SALE OF TITLES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 127, 21 February 1908, Page 7

SALE OF TITLES.

OUTSPOKEN LIBERALS. NOISY SCENES. " PRICE OF A PEERAGE, £150,000." ct TEi.EcrtArn—ruEsa association—coptuiuet. (Roc. Fob. 20, 9.23 p.m.) London, February 20. In tho House of Commons, Mr. 11. 801100 (Liboral) moved a resolution doploring tho secret administration of party political funds, assorting that such action imperilled tho privileges and character of tho Houso of Commons. " Mr. H. C. Lea (Liboral) inveighed vehomontly against tho calo of titles and decorations by both parties. He assorted that under Mr. Balfour a peerage cost .£150,000. ? Thero wero soveral noisy scenes. Tho debate was adjourned. SECRETS OF THE PARTY WAR-CHEST. 'Ono of tho Royal Birthday honours last year , was a kiiighthoqdl conferred on Mr. J. Brown Smith, of Stirling. Mr. H. Lea, the Radical M.P. for St. Pancras, apparently disapproved tho bestowal of this knighthood, for ho ilut a question to tho Prime Minister in the House of .Commons in July, as to whother this ne'vy knight wore not a member of tho- firm that fraudulently : supplied to H.M.S, Edward VII a.defeotivo rudder, and had been severely censured for this proceeding. '' Sir Henry Cainpboll-Bannerman ; had reluotantly to admit that suoh was the.case, but pleaded, that tho . new, knight had no personal knowledge of tho frautl or part in it; further, that tho bestowal of honours by the Crown could ■ not bo : criticised in tho Houso. Mr. Lea, in a subsequent letter to tho Pross, said:—"These honours- are bought and sold, the proceeds going principally to tho ;war-ohest of . the party in offico at 'tho timothese so-oallod honours :aro coriforre'd. ■ The party funds aro :presided over-by. the Chiof Whins. At times of election, if: oandidatos como forward mid cannot pay their ospenses in toto, grants in aid aro givon, ;Arid should the oandidate become a ■ member, his vote and support of tho •Government aro: looked upon as scouvo,' no matter what tho issuo or whit pledges he may have given his 'constituents..: Should.hp rebel and voto:,according -to his conscience, to'.his pledges or to what lie is persuaded his constituents would wish him to do, 1 ho is reproached ;by, tho party whips for not having , held to i whut they look-upon as a bargain. A • fund is porhaps nbcossary, and .wero the fund pub-, lie, no would be done. Thoso who had subscribed would Ibe known, and their in-' | loutions could' bo judged. In'' inditing . this protest I- sincerely and humbly liopb that it may bo tlie means .of abolishing one of' the hypocrisies of public,life." ; ; ' '