THE TITLE "ROYAL."

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2795, 13 June 1916, Page 6

THE TITLE "ROYAL."

POSITION OF THE MUSICAL UNION,

At a joint meeting of the Royal Weilmgton Choral Society and - Wellington Musical Union on--Starch 2, it was decided that, subject to the necessary permission being granted, the name of the amalgamated bodies should bo the Royal Wellington Musical Union. The point as to whether the.new. society, arising out of the two older ones, could retain the letters patent entitling it to the title 'Royal" was submitted to the Minister of Internal Affairs, who asked for informa..tion as to the objects and financial position of the new body. Following this the Under-Secretary (Mr. James flislop) wrote informing the society that the matter had been fully considered, "and it is not- considered desirable to request His Majesty to sanction tho retention of the word "Royal.'" No reason was given why it was not considered advisable to do so, seeing that the society was stronger than ever, so the society asked the Minister to receive a deputation on the matter. A reply to that request, was received, stating "that whilst, the "Minister will be. pleased to meet a- deputation, tilery is no prospect of the decision already given being revoked." This uncompromising attitude was somewhat of a facer, as it was considered that the matter of retaining tho title "Royal" under the new conditions would be a mere matter of form, particularly as the Musical Union has been merely absorbed and there had been 110 change. This extraordinary ruling of the Minister was adhered to when a deputation of the society's officials interviewed the Hon. G. W. Russell last week. The Minister then further stated that in future no society would be recommended for tho title "Royal" in the future without it was a Dominion institution and not a local ono only, so that at no timo can a choral or musical society aspire to tho honour—not, at least, as Jong as the Hon. Mr. Russell is Minister of Internal Affairs.

The outcome of the whole business is that the society loses its "Royal" prefix far becoming more nearly a Dominion body than it was before (by absorbing another established ohorul society).