The Press SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1960. Birthday Honours

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29228, 11 June 1960, Page 12

The Press SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1960. Birthday Honours

The striking feature of the New Zealand section of the Birthday Honours list is the knighthood for Mr E. T. Tirikatene. He is the first New Zealand Labour member of Parliament to accept such a distinction, though Sir William Jordan was knighted (while the National Party was in power) after he had retired from politics, and other Labour personages have accepted lesser honours. If this break w’ith equalitarian tradition is questioned by Labour conservatives, they may well think that the change comes appropriately with a Maori leader who has served their party well for many years. Now that a precedent has been set, other Labour politicians may feel free to accept honours of a higher rank than hitherto. Most New Zealanders will regard this as "ho more than proper respect for the Crown. The knighthood for Mr Douglas Robb is most timely, not only because of his services to New Zealand medicine but because he will follow another New Zealander, Sir Arthur

Porritt, as president of the British Medical Association next year. The other honours recognise a wid3 variety of political, social and cultural services, including those of the present Mayor of Christchurch (Mr George Manning), Who has long enjoyed public esteem not limited to the ranks of Labour. The inclusion of the Prime Minister of Western Samoa may be taken as a compliment to a nation on the verge of self-governihent as well as recognition of his part in constitutional development. Among the humanitarian workers honoured we are pleased to see the names of Dr. H. R. J. Donald, chairman of the Christchurch Aged People’s Welfare Council, and of two women who have directed hospitals in remote localities— Mrs M. W. Gunn, of Whataroa, and Sister Mary Imelda, formerly of the Chatham Islands. A unique service to New Zealand is recognised in the award to Mr Godfrey Bowen, who has made shearing something of an art and has shared his secrets generously.