KNIGHTS AGAIN?

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 11, 13 July 1931, Page 14

KNIGHTS AGAIN?

CANADIAN DISPUTE

TITLES BAN ATTACKED

Shall Knighthood flower again? A resolution placed on the Order Paper of tho Canadian Parliament by| Mr. Armand La Verne, Conservative, of Montmagny, Quebec, has been with-, drawn, aud at the moment there seems i littlo prospect of th question of reviving titles in. Canada, being voted upon at the present session, says the "Manitoba ITrco Press." But this'is not to say that titles havo become a dead issue. Far from it. Mcmbeis of all parties at Ottawa discuss tho question incessantly, and it is agreed that before tho granting of knighthoods and peerages pas-Res finally from the Canadian scone, there win be one more full dress debate in Parliament, with more than an .outside chanco of the decision of 1919 being reversed. In other words, tho titlo question, after twelve years, declines to die. On the contrary, it is reviving with sonic show of strength, and sooner or later will invite once more the arbitrament of tho House of Commons. Perhaps only those who favour titles discuss tho question. Bo that as it may, tho trend of opinion on Parliament Hill seems to be running toward a renewal of titles. Before the next General Election more than ono occupant of Mr. Bennett's Treasury Benches may blossom as a knight, a baronet, or a baron, and the long abandoned salutation of Parliament . . . "My hon. and noblo friend," once more appear in "Hansard." ACTIVE CAMPAIGN. It is h;dd, frequently by those who are in close touch with opinion hero, that if a secret vote could be taken today, the House of' Commons would rescind the anti-title resolution of 1919. At any rate, an active lobby is being, carried on, to revive titles, and rarely a week .passes but M.P.'s 'are circularised by organisations formed, for this purpose. T,ho 'circulars, as a rule, are got out in a 1 style befitting the question at issue. Rich vellum paper, with heavily embossed headings, cut to proclamation size, -carry the arguments of those who favour titles. The heading on one of these circulars reads: "The King's Prerogative in Our Monarchial Democracy." The sub-heading is, "Let us have Empire Unity." "I take the liberty," tho circular begins, "of addressing you as a member of His .Majesty's Parliament for Canada, to 'call your attention to the constantly renewed agitation on the granting of titles in Canada by His Majesty our Sovereign Lord and King." It is then-urged that Canada should not depart from the established custom of all parts of the Empire to accept titles. 'The granting of titles, it is urged, is a link of Empire, and having regard to our close contact with the United States, would be of particular value to Canada. • , ; "CATCH" VOTE. It is represented that the resolution of 1919 was put through Parliament on a "catch" vote; that the absence of Sir Robert Bordeu in England prevented full opposition , developing. There might be abuses of the custom, if revived, but this could be prevented by setting up a Titles Commission, through which all nominations for honours would have to pass. In many of these circulars attention is called to the apparent injustice of Parliament in stopping titles conferred by tho King, while allowing foreign countries and- Powers—such as tlie Pope—to decorate Canadian citizens. This argument, of course is based upon incomplete information of what Parliament did in 1919. 'The resolution requesting the-King to withhold titles seems to have drawn all the public attention, while a second resolution forbidding the granting of titles by foreign and Powers was adopted a few days later. ■ v