“Best Bagman”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 849, 18 December 1929, Page 11

“Best Bagman”

SIR JAMES PARR PRAISED High Tributes In London JOINS THE FREE TRADE CRUSADE Ignited P.A.—By Telegraph Copyright S Received 9.5 am. > _ LONDON, Tuesday. IK JAMES PARK auuouuces that he is going to take a. brief holiday before devoting his energies to Lord Leaverbrook’s Empire Free Trade crusade. The Secretary of State for the Dominions. Lord Passfield. who presided at the New Zealand Association’s farewell luncheon to Sir James, paid a tribute to him as a lawyer and politician. Mr. Winston Churchill was his only rival in multiplicity of offices held, notably in education.

Lord Passfield recalled his own visit to New Zealand 30 years ago, when he was impressed with the Infant welfare campaign, which had reduced New Zealand’s rate of infant mortality to the lowest in the world. Sir James, in responding, said the recent Constitutional Conference had managed to work out a most difficult programme, under which it was expected to reconcile the laws of the old colonial days with the new principles of constitutional equality, under which the Dominions were sometimes tempted to think themselves better thau the Old Country. NEW ZEALAND FORTUNATE New Zealand was fortunate in the succession of great admirals and generals who held the position of Gover-nor-General, She was now getting Lord Bledisloe, who was a great agriculturist and would be able to talk to farmers in their own language. Referring to his own future, Sir James mentioned that he had had two invitations to contest New Zealand seats in Parliament. It appeared that he was expected again to take part In public affairs. ■'lf such is the case,” he said, ‘‘l am sorry for the present to have to disappoint you. New Zealand has given me almost every public office. For the moment I have no political ambitions in New Zealand, and do not desire to return to politics. My lines will probably be cast in other places. I would rather try to help New Zealand in its business here and otherwise. “For the moment England has a great interest for me. There are fine possibilities of useful work. It may be that I shall return to London and engage in private employment, but I can say nothing definite for the moment.” EMPIRE’S FAILURE ‘I think we fail lamentably to make the best use of the great estate our

forefathers bequeathed to us. I think 1 can best serve New Zealand and your sorely-tried industrialists by staying in the heart of the Empire devoting myself to the splendid cause of stabilising the wonderful Commonwealth of British nations. I shall next year engage actively in the work of education and propaganda, which I will continue till the goal is won.” Lord Islington, who presided, quoted a friend’s remark that Sir James Parr had been the best Imperial “bagman” who had ever come to London. He added: “His career has been brilliant, whether in civic, political or finally Imperial activities.” Mr. L. S. Amery, a former Secretary of State for the Dominions, remarked that seldom had such a modest disposition been combined with such successful bagmanship. Those present included Lord Bledisloe, Lord Clarendon, Lord Inchcape, Lieut.-Colonel H. L. B. De Satge, ceremonial usher at the Colonial Office, and all the Australian AgentsGeneral. EMPIRE FREE TRADE Chief interest centred in Sir James's personal announcement that his relinquishment of the High Commissionership did not mean the end of his zeal and activity for the Empire. “I may confess to have pledged myself to give my time and energies to the furtherance of the great cause of Empire free trade. I know free trade within the Empire has its difficulties, but I am convinced that they are not insuperable. The thing can be done. I propose to help it all 1 can. “X am sure that the maintenance of the Empire largely depends on closer and freer commercial relations between the Motherland and the Dominions and colonies. We have not yet scratched the surface of the Empire’s immense potentialities.”