HIGH COMMISSIONER.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 25, 31 January 1916, Page 6

HIGH COMMISSIONER.

LONDON, January 27. There was a large and representative reception of New Zealanders at Whitehall Rooms to mark appreciation of Sir Thcs. Mackenzie’s knighthood. Lord Plunket .presiding, eulogised Sir Thomas Mackenzie’s services to the Dominion and paid a tribute to his wife’s kindly attention to the New Zealand wounded. Not only had a worthy representative received an honour due ,but it was a compliment to the Dominion, which had sent sixty thousand men for the defence of the Empire. Sir Thos. Mackenzie, in reply, said he deeply appreciated the tributes. After the war there -would be a great opportunity for enlarging the markets here and on the Continent, In •conjunction -with Mr. Robinson he had succeeded in stopping a contract between an important Continental Power and the American meat packets which would have disastrously handicapped Australia and New Zealand for five years. On the question of the High Commissioner’s status, he did not agree with the granting of Cabin--et rank. The position should be dissociated from party. The Commissioner should represent the country, not a party, though he might have a Minister’s powers on certain subjects requiring to be dealt with on the spot. We -were on the eve of great changes. We are 'at the close of one form of Imperial control and the dawn of another. The Overseas people had loyally and enthusiastically ranged themselves behind the Motherland to the limit of their powers, and had 'a distinct promise to be consulted on peace terms. It was probable that in the near future they would be asked to take a proportionate share in the control of Imperial affairs.