LONDON LETTER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 174, 25 July 1935, Page 10

LONDON LETTER.

WAITING KNIGHTS.

JUDGE'S PREDICAMENT.

ABYSSINIA EQUIPMENT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, July 5. One result of the indisposition which forced the King to remain out of London for a fortnight is that the recipients of Jubilee honours have been kept waiting unusually long for the right to use their new titles. Only this week was His Majesty well enough to hold an investiture and formally bestow the new titles.

Not until he receives the accolade may a new knight use hi.* title. There is a good deal of ignorance on this point, even in responsible quarters, and a man is often referred to as "Sir" immediately his name appears in an Honours List. This has caused pome annoyance to the King, who is strict in matters of etiquette; and some time ago a confidential reminder was issued from the Palace that it is incorrect to use the title of knighthood until the recipient has actually received the accolade. In the case of diplomats and others resident abroad, a long time may elapae before they can come Home to receive the accolade. They may remain plain "Mr." for months after they have been listed as knights.

Distinguished foreigners sometimes receive British Orders of Knighthood, but the rules of etiquette do not allow them to use the titles in this country. There was an interesting case of a

Russian who received the K.B.K. during the war and has lived in England ever since. This year he became a naturalised British" subject, and was then allowed to use his title ".Sir" for the first time. Strange Legal Problem. Can a judge fairly try a man whom, in years gone by he once prosecuted as counsel? This question wae raised by an extraordinary legal situation which arose at the Old Bailey criminal court this week. A man stepped into the dock on a charge connected with possession of some jewellery. Immediately the Common Sergeant, Mr. Whiteley, recognised the prisoner as a man Inhad prosecuted for attempted espionage during the war. Mr. Whiteley was then one of the counsel who presented the case which eent the man to life imprisonment. A few years ago the man was released. Now he found himself in the same court, to be tried by the man who had once prosecuted him. Mr. Whiteley called a private conference of the counsel in the case and told them that he thought the man ought to be tried by another judge. But the prisoner himself elected to be tried by Mr. Whiteley. He was acquitted, and this extraordinary story came out only after he had left the court a free man. Abyssinia's Arms. Anticipations of the coming war between Italy and Abyssinia lend interest to an estimate published here of Abyssinia's armament resources. Military experts say the Emperor has

more than half a million rifles, but only about a quarter are of modern pattern Some are ancient muzzle-loaders.

More formidable are Abyseinia'e machine-guns, which number about 2000; but there are only eight batteries of light, artillery. The air force is small and out of date, consisting of some 20 civil 'planes piloted by foreigners. Insignificant as these weapons are in face of Mussolini's modern armaments, the Abyssinians are confident that the rlifticult nature of their territory and the rigours of the climate will help them to keep the invader at bav.

Bright Police Candidates. Examiners speak very highly of the first batches of candidates for entry into the new Metropolitan Police College. These young men, who will eventually form the nucleus of the much-discussed Pubhe School type" police officers in London, are said to show an educational standard far higher than that of Army or Navy candidates. Most of them have a thorough grounding in history, economics and literature, and soiiio have already specialised in languages.

Scottish candidates have had a bright idea. They have prepared themselves tor their training by working as volunteer police in their homo towns. Local superintendents were persuaded to let them have the run of the police etations for a few weeks in order to learn routine. Costly Cargo. People here are looking forward with great interest to the arrival of H.M. cruiser Suffolk from China in a few weeks' time. She is bringing one of the most valuable cargoes ever carried by a warship—a thousand works of antique Chinese art. These are to form the nucleus of a loan exhibition of Chinese art in London. Transport of the treasure, said to be worth at least £5,000,000, presented a problem. At finst it was proposed to send them in a merchant ship with an armed escort, a costly voyage. But the Suffolk was due home for a refit, and the Admiralty agreed to lend her for the conveyance of this I valuable cargo. j

Pensions at 60. A plain to give old-age pensions f (iO, instead of i>s as at present, is bein considered by the British Governmen Tlio main object ie to relieve the uneir ployment situation by taking old peop: oil' the labour market and giving the jabe to young men and women no without work. The scheme would al<win votes in the coming election. 1 would add some £7,000,000 to th State's annual pension bill and tin; number of pensioners by aboi, 250.000— if all poor people of 60 too advantage of the offer. What Charts Cost. Few people are aware that th Admiralty spends about half a millio pounds every year on charting the sea; Sdino of the charts are being displaye during Navy Week. Last year 400,00 new charts were produced and 253,00 corrections made (by hand) to bring ol charts up to date. More than half th new charts made laet year were sol to merchant shi]>e and private yacht* men; but they realised the compani tively email sum of £41,000 to si , against the Admiralty's heavy expense: Billiards at Sea. Among the minor miraclee of the liner Queen Mary will be the installs linn of a billiards room. Billiards i the last game one would have though it possible to play at «ea, even in th largest and steadiest of ships. Th miracle ir» being achieved aboard th Queen Mary by means of balancer which will tilt the billiards table accord ing to the roll and pitch of the vessel.