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At the beginning of 1949, Mr T. O. W. Brebner, who had been in charge of this office since its establishment, was appointed ConsulGeneral at San Francisco. Following the establishment of the San Francisco ConsulateGeneral, the consular jurisdiction of the New York Office, which had previously been limited to the New York area, has been extended to cover the thirty-six States not included in the jurisdiction of the former post. Mr D. W. Woodward has been appointed Consul-General with effect from 1 April, 1949. He will also hold the office of Trade Commissioner, a new post created in recognition of the importance of New York as a centre of world trade. The Consul-General is assisted by a Vice-Consul and a Customs representative. 9. Consulate-General of New Zealand, San Francisco This new post was established with Mr T. O. W. Brebner as the first Consul-General on 15 February, 1949. It will perform the usual consular functions in respect of the States of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, and the territory of Hawaii. OVERSEAS REPRESENTATION IN NEW ZEALAND While no alteration in the number of diplomatic Missions and British Commonwealth High Commissioners' Offices has occurred during the year, important changes in the status of such representation have taken place. In November, 1948, the Governments of the United States of America and New Zealand agreed to elevate their respective Missions in Wellington and Washington to the status of Embassies, and on 22 December, 1948, the then Minister of the United States of America at Wellington (the Honourable Robert M. Scotten) presented his credentials as the first Ambassador of a foreign State to New Zealand. Following closely upon this development came the recommendations made by the British Commonwealth Prime Ministers at their Conference in London in October concerning the status of High Commissioners. In accordance with these recommendations. High Commissioners in New Zealand now take precedence as if they had had the rank of Ambassador when they first arrived at Wellington. This procedure, which was approved by His Majesty the King, and came into force in New Zealand on 13 January, 1949, replaces the former practice of ranking High Commissioners according to the seniority of Commonwealth countries. From this date also the title of " Excellency " was granted to High Commissioners. Under