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Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 592, 3 January 1916, Page 6

Sonic achieve honours, some have honours thrust upon them, and it is the last order which causes all the surprises of the Birthday and New Year honours. Of course, there is a vast gulf of distinction between a Knighthood of the Garter (oldest and most exclusive of the orders of chivalry) and a C.M.G., and it is mostly with the lesser orders that it is not always easy to see what services earned the distinction for the recipient—Knighthoods are sometimes given for distinguished services to the State or to the

arts and professions, but more often by courtesy and because of political exigencies, and no doubt William Waldorf Astor won his barony by dint of persistence and distinguished service to party funds. Still, some deserve their honours, and Sir Thomas Mackenzie, K.C.M.G., is surely one of such. He has been a sound and capable politician ever since Glutha elected him its representative in 1887, and did his duty as Minister for such diverse concerns as Lands,' Agriculture, Commerce, Tourists, and as Postmaster-General and Prime Minister for a brief while, lie has 1 always had the confidence of each of the several constituencies he has represented, and has proved himself j a good citizen in his activities in other fields of public service. When j the Mackenzie Ministry went out of; office after its little hour and the; leader was appointed High Commissioner the general opinion was that: his unpretentiousness, his capacity; for persevering work, and his intimate knowledge of New Zealand! affairs made him especially suited to i the position, and that judgment has proved correct. Because he has< earned it, the High Commissioner's' Knighthood is genuinely an honour, and he is to be congratulated. In! passing, it is to be wondered wheth-j er the two English Labour M.P.'s, Messrs George Barnes and Will | Crooks, were given the dignity of j Privy Councillors because of their services to their constituents or for] the manner in which they have' stood by the Government in its task of organising British labour in the production of munitions and in the! provision of soldiers. They deserve' it either way, and it is probably at' their own desire that they were! awarded Privy Councillorships rath-i lt than Knighthoods. General Botha preferred the P.C. to a barony, md, after all, a Knighthood is a dangerous distinction for a Labour reiiresentative. j