A KNIGHTHOOD FOR A HALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14947, 21 March 1912, Page 9

A KNIGHTHOOD FOR A HALL

A HOME RULE SENSATION. [from OUR OWN correspondent.} London, February 9. A sensation was caused at the beginning of the week by the statement that a Belfast gentleman had been offered a knighthood if he would secure a hall for Mr. Churchill to give his Home Rule speech in. In a telegram purporting to come from the gentleman in. question, and published in a London daily, the story was confirmed. This had scarcely got abroad when the Chitf Government Whip published an emphatic denial that the Government had anything to do with such an offer. If anyone ever made any such suggestion," wrote the Master of Eli bank, "it was absolutely unauthorised and unknown to either the Prime Minister or myself." Mr. Warden then replied: "All I can tell you is I had a letter from London, as stated in my interview, with a bait held out in the shape of a knighthood." Mr. Warden states that to the best of his recollection the wording was : "If you agree to our wishes I can get you created a knight." He declines to divulge the name of the writer, but adds : " I am confident that the offer was seriously made, and that the gentleman who made it was not acting beyond his powers. In fact, I know that he could have procured tho knighthood for mo had I desired it.'*