HIGH COMMISSIONER IN N.Z.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 5 January 1945, Page 2

HIGH COMMISSIONER IN N.Z.

SIR PATRICK DUFF’S APPOINTMENT Wellington, This Day. Sir Patrick Duff. Deputy High Comcissioner for Britain in Canada since 1941, ha-s been selected to fill the post of High Commissioner in New Zealand .for His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom in succession to Sir Harry Batterbee, whose extended term of office will expire this year. Sir Patrick Duff will take up his duties in the middle of the year. TRIBUTE TO SIR H. BATTERBEE Wellington, This Day. “Sir Harry has proved in every way an outstanding High Commissioner. He has won the appreciation and respect of the New Zealand Government for the able, sincere ’ and tactful way he conducted his office,” said the ActingPrime Minister. Mr W. Nash, to-day, when paying a tribute on behalf of the Government to Sir Harry Batterbee, whose extended term of office expires shortly. Mr Nash said Sir Harry Batterbee’s term covered the whole of the war years, during which period he had at all times worked in the closest touch with Cabinet Ministers and officials flbr the furtherance of the common cause. His experience and wisdom, always, available, had been of the greatest assistance to New Zealand’s war effort. The opening by Sir Harry Batterbee in March. 1939, of the office of the United Kingdom High Commissioner in New Zealand was a landmark in New Zealand’s history. That office was now firmly established in the governmental machinery, not only because of its proven value, but also perhaps as much because of the personal qualities of the first High Commissioner. New Zealand people had good cause for gratitude that during this difficult period the Iligh Commissioner was one who had been intimately acquainted with the policy and methods of the British Government.

“Sir Harry and Lady Batterbee have taken a deep interest in the many cultural activities in New Zealand and have made many firm friends whom will be greatly missed. The greatest and most sincere compliment I can pay,” concluded Mr aNsh, “is to say that they have deepened the affection New Zealanders have for their British kinsmen and their respect for the integrity of the British Government.”