Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1950. THE BIRTHDAY HONOURS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 70, 4 January 1950, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1950. THE BIRTHDAY HONOURS

The list of New Zealanders whom the King' delighteth to hon-

our, recommended by the Labour Government, will be received with general approval. The wide field 1 of activities in which recipients of honours in the civil division are associated is in keeping with the practice followed,by the late regime, throughout its term, of acknowledging . accomplishment and efifoiT in advancing the interests of the" community in spheres that in the past did not receive due recognition. The knighthood conferred upon Mr J. R. McKenzie is undoubtedly- a mark of appreciation of his philanthropic employment of wealth earned by successful business ability. His gift of £IOO,OOO as a trust fund for the benefit of crippled children, New Zealand servicemen and the Plunket Society, besides invaluable assistance to other than material objects, has deserved well of his country. Sir Alexander Johnstone, K.C., is one of the Dominion’s most distinguished advocates, but it is significant that he has also taken a useful part in advancing higher education. Among the recipients of lesser honours is one, Mr John Bitchener, whose preferment cannot be attributed to anything but his work for South Canterbury, not least in educational matters. It is a fitting'coincidence that the British. Government has seen fit to recommend Mr Arthur Sims for a knighthood. Gaining fame first as a cricketer, Sir Arthur won credit in later years as a philanthropist whose benefactions for educational advancement were bestowed not only on his native country but also on Australia and South Africa, and, further, did much for medicine and surgery. In the latter field he gave the Dominion its first supply of radium and provided funds for the first New Zealand surgical unit serving with, the Eighth Army. Taken all in all, the list of honours sets a standard of which New Zealand may be proud.