H.—2B,

Session 11. 1912. NEW ZEALAND.

HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR NEW ZEALAND (REPORT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH, 1912.

Presented, to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command.

DEPARTMENT OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER: REPORT FOR 1911. Sir, — Westminster Chambers, 13 Victoria Street, London S.W., 10th May, 1912. In submitting the following report upon the work of the High Commissioner's Department during the year 1911, I desire to draw your special attention to the following points :— (1.) The large increase in the growth of the Department during recent years; and (2.) The number, extent, and variety of the subjects dealt with. The growth of the Department is perhaps best evidenced, firstly, by the number of salaried officers now employed as compared with former years, and, secondly, by the comparisons set forth hereinafter between the present volume of certain parts of the departmental work and that for previous years. There are now, including the High Commissioner, the Veterinarian, and the Dairy-produce Inspector, forty-eight salaried officers on the books of the Department, as compared with nineteen in 1902 and sixteen in 1892; whilst the following figures partially serve to illustrate the extent of the growth of the work : — Despatches received and sent to the 1911. 1909. 1902. 1895. 1892. Dominion .. .. .. 9,536 8,267 5,084 2,560 2,586 Cablegrams received and sent to the Dominion .. .. ..1,258 958 742 306 168 Foreign Imprest Account: Number of payments .. .. .. 6,489 5,266 . 3,609 1,772 2,048 The increase has been collateral with the growth of the Dominion, but in addition has been accelerated here by the starting of the new Shipping and Immigration Branch in November, 1909, which latter has been done with satisfactory financial results to the Dominion. As regards the subjects dealt with b]- the officers of the Department, these comprise almost every matter touched upon by the different Departments in the Dominion. Their variety and extent has been multiplied in recent years by the evident desire of the various Departments to make use of this office for information and assistance whenever it can be best obtained and furnished from this country. Its scope is not, however, limited to the Government Departments, but the services of its officers are freely utilized by local bodies and individuals in the Dominion and in this country requiring assistance in procuring goods or information. This, of course, throws upon the responsible officers a far greater amount of work, than in former years, and this work being of such a varied nature it greatly increases the responsibilities of these officers and the arduousness of their positions, which probably is not shared, to the same extent by officers of any other single Department in the Dominion. Before proceeding to give details of the work transacted in the year 1911, it will perhaps not be out of place to briefly describe for record purposes the composition of the office and the method adopted for dealing with the many subjects previously referred to. The Department has practically three main branches, all under the supervision and direction of the permanent Secretary of the Department, who is responsible to the High Commissioner for the proper carrying-out of the work. These branches are —(1) The General Section; (2) the Financial and Commercial Section; (3) the Shipping and Immigration Section. In addition to these three main branches there are smaller sections of the Department entrusted to —(4) The Produce Commissioner; (5) the Veterinarian; (6) the Dairy Inspector. The General Section, under the charge of the Chief.Clerk, Mr. Row, deals with the dissemination of information concerning the Dominion both to visitors and by correspondence. It also

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