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January 9, 1895.j
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. of the terms of the treaty, and a great military contribution, clearly either we of which abuts on the earth may be used trading city like Canton, with its customs" have paid too much or too little during all (vii.) for the prevention as far as possible revenue, might be considered valuable for "the years since the increase was first made." or mitigation of any epidem c, endemic, or that purpose as an addition to the territory The interviewer said "You would strike contagious disease. The Ordinance provides already occupied in Manchuria. The pro- “a balance, as it were, and either draw that domestic buildings shall not be occupied bability of a Japanese descent on Canton or receive a cheque for the difference, unless the ground surface be covered. has been discussed in well informed circles whichever side it might be upon ?" "Yes" with a layer of impermeable material to the and it is considered that it would be replied Mr. HoTTENBACH; "we only, as satisfaction of the Sanitary Board, and it is an easy matter for an army to land in the “I said, took up this principle on October left to the Board to prescribe by its by-laws neighbourhood of Swatow and march over- 20.h, and we scarcely yet know how it the nature and thickness of the material to land. An attack by way of the Pearl River works. The Secretary of State even did be used. Some liscussion may be expected is considered improbable, not so much on "not have it before him when he penned on this point Nine inches of concrete has account of the difficulty of passing the forts"that objectionable despatch, and it has been mentioned as the probable requirement, as on account of the awkward questions that "not yet been placed before him in a but some persons will probably be of opinion might arise with England were a blockade " proper manner. Surely we cannot say that a smaller thickness would be sufficient. established and trade between Canton and "we bare exhausted our resources when The cost to landlords of putting in these Hongkong interrupted.
have not even, represented to impermeable floors will of course be con- "the Secretary of State what we want?" siderable, but the improvement is expected Here we have something like a rational basis to have a very material effect in raising on which to continue the agitation, and the the standard of public health. It will be point made by Mr. HUTTENBACH is well the duty of the Board in drafting the worthy the consideration of the Hongkongby, laws on this subject to make the re- unofficials. It has been suggested that a quirements as stringent as the circumstances tax on shipping would be the fairest means of mey seem to require while at the same raising the colonial contributions to Imperial time avoiding throwing unnecessary ex- defence, as then each colony would pay pense on the owners of property. As to firing in proportion to its trade, but that course the number of persons who may occupy, a is open to strong objection as being cal domestic building, it is provided by the culated to divert shipping from British Ordinance that the minimum space for each ports. To make a vessel running from adult is to be 30 square feet of "floor England to Hongkong pay an Imperial space and 400 cubic feet of air space. contribution at each way port she entered What the Board is required to ré-
THE MILITARY CONTRIBUTION AND THE POLICY OF THE UNOFFICIAL
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
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It has been stated that when Dr BROWN, a member of the Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements, who is about to visit Japan, passes through Hongkong he is to try to consult with the members of the Legislative Council here as to whether they can join with the Straits members of Council in a common policy against the military contribution. No doubt the Hongkong unofficials would be glad to join in any com-
on policy fönnded on a rational basis, but would not only be inexpedient, but unjust, [gulate by its by-laws is the number of they are not likely to join in a policy of re- because it would be throwing on the carrier a persons that may occupy any particular signation, at the present juncture at all burden that ought to be equally shared by the house on this basis. With regard to in- events. Mr. BOGAARDT, one of the Singapore merchant, the tradesman, the planter, the spection, the Board is authorised to order unofficial members, whose term has just ex- professional man, and the population gener inspections at any time, and the by-laws now pired, has declined to allow himself to be ally. The principle of paying a percentage to be made will regulate the conditions under renominated, although it would have been on the revenus of each colony seems a more which the inspections are to be carried out. his intention to accept renomination had it equitable one. For the unofficial members The action of the Board on this point will not been for this military contribution ques of Council to say to the home Government, be narrowly watched, for unless the great tion; but even in the Straits, which colony
We admit the principle of paying a mili-power conferred on it be exercised with has perhaps been somewhat more unfairly tary contribution but object to the amount discretion it is possible that a very undesir treated than Hongkong, opinions seem to be" you ask," without themselves enunciating able if not actually dangerous state of divided as to the expediency of resignation. some principle for the determination of the feeling might be brought about amongst In this connection some very sensible re- amount, seems tureasonable, and resignation the native community. The by-laws pres- marks were made in the course of a recent based on such a ground as that would be cribing the conditions under which base- interview with a Straits Times representative ineffective. As Mr. HoTTENBACH says, ments may be used will also be scanned with by the Hon. A. HUTTENBACH, another of "Resignation means putting all our eggs
interest. The Ordinance provides that it the Singapore members. The reasonable into one basket, all our throw on one card, shall not be lawful without the permission ness of the principle that all parts of the
"If we lost we should simply have bad of the Sanitary Board to let or occupy for empire should contribute according to their "the question settled once and for all, bavitation er as a shop any basement any means to Imperial defence is now practically" and have given up our chance of doing side of which abuts on the earth or soil. admitted everywhere and is certainly
It would be found very difficult to prevent strongly held in Great Britain by such ot
the occupation of basements wherever they the members of both the great political
exist, and the principle on which the Board parties as have given any attention to the
will proceed will no doubt be to allow subject. The question turos, therefore,
occupation subject to sufficient provision simply on the principle on which the amount
being made for the admission of light to be contributed by each colony should be
and through ventilation. This might be determined. The position taken up by the
done by the area system, but it is Imperial Government is that each colony.
difficult to make areas on the slope of the should pay the full cost of its garrison if it is
hill that will not admit the water in heavy able, or so much of the cost as the revenue will
rains. In some parts of the town where allow of, provided constitution of the co-
area gratings had been provided when the houses were built they may now be seen tiled over on this account. The difficulty, how- ever, will probably not be found insuperable when it is examined by architects and irrational and indefensible principle. The Sanitary Board at its meeting on engineers. The last in the list of sub- In some places garrisons are maintained Thursday appointed a committee to draw up jects which the Board is authorised to
18 upon largely in excess of local requirements, and by-laws under the Insanitary Dwellings make by-laws
preven- to ask the inhabitants for the full cost Ordinance. The task before the committee tion and mitigation of epidemic, endemic, is as unjust as it would be to ask a
is an important and delicate one. The Or- or contagious disease. Under the Public a garrison town in England to pay for its dinance authorises the Board to make by- Health Act of 1887 it is provided that when- garrison and exempt other towns where no laws (1.) for prescribing the material and the ever any part of the colony appears to be troops are maintained. The cost of the Im- nature and thickness thereof to be used for threatened with or is affected by any formi perial forces should be an Imperial burden covering over the ground surface of all build-dable epidemic, endemic, or contagious dis- borne in some equitable proportion by the ings and their curtilages; (ii.) for fixing the ratepayers throughout the Empire. On this number of persons who may occupy a do- point Mr. HUTTENBACH says: "It was only mestic building; (iii) for prescribing the on October 20th that we adopted what you material to be use for enclosing the space can call a policy, and decided upon a prin- to be left above any partitions; (iv.) for the ciple for the settlement of the difficulty periodical entry and inspection of buildings; "That principle was the principle of per- (v) for promoting eanliness and ventila contage. Well, if it is admitted at home,tion in domestic buildings and for the if we have to pay in the future only a per- inoval of refuse; (vi) for pr scribing the centage of so much on our revenue as a conditions under which basements any side
lony admits of the being forced through |
by an official majority, but colonies where there is an unofficial majority have been al- lowed to escape altogether. Clearly this is
an
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good work in other perhaps equally im- portant directions. We must have unoffi- "cial representation; it is most necessary that the Government should have our "advice, and, in a very short time, the con- munity, having forgotten or accepted the "inevitat le as regards the contribution, would demand that they should be represented again on the Council, that their interests 'might be safeguarded.”
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THE SANITARY BOARD AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE INSANITARY DWEL- LINGS ACT.
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the
ease, the Governor with the advice of the Executive Council my by proclamation direct that sections 32 to 37 of the Ordin- ance shall come into operation. These sec- tions authorise the Sanitary Board to make by-laws and confer the necessary power for the cig of such by-laws. Under the new Ordinance the Board is authorised to make by-laws for the prevention of epide- mic, endemic, or contacious disease without