A SPECTATOR'S NOTEBOOK
THE New Year Honours seem to call for no special comment. Many worthy persons have got the recognition -which they deserve, and perhaps desired. Others, equally, worthy, have not. That is the way with Honours Lists—and always must be. Two that I welcome particularly are Mr. Stanley Bruce's viscountcy. and Mr. Alexander Paterson's knighthood. Mr. Bruce has throughout his life rendered public service of the highest order—as Prime Minister of Australia, as High Commissioner for Australia in London for twelve years, and as a pioneer in the movement which resulted in the Food and Agriculture Organisation and led to his recent appointment as President of the International Emergency Food Council. Some such mark of appreciation as is now accorded was not merely due but over- due. Mr. Paterson retired on Tuesday after twenty-five years' service as Prison Commissioner, a post in which his chief characteristics were originality and a wide and wise humanitarian sympathy. Borrowed by the French Government to report on the notorious penal settlement at Devil's Island, he was largely instrumental in securing the decision that that evil institution should-be brought to an end. General Strtuts's O.M. lends new distinction to that distinguished Order. One other of the elevations has its special interest. After the violent onslaughts on Press Barons by Labour speakers in the debate on the Press in the House of Commons last session the decision of the Labour Government to create a new one in Sir Wakes Layton should perhaps be taken as a Front Bench commentary on Back Bench views.
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