§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he is aware that official and non-official members of the Legislative and Executive Councils of Crown Colonies are debarred from the use of the title "Honourable" when on a visit to this country; whether this privilege has been expressly granted to members of the Legislative Councils visiting us from Colonies enjoying responsible government; and, whether the Secretary of State will take steps to abolish this inequality, and place all these members on the same footing?
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONI informed the hon. Gentleman yesterday that the Queen in 1893 approved of the official use arid recognition of the title "Honourable" in the case of those persons who hold political positions in the self-governing Colonies. When Her Majesty granted this distinction, it was felt that the responsible government Colonies stand on a different plane to the Crown Colonies; and as it was not contemplated to give the honour so extensively as would become necessary if it were conceded in the case of all Colonies alike, great and small, it appeared to Her Majesty's advisers that the simplest line to draw would be between these two classes of Her Majesty's Colonial possessions.