MISS NGAIO MARSH BECOMES D.B.E. Mr J. Wattie Knighted

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31083, 11 June 1966, Page 1

MISS NGAIO MARSH BECOMES D.B.E. Mr J. Wattie Knighted

The world-famous Christchurch writer of detective novels, Miss Ngaio Marsh, has been created a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s Birthday honours list, announced yesterday.

This is the female equivalent of a knighthood in the order. Mr James Wattie, chairman and managing director of J. Wattie Canneries, Ltd., of Hastings, has been created a Knight Bachelor. Together with the honours list, it was announced that the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) had been appointed a Privy Councillor. Community service, and service to local government, departments of State, and the armed services are all recognised in the list. The British Empire Medal has been awarded to four prison officers—two in Christchurch and two in Auckland—for courage during prison riots. The Christchurch officers, Mr F. Poultney and Mr A. A. Thomson, helped to quell the riot at Paparua Prison on July 25, last year. Mr Poultney was first officer and Mr Thomson a senior prison officer at the time. The subsequent Commission of Inquiry named them among other prison officers who showed a high order of courage in facing the 43 rioting prisoners and finally herding them back to a cell block.