The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 1913.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3798, 8 April 1913, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 1913.

Onco again the question is being

raised as What reward for lengthy to whether National Service? it would or

would not be right for some special mark of Royal favor to be conferred upon Colonial statesmen who have for ono reason or another ceased to take a prominent part in the administration of the country to which they belong. In tho palmy days of the. late Mr Soddon, for instance, it was believed in some quarters that in the course of time he would he offered say a peerage or else, or perhaps in addition, one of the minor overseas Governorships' His non-acceptance of' any honor, and it is practically certain he would at any time have been granted a knighthood, was indeed taken by many as indicative of tho fact that some such higher distinction as wo have mentioned would go his way. To the great regret of many admirers, Mr Seddon, however, was not spared to see a day when ho would have given up of his own accord the stress of active national politics.* But we are digressing. What has led to the resuscitation of the question under consideration have been rumora as to what it is supposed in some quarters tho future has in store for Mr Alfred Doakin, tho noted Commonwealth statesman, who recently announced his retirement from the political

arena. In this regard it is the opinion, ftnr example, of the “Melbourne Hera Id” that after several months’ rest he is bound to take some part in public affairs as a speaker, administrator, or writer. Both in the United Kingdom and in Australia, it is added, it is however felt that it is not unlikely that he- will be offered a peerage. Previously he has declined all mai'ks'of Royal favor. It is nowsuggested that the acceptance of a peerage—a viscounty is mentioned—would open up a now career for him, since, as a member of the House of Lords, ho would be eligible to become a British Cabinet Minister. Titles, it is known, have no charm for Mr Deakin, but it is remarked by those discussing the subject that even strong Liberals in politics as Mr Morley and Mr Haldane accepted peerages because they would be still eligible to be Ministers without having"to endure the turmoil associated with electioneering. What makes the matter- of special interest so far as this Dominion is concerned is the circulation of a somewhat similar rumor with reference to Sir Joseph Ward. To some people, it would seem, it would come as no surprise if the ex-Prime Minister were induced to stand for a seat in the House of Commons. Others again have expressed the view that he might possibly be lucky enough to bo elevated to the peerage or else attain a governorship of one of the Crown Colonies. In the ease of Sir .Joseph Ward, however, information gained from a reliable quarter goes to show that at an early date he is merely likely to again take a prominent part in New Zealand politics—on this occasion as leader of the Opposition. The question as a whole is, of course, one of considerable importance. It is no doubt the case that Home statesmen arc sent out to the Overseas Dominions as the representatives of the Crown chiefly because of -special fitness for the high position and in many instances quite apart from the fact that they may have had lengthy political experience to their credit. As far as is known no change of the kind is contemplated, but really there is no sound reason when all is said and done why one or more Colonial public men should not have a similar honor conferred upon them. Where Colonial public men would however be of much greater assistance to the Empire would be on Imperial Boards, of which the proposed Empire Council of Defence will probably be the first. Maybe in time Imperial Boards dealing with trade, immigration, etc., will doubtless follow. In this particular regard any recommendation by the Empire Trade Commission should be of great interest.