and attend to the repayment of loans. We undertake the selection and! appointing of certain officials for New Zealand, interview prospective professors and medical officers, and recommend the distribution of par* of the Sheepowners’ Fund. The High Commissioners now meet • daily to discuss the war situation, I and the meetings of the Pacific War I Council in London are attended by I the High Commissioner just as they j are attended in Washington by Mr I

We meet the men on arrival. Durthe last week I met two ships and welcomed over 300 New Zealand Service men. They are all well They are told of facilities here and are invited to call at New Zealand House to discuss any mat ers which concern them Then I visit the men at their depots and stations, when hey often make requests or complaints which we take up with the Department concerned, and thanks I to those in hitrh places, things are usually put right.

Cables on Fade and a thousand, subjects are all the while passing between this Office and the Dominion.

Our Prime Minister repeatedly sends ins true' ions on matters of importance, and when I was in Egypt we communicated daily on matters con- , cerning our troops. ! I cannot speak too highly of the j staff of New Zealand House. Great !is our admiration for the way in which they have perfo med their duties, especially during the time when London was being bombed. Not only was our office disorganised. but many of ‘he staff had their homes damaged; travelline was difficult; indeed, some could not travel, as their usual means of transport were not functioning, and many spent nights at the Office, where beds were installed. In any task which is undertaken, there is always the realisation that the purpose is the welfare of our , Dominion, and al’hough there nave been many difficulties, 1 am grateful for the confidence which our Government has always expressed and for the messages of encouragement and satisfaction which I have teceived from so many of our people in New Zealand.