NEW YEAR HONOURS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 26, 1 February 1937, Page 6

NEW YEAR HONOURS.

It ean certainly be said of the New Year's Honours list that it is an honours list; there is no trace of political colour in the selection of the names, and the honours bestowed are folly merited. The list is a fairly long one, and it is based on service to the people. The honour conferred upon Sir George Harper is probably unique, in that this very welldeserved recognition has come in his ninetyfifth year. Sir George throughout his long ■life has borne without abuse the grand old name of -"gentleman." family is one of the oldest in Christchurch, and he has throughout his long life lived up to a great tradition. An exceptionally gifted lawyer, he -was always a willing worker in any cause which had for its object the betterment of his fellow citizens. It is now six years since Sir George Troup relinquished the mayoralty of Wellington, but his honour comes, very fittingly, in the year of the opening of the National Art Gallery at Wellington, for he was practically the founder of the movement which led to the erection of the gallery, and he worked unceasingly in the cause of art. Professor Hugh Mackenzie has been a stalwart of the education service ever since his appointment as one of the first four professors of Wellington College. Mr. J. W. A. Heenan has done particularly good work as assistant law draftsman and as Undersecretary of Internal Affairs. He comes into direct contact with the general public perhaps to a greater extent than any other civil servant, and his unfailing courtesy and quick appreciation and understanding of the problems which the leaders of public affairs are called upon to faee has won for him the high regard of* all classes of the community. It is pleasing to note that there has been recognition of the work accomplished for suffering humanity by the secretaries of Hospital Boards, who have had a particularly heavy burden of pity and of organisation to bear during the past four or five years.