The Daily News. THURSDAY, FEBRAURY 15, 1917. NEW ZEALANDERS HONORED.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 February 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, FEBRAURY 15, 1917. NEW ZEALANDERS HONORED.

Honors in New Zealand have not always been given to those who have earned them; indeed, some of the preferments have o':en little les- ih„n but no exception can be taken to those bene wed upon the AcLing-Prim" Miik? ter and his Honor Mr. Justice Djnniaton. . Mr. Allen, or Sir James Allen, as lit, has now to be called, has been made a Knight Commander of ;he Bath. the highest honor of knighthood. llis

long career of public service and his heavy work since the beginning of the war deserve recognition at the bands of his Majesty, who, of course, receives bis advice from the Ministry of the day. His has been no sinecure during the past two or three years, and though many like ourselves have not been able io see eye to eye ivith him in the carrying out of his duties as Defence Minister, there can be no question but that iie has given of his best and not spared himself in any way. The work has been of a specia I, exfraordii nature. The Defence machinery 'ally inadequate to meet the i -. it had to be built up by dcg. and mistakes were inevitable. The Minister threw himself intu the breach with a vigor few expected or him. His great fault was that his loyalty to his olliccrs obscured their manifest incompetency. The Minister also attempted at the same lime to carry out the work of Finance Minister, enough in itself to put a severe strain on the ability and energy

of an experienced and robust man. Happily, with the formation of the National Cabinet he was relieved of this portfolio, with the result that he was able to concentrate Ilia attention upon improving the Defence machine, which is now working much more smoothly anil ■utccos-ilully. Since the departure of Jfr.

Massey and Sir Joseph Ward he has had further responsibilities cast upon him, am! that lie lias been able to carry them out satisfactory so far is a tribute to hi* ability, determination and staying power. Mitch ought lo be done to meet the situation caused by the operations

of the ballot, much roti Id be done lo

organise the primary industries of the country, but it is perhaps unfair to expect (lie Acting-Premier, loaded as he is with other work, to be able to give the necessary attention to the problem. It is more reasonable to ask for the return of the leading- Ministers now in London. We are sure they could be of ; more use here than ever they have been or are likely to be in London. But that is another subject. The Acting-Premier

deserve.-, tl:i> special honor conferral upon him, simply because. he lias earned it, and the same can be said of his Honor Mr. Justice Denniston, who lias had a long- and distinguished service on flie Supreme Court Bench.