The Christchurch Star PUBLISHED BY New Zealand Newspapers Ltd. FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 1931. NEW YEAR HONOURS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19267, 2 January 1931, Page 9

The Christchurch Star PUBLISHED BY New Zealand Newspapers Ltd.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 1931. NEW YEAR HONOURS.

Gloucester Street and Cathedral Square CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND. Leaden Representative! i R. B. BRETT & SON ■EW BRIDGE HOUSE, 30/34 NEW BRIDGE STREET LONDON. E.C A.

OIR ERNEST RUTHERFORD’S peerage gives the keynote to the whole of the New Year honours of 1931. The list is a very long one, but it is remarkably rich in its recognition of the things that count —science, art, music, letters, and service to humanity generally. Philanthropic works have been especially recognised, both among men and women, and the list is such a striking evidence, altogether, of the restoration of the honours system to what it ought to be, that it must tend to break down tile growing hostility that has been shown in Canada and in a more extreme degree in Australia to the granting either of hereditary or other titles. To Canterbury people the New Year honours will be doubly welcome, not only for their further recognition of the services of a great scientist, whose early association with Canterbury College brings honour to the province, but because a knighthood has been conferred on a venerable and highly esteemed figure in the history of New Zealand, whose work for the city and the province has been outstanding. Sir Arthur Dobson is a pioneer, reckoned not only in years, but also in service to his fejlow colonists of the early days, for his explorations on the West Coast and his discovery of the great pass that bears his name, did much to open up and link two of the richest provinces of the Dominion. The honour conferred on Sir Cecil Leys, of Auckland, is a nice compliment to the Press of New Zealand, for Sir Cecil is the outstanding figure in New Zealand journalism to-day. And like his father, the late Dr T. W. Leys, whom he succeeded in the control of a great newspaper, he has been closely associated not only with every modern development in journalism, but also with the cultural development of Auckland, through the Leys Institute. The honour, therefore, will be specially appreciated by the people of Auckland, The minor New Zealand honours are well merited, and it is gratifying to learn that his Majesty’s advisers have not overlooked the loyalty of an outstanding Samoan chief.

A PENAL RATE. MjEOPLE who have had to pay double telegraphic rates on Sundays and holidays may very well ask why this heavy penalty is imposed. It is true that the employees receive double time for Sunday work, but the telegraph office is a public service, which has an added value at holiday times when mails are disorganised; and if ordinary business considerations were applied to it there might be a slightly increased rate but certainly not a double rate, which tends to drive away highly profitable business that cannot be recaptured on week days. YOUTH IN TENNIS. 'T'HE OUTSTANDING FACT of the lawn tennis championships that ended with the old year was the defeat of every player who defended a title. This result was all the more pleasing in the men’s singles, which brought to the front two young players of outstanding ability but entirely different style—Stedman, with his game modelled on the sweeping crosscourt style of Austin and Bartleet, and Bax-nett, with a particularly dogged game based on pure individualism which may carry him far. The women’s play was not notable except for the return of Mrs Dykes, who, of course, has always been in a class by herself; but on the men’s side, and in the junior events, there was a most gratifying improvement in the form of the younger players, and the prospects for New Zealand tennis are all the brighter for the threatened elimination of the old stagers.