A LETTER FROM HOME.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1920, Page 7

A LETTER FROM HOME.

INTERESTING VIEWS. SIR THOMAS MACKENZIE'S RETURN Writing to a Taranaki friend, Sir Thomas Mackenize states:— In laying down, the reins of office one really feels in a measure the withdrawal from work which during all these years has been so interesting, and, I hope, useful. Great changes have occurred since I arrived here. Four High Commissioners have passed away. It was a privilege to know Lord Strathcona, who represented Canada. He was one of our great Empire builders, and one of the kindliest of men, and I shall never forget the holiday I spent in his delightful home at Glencoe. His wife was also a most interesting woman, although her memory had begun to fail when I first met her. Every night at dinner during my holidays at their home, she repeated the same story; she pointed to a brooch sho wore in which was a },ieee of iron surrounded by diamonds, and she declared that it was a piece of the last spike driven in the CanadianPacific Railway by her husband. They lost a fine grandson in the war. Sir George Reid also has passed away. He was unsurpassed as an after-dinner speaker; genial and kindly to the last degree, and a man who had left his imprint on the political and economic history of the Commonwealth of Australia. South Africa has witnessed the passing of two outstanding men in Sir Richard Solomon and the Rt. Hon. Mr. Schreiner. Mr. Schreiner died only recently. He was one of the most lovable of the representatives of the great Dominions, and the unclouded sunshine of his home life was reflected in his daily conversation. Sir John McCall, of Tasmania, who died some months ago, was a distinct loss to the Commonwealth; he was beloved by everyone. During the war he devoted his time to attending almost wholly to soldiers in his medical capacity. Of both High Commissioners and Agents-General I am the last of those who held office in 1812. STRENUOUS TIMES. Regarding the office itself, it has gone through strenuous times and dealt with problems of weight and responsibility; the money alone that has passed through the Department for various purposes must run into between two and three hundred millions sterling, and there is hardly a department of the State with which we have not been concerned during these times. Difficult and delicate negotiations had to be conducted, our soldiers to be cared for, and many matters of Imperial and New Zealand concern to be attended to. The air raids were a disturbing factor, and many deaths occurred within the vicinity of our home. I have been loyally supported by my staff, but we have lost several members by death. I also lost the invaluable services of Mr. C. Wray Palliser, the Secretary to the Department, in consequence of ill-health.. But I anr grateful for the Health and strength which has enabled, me to get through. I had to undergo a very serious operation, which fortunately incapacitated me for only about a month, and had the effect of restoring me to complete health. GENEROSITY AT HOME. The generous manner in which I have been treated by the people here is more than gratifying; nothing could exceed their cordiality and kindness; and distinctions have been conferred on me which I never for a moment thought my services justified. The last of these originated spontaneously from the authorities here. ■ I am sure that I shall leave the Old Country carrying with me the cordial wishes of those with whom I have been brought into contact. It is true we have had many severe fights over produce, etc., but one of the characteristics of the Briton is that he can engage in a good stand-up fight without sacrificing his good opinion of his combatant. A VIEW OF THE BRITISH. I am often asked what I think of the future of this country. I do not believe a better race ever lived than its inhabitants, but it appears to me that they take some matters too lightly, and I doubt whether the lessons of the war have yet had their proper effect. We observe Germans getting access to this country again, and we know that their | methods of the past will be adopted in the future, if they get the chance. What is wrong is, I think, clearly set forth in Lord Fisher's book "Memories," in l which he states men were promoted because of length of service or influence rather than because of capacity. As he put it, "Some day the Empire will go down because it is Buggins' turn." It took this country three or four years to get rid of the incompetent officers of the Army and to enable the real grit to come through to the top. The deplorable Dardanelles expedition is an apt illustration of that, for although there were only about 3000 Turks when our men landed at Suvla Bay, the episode of 24,000 British soldiers not marching three miles, whilst the Turks were able to send for reinforcements and march 73 miles in two days, and afterwards inflict 8000 casualties on the British, shows deplorable incapacity. The Navy, too, when the days of war came, and especially at Jutland, discovered weaknesses that had been pointed out long before by competent naval authorities, and as one officer, who occupied a prominent position in the battle of Jutland, said to me, "The surprise is that the Germans left the British ships before they had Bent most of them to the bottom." Of course, defects were corrected afterwards; but one feels that the reactionary incompetent is allowed to reach the top, and in many instances, when he blunders, instead of being ignominiously dismissed, is again placed in a position of responsibility, and at times decorated. It may seem almost impertinent to refer to these outstanding questions, but the conclusion I have arrived at is that you may change Governments, but so long as Departments are controlled as they are, and have been, in this country for many years, by the Civil Service, the Minister has little influence. I understand that Gladstone told Lord Fisher that he was helpless against all the Public Departments. If this nation, in whom New Zealand is so much concorned, is to stand, these things must be changed, and I believe that earnest men in this country are, at the present time, struggling manfully to effect the reforms that are necessary. A GREAT HERO. I have just come from the funeral service of one of the greatest heroes of our nation, Lord Fisher- There can' be no doubt that his far-seeing mind correctly foretold events, and that, so far as his power admitted, he provided for great The service «t Wtntmln-

ster Abbey was simple, solemn and touching. The anthem, "Yea, though 1 walk through the valley of the shadow ■of death," was most tenderly and feeli'ingly rendered, as well as the closing hymn, "Now the Laborer's Task is, OV'i''Father, in Thy gracious keeping Leave Me now Thy servant sleeping." j The Blessing said, silence fell for a while until, from whore the band was stationed in the nave, swelled up the roll and throbbing of the drums, so full j of sorrow and of triumph, in the "Dead March in Saul." Silence once more, and then, ringing clear from beyond the altar, soaring up into the arches and vaulting of the roof, came, from the hidden bugles of the Marine Band, tho notes (the agony and the proud confidence of them!) of the Last Post. LORD FISHER AND MR CHURCHILL. In connection with tho Dardanelles Commission, a very sincere friendship arose between tho Admiral and myself, and during his painfull illness I received from him letters full of hope and cowage. I shall never forget tho following incident which occurred before the Commission. Lord Fisher was blamed by some of the members for not stating at tho Imperial War Council's table his objections to the Dardanelles scheme. He replied* "I advised my Minister, Mr. Churchill." The chairman of the Commission said that that was not sufficient; he ought to have spoken. I contended that he had done all that was necessary, and that constitutionally his attitude was right. This contention was supported by other authorities, and Lord Fisher's gratitude was exceedingly great in consequence, as he might otherwise have been censured. A member of the Commission (I think it was Lord Sterndale) asked Lord Fisher for his opinion of Mr. Churchill. The Admiral gave a characteristically emphatic reply, adding, however, that he would not "let Winston down," because it was he who supported him in bis demand for two ships to proceed to the Falkland Islands. The Admiralty had refused, stating that they could not be spared, that they could not be made ready for a month. Lord Fisher said: "They must leave to-night," and he called for Mr. Churchill's assistance. After a keen discussion, the ships were despatched that night, and the Admiral, in giving his evidence, assumed a striking posture, and, holding up his hand, said: "How long were they at the Falkland Islands before they were required?" Ten minutes; and had they not been there the Germans would have sunk our ships and what would have been the, consequence? They had ten thousand timeexpired soldiers in the Argentine, ready to build a fort and to inake the defences of the Falkland Islands a second Gibraltar. Once established, they would havo interfered with the work in South Africa, and they would have become a serious menace throughout the Pacific. THE FALKLAND BATTLE. Some little time afterwards Admiral Phillimore, who commanded one of the ships at the Falkland Islands, was dining with three of us at the United Service Club, and I alluded to Lord Fisher's statement. He corroborated every word of it, and gave a very interesting account of the battle. Some of the Englishmen wished to send the Germans to the bottom in the same manner as our own Pacific unit had teen treated by the unscrupulous Germans, but British humanity prevailed, and they decided to save as many Germans as they could. Tho Admiral described the hauling of a podgy fellow out of the water, who said: "I am zee commander; I am vee commander." They got him on board, and treated him well, but in a day or two he became so arrogant and offensive that they had to isolate him. A couple of nights ago I incidentally mentioned Lord Fisher's description of the intentions of the Germans at the Falkland Islands, when L6rd Bryce, taking a menu, sketched thereon Stanley Harbor, and stated that, had the Germans obtained possession, it was naturally so strong that they could have made it impregnable. He showed the location of the British ships, and how they fired over a ridge of hills in order to hit the Germans and sink them. Admiral Phillimore told me that it was a mistake to suppose, as some people did, that the Germans were not brave fighters. On one of the ships that subsequently went down, there were three hundred dead, and towards the end of the battle, the German guns were worked by officers alone. He paid a. great tribute to the splendid fighting qualities of the Germans, but his views on their inhuman conduct in some respects were very graphically expressed. May I quote the words which Lord Fisher wrote in my copy of his book, which he presented" to me? "The good deeds of Sir Thomas Mackenzie are related on pagc3 01, 02 and 70, and they will ever live in the memory of his friend and admirer, Fisher, Admiral of the Fleet." ' A LUSITANIA DAY. A friend of mine, Mr. Davis, of Auckland, suggested to me the other day that we ought not to forget the history of the past,, and that, in order to keep in mind the enemies that we might some day again have to meet, he advocated a Lusitania Day to impress us with the nature of our enemies' methods and with the links that bind us to America. In a speech which the American Ambassador delivered a few weeks ago, he stated his great faith in the final destiny of the British people, and declared that Canada would be the bridge which would unite Great Britain with the United States of America. It r js just possible that I may return via America. NEW ZEALAND MEAT IN AMERICA. I had an interview here with two very able Americans who desired me to go over to New York in order that I might be shown something of the methods of the Meat' Trust in New York. They were connected with a paper called The Globe, which was struggling to place foodstuffs within the reach of the people a;t a minimum cost, and they told me that they were also connected with firms that could purchase the meat from our farmers at a slightly higher price than was now being paid by the British Government for our lamb and mutton, which, in turn, would be sold to . the American people at a very low cost for distribution. They told me of the enormous prices now being, charged for meat. If I go to America I shall hope to learn a good deal about the prospects of trade between the United States of America and our country. We require markets and the more markets we have the greater will be the prospects for the profitable occupation of our country. NEW ZEALANDERS AT HOME. The war has given our young men a great opportunity for seeing something of other countries, and at the present time there are thirty to forty of them .studying »t SSsford aqd GMatnjgg*. A

short time ago I saw those at the latter j University; they are hard-working young fellows and are making the best of the opportunities afforded them; and I believe they intend to return to tfieir i country. I stayed with the Master of | Christ's College, and he said that what was desired was to send to the Overseas Dominions the best of their young I men, in order that they might study all that makes for the interests and development of the Empire. I should like to have seen more of our men taking practical instruction in industries which are not yet established in our Dominion. It is a matter which I had much at heart, and was disappointed that it was not taken up to a greater extent than it was when our men were here. However, 1 had not the privilege of being a member of the Education Committee that had the management of affairs and consequently could not give a hand in promoting my views. Lord .Tellicoe's appointment to New Zealand has met with gratification here, and I am sure it has in our Dominion. I have been once more in France signing Treaties, and during my last visit I went to Fontainebleu, that ancient and historic Palace, and was deeply interested in all I saw. The signing of the Hungarian Treaty at Versailles was a brilliant affair, and that day Paris looked at its best —sparkling sunshine, youth and beauty, and brilliant equipages. COLONIAL FRUIT, Recently we received consignments of apples and we had an exhibition of them and of pears at Cardiff, and obtained a silver gilt modal for apples and pears. The fruit opened cut in excellent condition and was much admired. I believe there Ib a great future here for our fruit trade. This brings me to what I have long felt to be necessary at this end, and that is, a department representing exclusively the commercial and production interests of New Zealand. I believe there is a field for wide usefulness in that respect; indeed the suggestion might bo extended to include, or rather unite With, Australia. At the moment each country and each individual consumer goe3 his own way, and there is no consistent relationship in the transactions that take place. MEETING WITH HIS MAJESTY. At the opening, by His Majesty the King, of the Imperial War Museum at the Crystal Palace on the 9th June, I mot many friends, and the King did me the honour of allowing me to accompany him some considerable time round the exhibits and entered into a conversation regarding the Prince of Wales' visit to New Zealand and Australia. He was very grateful for the reception tendered by the New Zealanders. I assured His Majesty that nothing could exceed the loyalty of our country towards the Crown and Empire. He then referred to the very heavy programme that had been planned for the Prince in Australia, and said that in New Zealand their loyalty had made the work heavy. He 'remarked that it was hardly realised what was the strain of having to meet with continuous entertaining and how exhausting it was. He then described his experiences in connection with public functions. A TRIP TO THE HIGHLANDS. iMy boat sails some time in September, and before then I have to take a trip to the Highlands, where I am promised a delightful time. I am to stay at on ex-Governor'a home and Lord Lovat has askeH me to sec The foreßts of the Highlands, and has promised to drive me round the Mackenzie country. He is a great timber expert and is, at the present time, presiding over the Forestry Conference. APPRECIATIVE RESOLUTIONS. I am greatly pleased at the motions carried by Chambers of Commerce here regarding my work. The following resolution was recently carried by the Association of British Chambers of Commerce at Glasgow:— "That in view of the distinguished and able services rendered to the Nation by the Hon. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, G.C.M.G., LL.D., the Association of British Chambers of Commerce regrets to learn of his retirement from the position of High Commissioner in London of the Government of New Zealand and of his intended return to that country. Having in mind all that Sir Thomas Mackenzie has done, this meeting is unanimous in regarding his retirement as a national loss, and would welcome an announcement that means have been found to retain his services in this country." It is very gratifying to have such a resolution. RETURN TO NEW ZEALAND. I am looking forward with pleasure to my return to the Dominion. It has been a long severance, but I have endeavoured to keep myself in touch with my friends. The changes that have occurred, however, will, in many respects, make my return a sad one, because so many friends have passed away in the meantime; but many remain to give u/3 a hearty welcome. My wife is making a round of visits, saying farewell, and my daughter, Mrs. McDonald, will come with us for a trip. My son, Bruce, with his wife, will I' hope go to the Dominion in about sixmonths. He. has been studying radiology and skin diseases. Radiology is now recognised as an important branch of medical science; the experiences of many have been gathered together arid co-ordinated, and now a diploma is granted for efficiency. My son hopes to win this diploma, and in the meantime is getting together special plant, the cost of which will run into a big sum, but I am only too happy to help my lads who work so hard' to make their profession a success. He hopes to pass the examination at Cambridge this week. A BUSY TIME. I shall have a very busy time before leaving. Owing to pressure of work I have had to postpone the consideration of some produce And commercial questions, -but as I shall have a few weeks to spare before the vessel sails, the date of its departure having been put off two months, I hope to be able to visit Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool and some Midland towns. I also hope to do something towards opening direct communication between New Zealand and ports on this side in the interests of our produce. I cannot conclude, without saying that we are looking forward with intense interest to meeting our many friends in the Dominion, and this letter is one I am spnding my friends before leaving.