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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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generally so understood.
IMPERIAL VETO AND THE COLONIES.
"1
do
[May 5, 1906. issues of this journal, it is important to could be reasonably bound for any period | certain to read the statement differently, It has also been said that the and thus a feeling of impatience at any point out that its modest claim is to repre- whatever. sent the "average market prices", or the trouble is just the contrary; that the listed interference at Headquarters is certain to approximate mean of the prices ruling at the prices are too high, and that servants be induced, which may act most injuriously time of its compilation and correction purchase goods in the market for less than on occasions when such a check is necessary However and by whomsoever such a list market rates". In either case, the argu-and legitimate, and even so far as it may be were prepared, it should never be taken as ment stands that the prices are at bestso in the present instance. The new UNDER-
averages, en accurate index of actual charges; and it approximate
and have been | SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES We have little ¦ cannot be congratulated upon possessing the is probable that persons who have been inconsiderately doing so were the first to doubt that the Sanitary Board and the qualities which are most required in deal- raise doubts as to the value of an admittedly member who raised the question will agree, ing with the Colonies, namely, those of tact- useful
fuluess and consideration. Posing as an compilation. The advantage of after investigation that they may
advanced Liberal, he has apparently shown having it appear over the imprimatur of the worse things than to let well alone.
himself behind the age, and it may be added MARKET INSPECTOR is that its users can
also out of harmony with the traditions of understand the source of the information
the Colonial Office itself. Of late years upon which the averages or approximations
at all events the exercise of the " Veto" has have been based. The COLONIAL VETER- INARY SURGEON appears to us to have
been most carefully restrained, and it has overlooked this when he submitted the
(Daily Press, 4th May.)
been the recognised object of the Colonial curious suggestion that as the MARKET WHEN the question of Chinese labour in the Office to refrain from recommending that INSPECTOR had
make Transvaal first came under discussion, we course, unless it is absolutely necessary so power stall-holders adhere to their Own took occasion to point out the serious results do so. Even with regard to Crown Colonies, quotations, he should desist from telling which might ensue from the persistent where such a step is more justifiable seeing the public what those quotations were. Is opposition which was made at home, for that the Crown is directly responsible for there is any suspicion of “squeeze" enter-party purposes, to a measure which, in its their Government, it has been the practice tained against stall-holders and compra-main bearings, was clearly one of purely of late years not to disallow Ordinances, dores, would it not be playing into the Colonial interest and ought to have been which bave received the sanction of the hands of the squeezers to abandon au old-¡ left to the decision of the Colony concerned, local legislature, unless there is very course; and established practice, and to allow lists of except so far as it might interfere with strong ground for such a quotations to appear without any impartial Imperial interests or corflict with recognised naturally this principle has been still more to in respect to self- and able supervision whatever: For anyone Imperial principles. The warning which carefully adhered less experienced than the MARKET INSPEC- we then ventured to raise, as to the danger governing Colonies. It is only upon this TOR to go to collect the necessary data of such interference by the Home Govern-basis that the Home Government can hope would invole the production of some re- ment, has proved to be well founded sooner to retain its power over the Colonies; and markable averages, as those accustomed to than might have been auticipated. The it is certainly to be deeply regretted that Chinese quotations will readily and perhaps Liberal Party, who commenced the inter- the slightest hint should be given that the ruefully admit. As a guide to what things ference when they were in the opposition, rights of a self-governing Colony would be are obtainable, and their approximate cost, have declared their intention, as far as they in auy way curtailed. It is sincerely to be sufficiently accurate by which to make up possibly can, to maintain it now that they hoped that the COLONIAL SECRETARY will be housekeeping accounts and to check the are in power; and, though the ridiculous able to find some means of restraining the compradore or the "boy" or the cook charges as to Chinese Slavery", which trop de zèle of his second in office. The (who are all keenly interested in what the served so well at the Hustings, have had to incident shows that there is much truth foreign price list tells Missy"), the list as be disowned, the UNDER SECRETARY for the in the objection that it was undesirable that at present managed is justified of itself, COLONIES did not hesitate to state that the the SECRETARY for the COLONIES should be out of the House of Commons, as the and it would be a pity, from the public present Government will use the " Veto" to point of view, to interfere with the status prevent any laws being passed by the Trans. watters with which he has to deal are of quo. In any case, supposing such a list vaal, after that Colony has been granted such a nature that the lower House is much were to be corrected and publi-hed every responsible, Government, should such laws better qualified to deal with them than the day, under the best possible authentication, not be in harmony with the views of Down- upper House. It is difficult to believe that there would still be complaints from people ing Street. If Mr. WINSTON CHURCHILL the COLONIAL SECRETARY himself would who overlook elementary facts. How can
bad desired to sound the note, which, of have indulged in such unfortunate language his deputy thought fit to make any intelligent person expect that prices all others, would raise opposition in South as published in Saturday morning's paper (of Africa, he could not have hit upon one more use of. In the present day public official goods whose value fluctuates in sympathy certain to produce this result. The only speaks not only to the country but to the with daily supply and demand) indicate point at which the Home Government would whole world; and utterances of this kind just what the stall-holder will ask be justified in interfering in a measure of are calculated to do an infinite amount of an hour or so liter? All it can do this kind in a Colony having responsible harm. When a paper so thoroughly im. is to give them a fair idea how Government would be that a given statute perial in its tone as the Cape Times says inuch terminological inexactitude" the which was sent home for the Crown's that "if Mr. CHURCHILL'S utterances were boy who did the previous marketing approval was contrary to fundamental to be taken as a sincere and accurate guide was guilty of; and a reasonable estimate principles, by unduly curtailing the rights as to his future attitude towards South of the expenditure on ensuing purchases. of any who were under the protection of the African questions, then in a few years If there were any question of collusion British Flag-in fact that it contained there would be no necessity for anybody to between the stall-holders and the compilers something in the nature of the slavery cut the painter, as it would drop in the of the lists, which there is not, we could which has been so much harped upon. As ocean for merc lack of will on the part of better understand the position of those it is admitted by the Government that the anybody at this oud to hold it firm", it is who demand
investigation. an
But statements this point were
on
manifest that things have been brought to what can the investigatiou show? That exaggerations, and that really only a few a point at which it behoves prudent men Chinese tradesmen often ask more than details of the existing Ordinance require to take warning. It is to be hoped that the list price?
Surely that has always altering to enable the system as at present wiser counsels wiH do something to mitigate been a well understood practice, and one existing to be approved by them, the threats the feeling that has been aroused; but unfor
were, for which there is a remedy, tedious though as to the exercise of the "Veto "
tunately the matter does not end here. The it may be.
A correspondeut informs us the least, ill-timed and ill-advised. It is feeling has been produced, and the threat that "some people correct their com- not surprising that strong feeling has been which has been made will not be forgotten pradore's charges in accordance with the evoked in South Africa on the subject, and either in the Colony immediately affected, that utterances of the most severe character or in other British Colonies, who are newspaper list, and these corrections are accepted without a protest"! Those ap- have been made, in quarters hitherto most equally concerned in the maintenance of pear to be wiser people than the others who careful to uphold the authority of the mother their right to manage their internal affairs meekly accept the bigger quotations, and country. Of course we may expect that the as they deem fit. It is time enough to think a statute when it has been attribute their disappointment to the declaration of the UNDER SECRETARY for the of "veto-ing supposed quotational inexactitude of the COLONIES will be in due course toned down passed by the local legislature, and is sent to official tariff. This, however, also needs a very considerably, and it will no doubt be the Colonial Office with such observations as little modification. Such deviations, as we declared to mean nothing in the way of the GOVERNOR of the Colony concerned To talk of have already pointed out, are not always the exercise of the "Veto ", which is not in thinks it to make upon it.
"Veto" before the measure has been drafted. necessarily "squeeze". The price must and accordance with constitutional principles. does fluctuate from time to time, and it is Indeed, effectively, it cannot mean more. is to prejudge the whole matter, and is an impossible to have a list to which tradesmen But unfortunately the mass of people are entirely new procedure, which can líardly
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