WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1932, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

NEW YEAR HONOURS. THE DOMINION’S OMISSION. (Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, Jim. 3. In the cir< nmstances the Prime Minister may be forgiven for having omitted to submit to the Imperial authorities at Christmas Tide the names of worthy citizens of this 'outpost or the Empire who quite properly might have been honoured by . ilia Majesty the King. The same course was followed by Mr Forbes ' in the June distribution of honours last year, when the Australian Federal Government also abstained from recommending honours, and Canada continued its established practice of doing so. The local morning p->per explained on Saturday why there was no distribution of honours fix months ago. “At the time reennmendations for Birthday Honours were due,” it said, “ the ■United Government was going through a particularly difficult time, and it was announced after the Empire list had been issued without rei’er<?nce to New Zealanders that the Prime Minister had been too occupied with other Mr Forbes admits that six months ago he had neither time nor disposition to devote to the Honours List. “ NEXT JUNE.” The Prime .Minister’s own explanation of the position has been widely distributed by the Press Association, but it does not convey any very definite idea of what the Coalition Government intends to do with tlm Honours List six months her" e '"<Ve were iri the mi' dG of the Election campaign when the date for forwardrecommendations arrived,” he tells the newspapers til's morning, “and besides being occupied with more pressing matters, T did not think it was quite time to make any recommendations for New Year Honours. The Government, will he ready to forward reeommendatio.is for the Royal Honours List for the second time with .in six months. We ware too busy with the election campaign to make recommendations for the New Year List and we dee:tied not to send any.” To this Mr Forbes added that he intended to make a fuller official statement on the subject later on. Meanwhile it is satisfactory to learn there is to be no hasty distribution of honours. THEIR VALUE. Of course there is no serious objection to the multiplication of Birthday Honours in the Dorn'nion. They cost the country nothing and for the most part they r.re well deserved. The Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Lgislativf Council and the Leader of the House rrnv well Umir the di'Fir'tion if so inclined. Speakers of the Council and of the House have the honour thrust upon them willy-nilly, and without exception they have borne jj, with credit to themselves and with

advantage to the Chamber they ( sorve. There are leaders of the elected chamber, figures of distinction, however, who declined the offer of Knighthood and yet happened to figure prominently in the public life of the community. Among these were the Hon. William Rolleston, the Hon John Rallance, the Hon. Richard Seddon and the Hon. William Massey, who plnyecl very important parts in promoting the welfare of the country.