THE HINDRANCE OF A TITLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 143, 7 September 1927, Page 4

THE HINDRANCE OF A TITLE

LORDS AT DISADVANTAGE The disadvantages of holding a title were recently discussed by Peers who had read the following comments on the subject by the Earl of Derby at a meeting at Southport. I think it might be of the greatest possible advantage if we could have in the Second Chamber men as life Peers who have distinguished themselves in many walks of life. Such Peerages should not be handed on to their sons, to whom they might be a hindrance. I think there are many ways in which to hold n title is a distinct: detriment to a man in the fight for life. Lord Gorell thoroughly agreed with Lord Derby. He said: There are two ways in which a title may be a great disadvantage to a man. In the first place it involves him in much increased e xpense. Wherever a person with a title goes he is charged more. Ido not mean in a case of fixed prices in a shop, but wherever prices are a matter of arrangement, such as in hotels and similar matters. People seem to { magine that the possession of a title means that a person is well-to-do, whereas very often he is worse off as a result of it. In the second place it is not at all easy for a person with a title to be taken seriously. In my own instance I have practised the profession of an author for the past 20 years, and I find that the public generally and my friends are inclined to regard my work purely as being a hobby. They do not regard it quite in the same way as if it were written by a person without a title. I remember having a book of mine described as being the work of an amateur although the reviewer had worked in the same newspaper office as myself 12 years before. I believe that Lord Byron had a great deal of difficulty in getting people to regard him as a poet and not just as an amateur, because of his title. When my brother, whom I succeeded, came into the title he was a junior barrister and he was told bjr people who should know that a title wouldbe a handicap to him and not a help, and he gave up his practice at the Bar.