CLAIMS TO PEERAGES

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 February 1927, Page 3

CLAIMS TO PEERAGES

RESTRICTIONS PROPOSED.

Decisive recommendations designed to frustrate any possibility of trafficking in the promotion of speculative claims to dormant peerages are contained in the report of the Select Committee on Peerages in Abeyance, issued recently, states a London newspaper. “It has been suggested that what is called ‘traffic’ exists, or may exist, in the promotion of speculative claims to peerages in abeyance,” says the report. “That such suspicion exists we are inclined to believe, but with what foundation in fact it is impossible to say'” The repo’rt then refers to the changes which take place among the co-heirs to such peerages, and states ..hat, “if industrious and watchful 'genealogists take note and advantage cf such occasions, the matter is neither one for surprise nor censure. It is only in the very unlikely case of an open scandal that anyone, except the parties concerned, can be affected, but in such an, event it must be admitted that the credit of the peerage is likely to suffer. We think that the most effective remedy for any mischief of this kind will be found and is incidentally involved in an effective curtailment of the possible field of speculative claims.” The committee recommend that no abeyance should be terminated which began more than 100 years before the presentation of the petition, and that no petition should be allowed to proceed where the petitioner represents less that one third of the entire dignity. When the Committee for Privileges is satisfied that any arrangement entered into between the petitioner and any co-heir is tainted with any impropriety no report should be made by it on the petition except that such arrangement is not shown to have been a proper one.” The same regard, it is urged, should be had to a petitioner for the termination of an abeyance —his character position, service and fitness —as in the case of a subject on whom a peerage is conferred.

it is pointed out that there many scores of impossible baronies of great antiquity not actually accounted for. There are at present 51 baronies in abeyance, in which the necessary sittings could be proved, of which eleven are under attainder, and at least eight have already been the subject of petitions for termination but without success. It is thought that 34 are now liable to be claimed. The recommendations, if adopted, will have a farreaching effect on many contemplated claims to ancient dormant titles. Their effect half a century ago would have been to disqualify a number of women who have since become peeresses in their own right. The members of the committee are the Marquis of Bath, the Earl of Kintore, Lord Stanley of Alderley, Lord Hylton, Lord Redesdalc, Lord Siimnei, Lord Muir Mackenzie, and Lord Askwith.