HEREDITARY TITLES.
Mr Newman’s Hereditary Titles Prevention Billl has come in for a severe handling at the bands of the Auckland Herald. Mr Newman has replied as follows : “ My attention has been drawn to your leading article of the sth inst., in which you are good enough to state that my Bill dealing with this subject, which has already passed its first reading in the House ‘ reflects discredit upon its promoter and all those who encouraged it, and l is unworthy of self-respecting men.’ I venture to suggest that this somewhat intemperate language is not justified by the circumstances, and I desire, with all courtesy, to point out to you that, as a matter of fact, you have not yet had an opportunity of even perusing the Bill in question. How, then, can you state that it is aimed at that distinguished statesman for whose privileges you display such extreme solicitude ? I would be very sorry to put any restraint upon your enthusiasm upon this subject, but at the same time I must in self-defence suggest that it would be a safe rule, even for the editor of a newspaper, to defer criticism of any Bill until after perusal of the same. I assure you there is no member of the House who would desire to interfere in any way with the high prerogative of our gracious King, and if, as you suggest, the Bill in question, does not interfere with such prerogatives and the proper authority rules to that effect, it will be withdrawn, and then another method will be taken to obtain the opinion ol members ol Parliament upon the question of the establishment of hereditary titles in New Zealand. Personally, I am strongly of opinion that it is not in the interests of the people of this country that a titled aristocracy should be brought into existence. lam not a supporter of the so called Liberal party, but I believe in equal opportunities to all men, and I cannot see that equal opportunities would be given to all men if some men’s sous are possessed of hereditary rights to the titles of honour.”
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MH19110817.2.19
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1031, 17 August 1911, Page 3
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356HEREDITARY TITLES. Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1031, 17 August 1911, Page 3
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