PRESS OPINIONS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1160, 22 June 1911, Page 6

PRESS OPINIONS.

"PRINCIPLE OP HEREDITARY NOBTLITY." (By TcJeirrapli.—Sueeial Correspondent.! Auckland, Juno 21. The Government paper in Auckland (the "Star") to-night deprecates iho aceeptanco by iho Prime Minister of a baronetcy in the following terms:—"lit is with a tooling of profound regret that we have received tho news of Sir Joseph Ward's olovation to tho rank of baronet, and we can hardlv doubt that our sentiments on this subject are shared by the great majority of deniocratio Liberals in tho Dominion, and, indeed, throughout the English-speaking world. We do not suggest that our Premier had no right to accept any reward for his distinguished servicos to his country and the Empire, but any honour that the Crown confers upon a colonial statesman should bo of such a character that iho' recipient will not. by accepting it. compromise the principles or sacrifice the consistency of the political system "™iat he represents. Orders of knighthood and courtesy titlus have been conferred in "

plenty upon colonial statesmen before without giving occasion for offence, or even for criticism, but tlie special title thiit lias been offered ito Sir Joseph Ward, and accepted by.him, is one that in our opinion no man who calls himself a democrat could conscientiously assume, ami our firm conviction is that our Premier in taking this step lias committed a grievous error in judgment which he will find it exceedingly bard to repair. It is not necessary," concludes the article, "lo contend that Sir Joseph Ward's baronetcy might inaugurate a now colonial House of Jflrds, and that in Ihe distant future the man of the people might have less control over our legislation (hail tome 'tenth transmitter of a foolish face.' It should be sufficient lo urge that tlio principle of hereditary nobility is entirely inconsistent with iho doctrines on which colonial Literalism is based, and thait there is 110 room for a privileged aristocratic class here. We need hardly remind our readers that 110 official representative of a colonial democracy has ever yet. accepted a hereditary title, and we can only regret that Sir Joseph Ward has not seen fit to follow the noble example of Mr. Seddon, who, it is an open secret, refused all such factitious adornments and adhered faithfully throughout his life to the democratic principles which had raised liim to eminence and power."

"OUR DEMOCRATIC MINISTRY." (liy Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.! Christchurch, Juno 21. The "Press," referring to the Birthday, honours, says:--We do not imagino that there will bo any popular enthusiasm over the knighting of Mr. J as. Carroll and Dr. Findlay, both of whom, we should say, owe their new honours to the recommendation of the Ministry to which they belong. Mr. Carroll, ever since lie has been in the Government, has been chiefly notc-woithy tor ■ his masterly inactivity. Not a single achievement can be pointed to in the whole course of his political carper which marks him out as meriting special ' recognition from his Sovereign. Dr. Fiudiay is a man of great ability, whose efforts 011 behalf of prison reform arc certainly worthy of praise, but so far his projects are merely in the experimental stage. Ho may achieve something in the future, but it is difficult to oee what he has done in the past-to deserve a knighthood. ■ The truth is that our present democratic Ministry lias shown itself more eager for honours than any Ministry which has preceded it. Mr. Seddon, it is only fair to say, is understood to have refused a baronetcy, and nas content with the coveted distinction of a Privy Councillorship, but knighthoods were sought and obtained for Sir Joseph Ward (who now Incomes a baronet and is also a Privy Councillor), for Mr. JOIIII M'Kenzio, Mr. Cadnian, and now Dr. Findlay and Mr. Carroll. We suppost even Mr. Buddo will not lie happy till ho gels it. The one flaw ill the system of Imperial distinctions is, we venture to say, the undue weight which is given lo the 'recommendations of Ministers in their distribution. Undoubtedly the feature of the local Coronation honours which "will be received with most general approval is the knighthood boslowed 011 his Honour Mr. Joshua Strange Williams, the senior puisne Judge of the Supremo Court. If such honours (iid not depend so much 011 Ministerial recommendation, Sir Joshua's distinguished services would have been recognised many years ago. He comcs of a fine legal stock, and his merits as a sound exponent of the law are fully recognised in the highest legal circks in England and in other parts of the Empire. His judgments are quoted in legal.itext books as throwing fresh a "id valuable light in elucidating principles of law, and if tlie proposal to add colonial Judges to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council were adopted, his name would at onco suggest itself in seeking for suitable Judges from Australasia. The present tardy act of justice lo one who will.always bo remembered among our truly great Judges goes far to redeem the list of honours trom the too strongly pronounced political flavour which is evident in other respects.

The-j"Wairarapa. Daily Times," after congratulating Sir Joseph Ward on his .baronetcy,- continues:— .

• C ''The'/ ortiev '-Ncw ''Z'ciilfinderS honoured aro (with their new titles):r-Sir .Taines Carroll, Sir J. G. Fimllay, LieutenantColonel Collins, C.M.G., Dr. •Fiteliott, C.M.G., Sir A. 'I?v Giiinness, and his Honour Sir Jflsliua Wiliiiims.' Hadthe-clsiims' of .Judge Williams lo a title been again passed over, the incident would have constituted a public scandal.' For years past his name has been omitted from the list of Birthday Honours, and for a reason known to, and condemned by, every man who takes an interest in our public affairs. Speaker Guinness has given ns years of gcod service, and his new title may pass without commcnt. But 011 what basis the other titles wero awarded we are completely at a loss to understand. Two Civil Servants, and two of tho least distinguished members of the Ward Cabinet have been honoured, and scores of men, who, in commerce, the learned professions, and even in politics, have given the country years of excellent service, and really won rreat honours, have been passed over. In other Stales, we observe, men in all walks of life have had f'oir services properly recognised: in New ~ealand. it seems, there is only one way fo tho favour of the Kins, and that is to b? a member of t.bc Ward nartv, and an intimate of tho Primo Minister himself."