FEWER TITLES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19198, 14 June 1924, Page 15

FEWER TITLES.

AUSTRALIAN DECISION. TEST OF WORTHINESS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, June S. Australia promises soon to *oe a country of few titles. Very curiously, in J\ew South Wales it fell to a Nationalist Government, which is itself adorned with several titled members, to transmit to the Imperial Government a resolution of Parliament intimating (hat the granting of further titles was opposed to the sentiment of the people. That was the result of a catch vote on a motion by a Labour member, but the Government was compelled to take action in accordance with it, and the result was manifested in the last honours list, when the New South Wales names included were on the Federal Government’s nomination, and in respect of clearly commonwealth as distinct from State services. Even the Labour Government which has recently come into power in South Australia does not propose to go quite so far as that, but it intends to take pretty drastic action in this matter. The Government has decided to introduce a Bill requiring that no person shall henceforth be recommended for a title unless an address be passed by both Houses endorsing such recommendation. In discussing the matter the Attorney-General (Mr Denny) said that many men who received knighthoods were entirely unworthy of any distinction, their sole claim being possession of wealth, which in some cases had boon acquired by not altogether desirable moans. Several worthy men had declined to allow their names to be submitted. There was a world-wide movement to regulate, if not to abolish, titles. In England the House of Lords had appointed a Royal Commission dealing with the matter, and Canada and South Africa had also taken the subject up. “Will the action proposed mean the abolition of knighthoods in South Australia?” Mr Denney was asked. “Won, the gentleman who can pass through the crucible of that test,’’ was. the reply, “will deserve any honour that might be available.”