The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, JARY 4, 1926. THE NEW YEAR HONORS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 10193, 4 January 1926, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, JARY 4, 1926. THE NEW YEAR HONORS.

The list of the New Year Honors for this Dominion is small on this occasion, but the awards will he extremely popular. In being elevated to the Privy Council, with the right to be addressed as “The Right Honorable,” an unusual honor has been conferred on a Prime Minister so young as Mr Coates. As a rule. Prime Ministers are content to secure, as an initial step to Royal favour, a knighthood. Mr Coates, in not seeking a title, may intend to follow in the footsteps of his illustrious predecessor, the late Mr Massey. Sir Francis Bell's promotion to membership of the Privy Council will create less surprise. On the eve of his retirement from the important Ministerial positions which he has held for so many years, and further as a mark of honor in respect of his brilliant legal career, it is, indeed, fitting that he, too, should be chosen as one of His Majesty’s advisers on matters of State. New Zealand now has four Privy Councillors, the other two being Sir Joseph Ward and the retiring Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout. On his part Sir James Allen, the retiring High Commissioner, has been promoted from K.C.B. to G.C. AEG. —a ciistihction not frequently bestowed on overseas residents. In addition to having filled in a highly satisfactory manner the ordinary varied duties appertaining to the Dominion’s London agency, Sir James, as is wellknown, has also represented New Zealand worthily at numerous sessions of the League of Nations in Geneva. Two highly esteemed, but non-polit-ical citizens of the Dominion in Mr Wigram, of Christchurch, and Air Brett, of Auckland, have been honored with knighthoods. Air AYigram, it will be recalled, has been prominent in collection with the inaguration of aviation in New Zealand, it having been due mainly to his generosity and enterprise that the aerodrome at Sockburn, now. a State venture, was established. On the other hand, Air Brett is the principal proprietor of the Auckland Star. In many ways, he has done much to promote the welfare of his fellow-citizens and the honor now conferred upon him will be warmly appreciated, especially in press circles, in which lie is regardas a Grand Old Alan. Following, a custom instituted in recent years a public servant has been included in the, list and the honor in that regard on this occasion has fallen on Air Furkert, the very capable and highly esteemed State Enginecr-in-Ohief, who has been made a Companion of the Order of St. Alichael and St. George