OUR LONDON AGENCY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2240, 18 November 1907, Page 1

OUR LONDON AGENCY.

EFFETE ANJD EXPENSIVE. Special to Times. WELLINGTON, Nov. 16. Thero has been a good deal of balk in tho lobbies about a return which has been laid upon .the table of tlio Legislative Council on the motion of tho Hon. T. Kennedy MacDonald. The return gives .particulars of the staff and salaries of the High Commissioner’s office in London. The staff consists of 28 members, and the •threo highest salaries aro those of the High Commissioner, £2OOO a year; Air. W. Kennaway, £800; and Air. H. C. Cameron, £425. It is stated that five o-f .the members ot the staff, exclusive of the High Commissioner, have been in New Zealand. ’ The total cost of the High Commissioner’s office, including the salary ofl the High Commissioner and any allowances otherwise paid to him and travelling expenses, for the year ended A Larch 31st, 1907, is sot ’down as £9032. Air. McDonald intends to pursue the subject further. Ho is of opinion that tlio officers in question should have a colonial knowledge of .tilie Dominion, and that there should be a rotation of officers between Wellington and London. He also suggests that .the office should be removed from Westminster to the City of London, and that the High Commissionership should not he held by one gentleman for a longer period than five years. Mr, AlacDonald will .ask the Council to affirm these views, and lie lias given notice of motion .accordingly.