High Commissioner Bill

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1137, 4 November 1904, Page 3

High Commissioner Bill

Passes the Hwe

Views of Government and Opposition Mem-

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, thie day.

In the House, yesterday afternoon Mr. Seddon moved tho second rending ot the High Commissioner* Bill. Ho asked mombors to approach the subject frco from bias, and not from any personal standpoint, It would be derogatory to the position if on its incoption anything was said which would detract from i:s importance, IL> urged tlmt tho present condition of tho colony warranted such a change as was proponed, and that unions wo kept abreast of what other colonies lmd done and woro doing, wo should be left bohind in tho raco as an integral part of the empiro, New Zoaland was in some rospccts as important ns Canada, and if we did not consider ourselves important other peoplo would judge us by our own standard, Members would be nurprisod if thoy know what important work was douo by tho Agont-Goncral, but ho bad seen the work dono by the High Commissioner of Canadi, and the fact of liis being a High Commissioner placed him in tho first position, When other colonies so improvod tho status of their Agout-Uoneral, why should Now Zealand refuso to do likewiso ? Tho High Commispioner would supersede and replaco the Agent General, but he did not think there would In any for fin increased stuff. Tho tligli Commissioner would bo ono o( the hardestworked officers over appointed, if lie did bis duly, and would bo morn of a commercial agent thai; a l ourticr. Tlio p; osenco of tho colony's agent was look.d for ut all important functions and lie was required io let tho world kn >w wlwt wo are and what our aspirations mo. He must bo the oyes and ears and voico of the Government of tho day, keeping in close touch with it but nhvays subordinate to Parliament and tho Government, and voicing only what was wanted by tho colony. Hn must keep the colony and its resources before the world, There was also a large share of diplomatic work to bo done, although he would not rank with ambassadors, and bo bolieved that in this rospect good service could be done, flo would lmvo groat responsibility m respect to finance and the commerce, industries and productions of the colony, and would be entrusted with carrying out details of our financial operations. His oflico would bo praciicelly a branch in London of the New Zealand Treasury. Hn thought an improvement con Id bo made if wo had in the heart of Loudon Now Zealand offices apart ultogothcr from the other colonies'. At present our offices woro far away from tho hoart of tho city, and the tunc had como whou thoy should bo movod, Thoro should bo a placo ,vhero peoplo could seo samples md get fnll particulars of nil our produce, acquire information about our Legislature and ovorything relating to tho colony, Other countries were oncroaching on our trade, nnd unless tnoro was dono than at present our producers would suffer severely, A groat doal could bo dono, and l'arliamont should bo asked ihis 'session lo malto provision for a New Zealand building in London such as ho had suggested. At present our representatives was working at a disadvantage ascomparod with other colonies, and ho asked Parliament to rernovo tlmt disadvantage. In conclusion, ho said ho believed lie could do moro good in tho colony than in tho subordinate position of High Commissioner, If a wiso selection was made tho appointment of a High Commissioner would bo for tho good of tho colony, and any stop thoy took to assert and maintain our position would uiiimutoly be to our future good. Mr Massoy said lie thought tho Bill had been delayed to the dying hours of the session, whon members wore anxious to ;;et away. Who, ho inquired, hud asked for this Bill? No ono was looking forward to it or was in favour of it. As to tbo duties which the Prctuior said would have to bo porformed by tho High Commissioner, ho nLvays understood tlmt they were at present performed by tho AgontGoneral. Tho High Commissioner of Canada lmd recoived that title boeause lie represented tho Dominion, Each atato oeforo that was represented by an Agouti Ucneral, Thero were no such reasons in our caso If any chango was made it should be jti bringing the Agent-General's department thoroughly up-to-date, so that it could give information to cho colony in tbo iuteresls of tho producers, and moro thoroughly udvertise our country and products. Ho objected to the proposal to appoint tho High Commissioner for such a long term as fivo yours, and went on to say that- not a single reason had been givon for making such an appointment, Tho impression prevailed that tho position was moant for tho Premior as a roward for past services, and it had been put to him (Mr Massoy) that ho should give it his support, Ho could not support it, thinking (hot it would rather tend to excite ridioulo than result in any permauor.t benefit to tho colony. Sir Josoph Ward pointed out that in view of the important legislation transacted this session it was impossible to have brought down this Bill at an earlier stage. His v sit to England recently had convinced hint strongly in tho opinion that it was necessary to raiso tho status of oor Agent-Genoral. Why, ho asked, should New Zealand bo different from other countrios in giving a high status to its ro* preßontativo in England ? Tho appoint mont of a high commissioner would placo this colony in a position of equality with tho other largo self governing colonics. Mr, |Tnyor moved as an amendment that tho Bill be road a second ( tinic tlmt day six month!!. If tho hill gofintn committco lie would movo that tho present Agent Genoral bo tho first High Commissioner appointed. He had scrvod the colony well, and was entitled io this roward. Ho could boo tromendous danger ahead unless tho High Commissioner was mado subject to iho Ministry of tho day.

Mr Lewig aeuondoil thn itmoudmont. Ho considered lho Bill entirely unnocDssary. Mr Hanan said ho world oppose the Bill at every stage, bolioving Hm', it was In t!ie|)Cßt interests of (he colony that ho should do so. Mr Smith contended that no m«n lmd better qualifications for or was more ontitlod to tho position of High Commissioner than Mr Soddon.

Tho dobato was ir.torrupted by the 5.00 adjournment. Tho House resumed at 7 DO, Aftor a lengthy dobate, Mr Taylor's amonihuent on the High Commis-iouon Bill was negatived by 115 to '2! i, and the second rending carried by 41) to '24. Alter tho Telegraph Ollico cliwnil, in coimnittco on tho High Coiimiiwoiiorn Bill tho term of appointment of High Commissioner was, on the motion of Mr, Soddon, altered from fiva to three yoars, and tho appointment was made subject to tho good behaviour clause, which was nmondo'l to provide that the Iligli Commissioner shall not join tho directorate of tho Advisory Board of any public company or trading corporation, 'i'hc travelling allowance of the High Commissioner was fixed at 1250 per annum. Tho Bill passed its linnl stages by 32 to 12.