THE HIGH COMMISSIONERSHIP

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 622, 26 March 1929, Page 10

THE HIGH COMMISSIONERSHIP

ON the heels of the report that Hon. T. t M. Wilford would be the next High Commissioner comes. a flat contradiction from the gentleman chiefly concerned. Those who know the ways of contemporary politics and political appointments will he no more surprised at Mr. Wilford’s contradiction than they were at the report. It is never good tactics in politics to confirm unguardedly the premature announcements that filter mysteriously from the centres of action, and a denial never does any harm. Mr. Wilford has been thought of, if not openly spoken of, whenever the High Commissionership has been mentioned in recent months. Affability and polish are two salient attributes required of a High Commissioner, and Mr. Wilford is handsomely equipped with these qualifications. A well-informed and witty speaker, he would invest the High Commissioner’s after-dinner speeches in London with a sparkling quality absent since the days of the Hon. W. Pemher Reeves. The House lost one of its brightest speakers when Mr. Reeves left New Zealand for London, and in Mr. Wilford it would lose another interesting and amusing personality. Though Mr. Wilford would find the High Commissionership a congenial office, and would probably welcome the appointment —for what man of normal tastes would not? —there are some tactical reasons why the United Party should he careful in making its decision. From a Ministry whose chief weakness is its lack of seasoned figures, it is extremely doubtful if so experienced a campaigner could be spared. The withdrawal of Mr. Wilford would make the Hutt seat that he has served so well a virtual gift for Mr. Walter Nash, the tenacious and able secretary of the Labour Party. Supposing the United Government fails to fulfil its rich election promises, this development would probably materialise in any case. Perhaps, with an eye to that contingency, Mr. Wilford would not he averse from accepting the post; hut even this small reduction in its strength would not ease the position of a party that is in a sufficiently pronounced minority already. The best reason of all why no fresh appointment should he made yet is the excellent -work accomplished by Sir James Parr in his one term in London. Sir James has obtained for New Zealand better publicity in London than it ever had before, and that is only one phase of his practical work. The fact that earlier High Commissioners have had their terms extended for less reason should be weighed by Cabinet along with the other considerations mentioned.