NEW YEAR HONOURS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 83, 2 January 1930, Page 10

NEW YEAR HONOURS

Over fifty years’ public service is warranty for the new and high honour that comes to the Prime Minister to-day. Sir Joseph Ward is already a baronet and a knight of the Order of’which he is now to receive the Grand Cross. e lq this democratic country, many people will' wonder of what avail is this further ennoblement of one whose record is his chief title to fame. It is all a matter of taste. Seddon and Massey never accepted titles, but their names are none the less on that account. The knighthood conferred on the Chief Justice has been well earned. In honouring Sir Michael Myers, the Government also honours the legal profession which he has for long adorned. Very popular, also, will be the knighting of Sir Thomas Sidey, who has given long, faithful and conscientious service in Parliament and in the cause of education. He is of the best type of citizen and Parliamentarian. In the public estimation,., moreover, he has a special regard because his unwearied efforts to introduce summertime were finally crowned with success. Forty-five years’ service on the Parliamentary staff has been recognised in the honour conferred on Mr. E. W. Kane. The rewarding of 'Civil Servants in this way is an old-established and good custom. On the other hand, it is probably a new precedent—certainly a welcome one—for New Zealand to include a musician in its honours list. In making the innovation, the Government could scarcely have chosen a more worthy subject for reward than Mr. Robert Parker. Incidentally, if done with discretion, the honouring of the arts will pay tribute to a fraternity to whom humanity owes many priceless possessions, >