§ 47. Mr. LYNCHasked the Prime Minister whether he can state the constitutional authority on which rests the use of the expression "My Empire," referring an part to the Dominions, in a recent Royal pronouncement: whether the Dominions 1422 have over been formally consulted as to the permissibility of such a term; and, if not, whether the word "Empire" will, in official documents, be avoided in all cases where the Dominions are involved?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe earliest statutory authority that I have been able to find for the use of the word "Empire" is an Act of the reign of Henry VIII., and it appears to have been used consistently up to the present day. The; answer to the last two parts of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. LYNCHDid that statutory authority apply to the Dominions, considering that they were not then in existence?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI think that the use of a word which has continued for 500 years may go on until there is some alteration considered desirable.
§ Mr. LYNCHMr. Speaker, I will raise this question to-morrow night, and meantime I appeal to you, as the protector of the liberties of this House, to counsel the King to renounce this usurpation.