The Dominion. FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 1914. NEW HONOURS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1947, 2 January 1914, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 1914. NEW HONOURS.

The announcement that the Rioht Won. W. F.' Massey, as ho now'becomes, has been chosen- by HIS Majesty the King as a Privy Councillor, will bo applauded throughout New -Zealand. It is pre-eminently ■a case in which a high and honourable distinction has been conferred upon a public man who has worthily earned it in serving the Dominion of which he is Prime Minister, and, indirectly, the Empire of which it forms a part. Mr. Massey does not belong to the order of politicians who seek the limelight, and probably sets as little store as any man by titular distinctions in the ordinary way, but it is safe to say that he will take equal pleasure with his friends throughout New Zealand in the signal honour which tha Kings has now conferred iifion him. The rank of Privy Councillor has come to be associated with all that is highest and best in British public life; it is the badge of eminent and unsullied services rendered to the people, and has been worn by men who, with titles at command, have preferred to live and die as commoners. In the labour and stress of a stormy political career,' Mb. Massey has built up a reputation which the distinction new conferred upon him will appropriately crown, and it is safe to say that even those who stand opposed to him in politics will agree that thedistinction has been worthily won, and will be worthily worn, and will unite with the friends and supporters of the Prime Minister in' wishing him many years of health and prosperity to continue the services which he lias already rcuttered to tbe people of New Zealand.

Even whih it is granted that Urn politics of the Dominion offer a 'ess exalted field for the efforts of a public man than the broader and bigger range of Imperial affairs, it may be fairly claimed that Mb. Massey ha>s acquitted himself in & manner that well entitles him to honourable recognition. It was Ms fortune to enter the political arena at a time when tbe political faith of which ho has been an unfaltering exponent was held in slight esteem. During a long term of years in Opposition he fought an uphill battle with indomitable courage, stood humour, and perseverance. This is not the placo to enter into the merits o£ the struggle, but no one who has followed its events can doubt for a moment the qualities of the man who was the central figure on what seemed for long enough to be the losing side. There are many men, born under a lucky st.ir, who can smile in easy victory, bu'. his worst enemies must concede to Mr. Massey the rarer quality of neing able to smile in the face of repeated defeats, and, by virtue of hi- pteadfast courage, eonvert defeat at last into victory. It has fallen to iii« lot latterly to con.' trol the government of the. country-, and he 'tins shown himself not unworthy of the trust thus reposed in him, but the people of New Zealand who have followed his previous career know that he had rendered eminent service to his country long before he was called upon to form a Ministry,' That Mr. Massey has been a success in the oftico of Prime Minister is a proposition no longer open to quesTested as it has been by a ■':ombinritijn imageries of tmtowa'rd events for wbivh it was in ns wjy responsible) hie Government is bow.

i. 1. i siie d J i njyfj ofa uj ri Viivc s tccrii "and Jrespect' i me :MiN'isTi;n's task.- lias .been... ;«• lie,'ivy one,* but, he has biYrnc.it with the same inching jcpiirago. an cl-checr f illness 1 ; is hnuiisplayed in. oji nb«i(.i».ni 1 As lives lie'has etablisluul.a reputation. ; ■ r satU.itytici^i^cSourcejsu pcir'ior : :';L other, public', man. in ; f y s ' * hcj !}irescnfctla3":' ,; ? yK< "'"fted. asjihe'Sfras£ bee njby ; ;all the. ■ icl^yit>es>thafc r n i rriosi ty.;:c6ii I r.i ■ ; ln V'cnt?; he lias "yet," wi th hi s'jcol leagues, iui.d'supporte'rs,' dominion; .' (o improve the- legislation of : th<i. DominKni,.' during: a year'and it half ■of 'office,'than, hisippjitical.opponcnts 'had • the recent. : itsdustnal. upheaval, .itln.vJlA. v i ficed,:by-inrimnor-able;'perplexihg' he handled Ui'm.ime.aiid all.'with equal firmness and^'modcration,and; .cOst indifference tiF.the Abuse with v.y. . .n , rcßponsible|dcmagogues'in''and outside Parliament. It is under, such conditions, that 'pcoplc\havc -anV-.op-'. | •portumtypbf\)ippraising\.publictn'ion at; their, triu'. viirtli, and even his nneniiesr>vi)l scarcely'have the havrjjhood to ilony that Mr. Massf.y . c ,', r J c i'gfld' l fvom.,.tho; ordeal^with ..credit to himself simr to the' high , office which he

At tlw moment-.the i'KniF/MiNisTER is laid aside byfindisposition.; Evon his normally robust-health has proved unequal- to the heavy labours and anxieties of . the' recent'session,ln cummqn with all who know, the man and his qualities, we wish him a rapid restoration : ?to'.health, and a long enjoyment of ..the place Ho has won.in the hcarts""of the people of acw Zealand and,of the honour just .conferred upon him-by His .Majesty tub King.