HIGH COMMISSIONER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 63, 1 August 1912, Page 4

HIGH COMMISSIONER.

HON. T. MACKENZIE APPOINTED.. THE HOUSE'S APPRECIATION. By Telegraph—Pre.ss Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the House of Representatives today Mr. Massey said tile Government had offered the position of High Commissioner to the Hon. Tlios. Mackenzie,, and lie had accepted the oll'er. Mr. Mackenzie had had a very long commercial, experience in London and New Zealand,, and had also a long political career. He was certain that Mr. Mackenzie would do credit, to himself and benelit to th# country. He would ask the Governor in a few days to make the appointment. Sir Joseph Ward congratulated Mr. Mackenzie. He said that he was certain, that he would carry out liis important duties to the satisfaction of the country. Mr. Russell also added a meed of praise to his chief in securing the blu# ribbon of the public service in thiscountry. Mr. Mackenzie expressed liis sense of the high honor conferred upon him. One of the most important matters to b#' dealt with, he said, was the access of ' trade to some of the European countries. He intended laying some of his ideas on thw mutter before the Prime Minister when at Home. He would endeavor to uphold the dignity and honor of the Dominion.

HON. T. MACKENZIE'S CAREER,

By Telegraph—Parliamentary Reporter. Wellington, Last Night. The Hon. T. Mackenzie is 58 years of" ago, and, though born in Edinburgh, has lived in New Zealand since his earliestyears. He lias been a bush, farmer andJ a land surveyor, and has engaged in coilimercc. He was lirst elected to the Hons# of Representatives as member for Clutha in 1887. In 1889 he was appointed by ' the New Zealand Government a commissioner to proceed to England and inquire into the produce trade, and in. 1800 he again visited the Old Country privately for a similar purpose, and spent three years there representing., several colonial mercantile firms in the wool, meat and grain business. During that time he exposed and stopped several frauds in connection with the NewZealand meat trade, for which he received the thanks of the London merchants and .some valuable presentationsof plate. While in London, also, he inaugurated the annual New Zealand dinner re-union, at which almost everything on the table was New Zealand grown. He. has at various times, since he entered Parliament, represented the Waihemoand Taieri constituencies, but as the lastnamed constituency was wiped off th# map at the last redistribution of bounderics he successfully contested the Egmont seat. Mr. Mackenzie is, it mav be added, openly proud of the fact that he "has never been defeated at a Parliamentary election. He was also Mayorof Roslyn for four years, and for six. years was a member (and two Years chairman) of the Otago Education Board,, a member of the Otago Charitable Aid Board, a trustee of the Dunedin Hospital, and treasurer of the Otago High School Board of Governors. He is alsoFellow of the Itoyal Geographical Society, a governor of the Imperial Institute (London), and he was a member of the Tariff Commission and the Education Commission, and chairman of th# Extension of Commerce Committee ol the House of Representatives. In Parliament Mr. Mackenzie was for many years an Independent, frequently with Opposition leanings, but during the recess of 1007-8 he publicly announced that, he had decided to join the Government party, his reason being that it was a, time, in his opinion, for moderate mento stand together to oppose the demands, of extreme Socialism on the land question. He is a pronounced freeholder. He first attained Cabinet rank in January, 1009, on the reconstruction of the Ward Government, being appointed }is honorary member of Cabinet with the portfolios of Industries and Commerce and Minister in charge of Tourist and; Health Resorts, Scenery Preservation, and State Forests Departments. In May of that year he was appointed to full: Cabinet rank, and given the additional portfolio of Agriculture, and later at different times acted us PostmasterGeneral, Minister of Education, and Minister of Customs. When Sir JosephWard retired frofh the leadership of tinparty this year Mr. Mackenzie succeededhim and remained in office a few months, until the no-confidence vote early thi.s month.