§ SIR GEORGE BADEN-POWELLI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Her Majesty's Government have issued any new regulations or instructions relating to the use of the prefix honourable in addressing members of Colonial Governments or Legislatures?
§ * BARON H. DE WORMSThere appears to be a misapprehension the origin of which the Secretary of State has not been able to trace. The question has not been raised recently in any shape, and the Secretary of State has certainly issued no directions on the subject. The title of "Honourable" for many years been accorded to Members of Executive Councils and Legislative Councils in all Colonies, including the smaller Crown Colonies. It has at no time been the practice to use that title in addressing Colonial gentlemen residing in this country; but it is a common practice to accord it when the person entitled to it is absent from his own colony on a visit to another colony. The reason for not addressing Colonial gentlemen by that title when they are in this country 1829 would appear to be that here it is not adopted as a designation of any excutive or legislative status, being the courtesy title distinguishing sons of Peers. But although no new instructions have been issued on this subject, it happens to be the case that, during the Colonial Conference, the Secretary of State did take the new course of addressing as "Honourable" the Colonial Representatives actually serving on the Conference, feeling that their presence here on official duty might properly be so recognized.