WHAT IT COSTS TO BECOME A PERR

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 154, 20 June 1908, Page 4

WHAT IT COSTS TO BECOME A PERR

HOW TITLF.S MUi TAXKJ). The elevation of Mr. .John Moriey and Sir 11. 11. Fowler- to the peerage is probably as pleasing to themselves as it is I to their .thousand* of admirers; but each of the gentlemen so honoured will have to pay a fee of at least .C-iOU for the .privilege of adding the title of "Viscount*' to their nanise, which is the cost of letters-patent for a viscounty of the Imted Kingdom. For higher rank the fees amount to more. The new Duke of Devonshire, for instance, when he conies to take the necessary letters-patent which will fully entitle him to his own, will have to pay for the same, in addition to paying away an immense fortune in the shape of death duties. If the change had been that ot a niar<juessate the fee would have neen CWHI. A newlymade earl pays CJoO, a baron .UloU, and a baronet ;CIUO.

These fees, however, are only part of the expense entailed by a mail who is honoured with a title. Tiie cost of investiture, heraldry, etc., considerably augments the amount. It may be remembered that when Lord Poberts accepted the earldom iu 1001. and was subsequently given the Carter, he was presented with a bill for CI.ToO. which at lirst he strongly objected to pay. To the average reader it will probably seem ab>urd that when such rewards for serving the country are granted the recipient should m> stiller in pocket. If is not so bad nowadays, however, as in the time of .lames 1.. for instance, who mulcted his baronets pretty heavily for their privileges. They were obliged to each maintain thirty soldiers for defence 'purposes, or pay into the exchequer an equivalent sum. which amounted to Ul.tWo per year. Furthermore, to be qualilied for the honour ill tho-e days, one hail to be

"a gentleman born" and have a clear estate of Cl.Wltl per annum. Originally the tees were paid to certain ollicer.s of the State connected with the business of investing a man with his title, but they are now more in the nature of duties, and are paid into the Exchequer, thus Helping to swell the revenues of the country. Recently it was that a further ta\ on titles—CH) per annum for a knigh!, CHID for an earl, and ,15.01)0 for a duke—should be imposed, and sonic irresponsible people have even dared to suggest, these titles should be put up to auction and sold to the highest but dor!

As illustrating the curious demands made upon a man who becomes a titled personage, il might be mentioned that at the beginning of the year -00 celebrities who within the last four years have been granted the privilege of prclixing their name with "Sir.' 1 each received a letter from the Walker Trustee-, Kdinlmrgh, which, it was said, was due in respect ot each gentleman s creation as knight of the I'nited Kingdom. In the case of a baronet Co was demanded. 'When inquiries were made i' was found that the Walker Trusteed, 'of whom very few of the titled gentlemen had ever heard, had purchased the rights of the Heritable Csher of Scotland. one of the many functionaries scattered about the I'nHod Kingdom who were entitled to perquisites iu the I shape of fees from persons whom the j King honoured by conferring titles up-

on them. Practically all the oilice-hojdevs who were entitled to these perquisites surrendered their rights to the late Hoverumcnt in return for an annual allow ance. The Heritable I'sher of Scotland, however, declined to do so, and consequently the WMker Trustees, as holder;, of that, ollice, sent out their muchdiscussed requests tor tech to newlvniade knights and baronets.