EXTINCTION OF TITLES.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15511, 11 February 1916, Page 3

EXTINCTION OF TITLES.

— * EXPERT VIEWS ON AVOIDING 11ESULTS OF AVAR. There is sonic conflict of experL opinion about ilie perpetuation of titles

threatened with extinction by the war. While the editor of "Debreti's Peerage," in his preface to the now volume suggests the exercise of the royal prerogative for the preservation of the , titles, by special remainder to a uaugntor ana her male issue or to somo specified, heir* the editor of "Burke's i J'eerage," in the preface to his volume, ; savs of the suggestion* "This would ! not be 1 in accordance with peerage law, for a peerage descends according to the settled rules of law, and 110 Act oi" the Crown can alter the course of its .descent. Fresh creations with J special remainders, which are rarely would be necessary, .and these, ; while perpetuating a 'familiar peerage j title, would not prevent the extinction | of the. original dignity." | -If this be so, it would seem to follow

I that.the-next poor in such cases would j start as number 1 of a new "dynasty." i Thirty-seven peers and fifty-live barren ets died during last year, with the I unusual result that the House of I/ords' has actually decreased in nuI merical strength in the course of the year. There were, at .the. beginning of 1916, four fewer peers (or peeresses in their own right) than at the "beginning of 1915.