Evening star., 1932-03-13

THERE Is another side to the title question.
1t has been brought out by some of those
who now favor granting titles. Men and
women who contribute outstanding cultural
and scientific works to the nation and thus
help its advancement should be honored &C.
cordingly, say these people. In fact. the Royal
Society Of Canada a few years ago suggested
the establishment of Canadian honor system
for such people. Who will pick these leaders.
asked the public? Will there not be cries of
favoritism when few have to be picked from
many for such honors? And while the Royal
8ociety's idea was dropped, there have been
advocates since Of granting titles under some
such commission as that functioning IN Eng
land during the reign of the Labor government
Many who are in favor of the restoration of
titles state definitely that they do not want
to politicians being granted titles, but rather
those who have accomplished something In
science, literature and art. Despite this assur-
ance, the opposition remains strong, because
it is felt that once titles can again be conferred
on Canadians, the present absence Of o host Of
titled members of Parliament cabinet ministers,
Senator'S judges lieutenant governors and an
the other officials will be rectified with
wholesale handing out Of sirs.
And this brings up another opposition point.
II they were handed out in great profundity.
titles would soon cease to mean anything and
so they would eventually be banned altogether.
Womenfok are considered one Of the real
reasons behind the title restoration fight While
male vanity might desire title, 1t Is suggested
by the opposition that 1t is really the wives who
would like to have lady before their name.
In the social whirl such prefix means o great
deal
HE outbursts for the restoration come mostly
from Quebec and Ontario This Is natural
Quebec, while strongly liberal, cannot forget the
seigneurial days under the French regime. In
Ontario one of the earliest governors, Simco,
who founded Toronto IN 1795, was all In favor
Of forming a landed aristocracy. In fact, he
even attempted it and failed
Most Of the sirs in the Dominion WIN be
unable to pass the title on to their sons They
are knights bachelor and represent every phase
Of the Dominion's life among them being
nnanciers. educators judges, industrialists and
lawyers. There are a few baronets who win
be able to pass their titles on to their sons
or daughters. Then there are. the six peers,
three Of whom reside in Canada and three In
England. The oldest peerage title In the
Dominion Is that Of the Earl of Aylner, which
was created In the seventeenth century to O
naval offcer for services to his country. For
many generations the Earls OF Aylmer have
peen nVlng In the DOMINION the ninth baron
now living IN British Columbia
The only French-Canada title remaining IN
that Of the Seigneury of Longueuil, created by
Louis XIV of France In 1700. The eighth
Baron Of Longueuil recently died In France
never having lived in Canada, and the present
holder Of the title Is John Se Bienville Charles
Grant who lives In England.
Lord Atholstan Is the first holder OF that
title, and he is a newspaper proprietor who
worked his way from reporter to the owner
ship of the Montreal Star. He lives In Mont.
real, where also lives Baron Shaughnessy.
the second of the line, whose family Is tied
up with the Canadian Pacific Railway Anoth-
er Of Canadas peers who are entitled to seaae
IN the House Of Lords in England Is Lard
Strathcona, the second baron bearing that
name. who lives in England and whose father
was famous Canadian pioneer and states
man. The other Canadian peer is Lord Bea-
verbrook. the great English newspaper psb-
Usher, who used to be Max Aiken and then
Sir Max Aiken.
Lord Greenwood, who was recently raised
TO the peerage from Sir Hamar Greenwood,
Is another Canadian who resides In the United
kingdom, where he has become q wer-knoyn
statesman.
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