CE
Septemler 7, 1907.]
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REFORT.
provocative of contemplative rupture, but | cmployed as tenders. The junks discharge with him it worked differently. He spoke at various convenient poiuts, where these about it somewhat as follows:
launches call specially, and thence hurry The business men here often complain of back to Hongkong. At Shaukiwan, Aber- bad times, but they do not hustle to im-deen, Stanley, and so forth, the fish are so prove them. There, it seems, to me. is an transferred. Fish is frequently found on instance of neglected opportunity. Instead Hongkong breakfast tables that has been of those slow-going junks, feebly fighting caught during the night. Steam trawlers adverse tides, depending on fickle winds, could scarcely improve upon that. By-and- zig-zaging toward the open sea, where their by, when the railways open up inland crews will struggle with cumbersome nets, markets for fresh fish, as they undoubtedly and dawdle home in the same way with will, your idea may be practical. At pre their catch, why should there not be a few sent it does not sceni 80.' up-to-date steam trawlers, that would race The reformier was silenced, but not to the fishing grounds, scoop up the fish, convinced. The asthetically-minded ob and hasten back with them so as to deliverjector, watching the last of the shadowy them as fresh as possible? It would surely sails being swallowed by the gathering benefit not only the enterprising investors, darkness, reflected that at the rate the but also the general public. It is an in. railways were now being advanced, there portaut question of food supply to the would be little fear of such a rupture of Colony, as well as of dividends.'
romance in his time, and was glad. So too, bad they not, beating out beneath the stars, been blissfully unconscious of this threaten- ment, might have felt the fisherfolk.
rose
The man who had simply been enjoying Llic picture, as a picture, without thought of its ulterior purposes, shuddered like a man awaking by a cold hearth. He thought of the countless evenings on which the cane ropes had groaned as they wound over the drums, while the great mat sails jerkily to catch the evening breeze, the women swayed gracefully over the sweep shaft, and the helmsmen steered through the pass; and the mental image of the days to come, with smoky, snorting steam traw- lers fussily replacing the old-fashioned craft, gave him almost a pain. He desired to express opposition to the idea, but knew that none but utilitarian arguments could prevail in that company. All he could think of was the possible disturbing effects of interfering with the livelihood of the fisher folk, and he mooted the point.
KEIR HARDIE.
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143
" HAR-
the upsetting mania aud iconoclasm of sucli people-it is a sort of universal spring cleaning they aim at, ripping everything merely being that the dirt changes places— out and shoving it back again, the effect
there are forces, inevitable in humau nature, that prevent the cohesion that would achieve success set.
and a generally disconcerting up. The greatest enemy of such friends of the British Workman is that horny-handed humbug himself, as many meu, genuinely endeavouring to help bim, have discovered to their cost. If KEIR HARDIE had not been so much of a Christian, we feel sure his experiences would ere this have tempted him to re-echo the plaint of the Corn Law Rhymer, who wrote "Curse the people, blast the people, damn the lower orders." But be hasn't, and his manful persistence, his manly independence, and his general ability, compel reluctant admiration. His eccentricity in the matter of dress is his best achievement, for while meu generally have academically admitted that clothes do not matter, it is very few of them who dare defy convention, and in their wardrobes show the courage of (Daily Press, 5th September.)
their couvictions. Such bravery is surely That he ought to be tarred and feathered needed in our national makeup, and ought was the startling remark of a Hongkong to be fostered. So also, unless we want to citizen on being informed that Mr. KEIR copy the Chinese, ought "Queer HARDIE was nearly due at Hongkong. DIE's contemptuous handling of tradition Aud when another mau said this vicious and 'olo custom.' There we are in a state comment recalled a certain cry of "crucify | of slavery, and as an abolitionist our im him," the original speaker pretended to be minent visitor carns a cheer or two. His shocked at the implied comparison. Though views of imperial matters are hopeless, aud KEIR HARDIE's opinions are as uuconven-
his attitude, and the attitude of his like, tional as his clothes, and his cranky theories towards a Utopia of nicely behaving men seem so much waste of breath to practical and women, always reminds politicians, coutent to make the best of deeply moral picture by PHIL MAY of the us of that things that cannot be changed, because boy with the toothache, weeping on the fundamental, no one has had the temerity sands of Margate as his father drags him openly to suggest that he is not an honest along determinedly. I've brought you mall. He is not a self-seeker, and charges down here to enjoy yourself, and I intend of venality or insincerity, if seriously
to make you enjoy yourself," said in effect levelled against him, would soon be refuted. that coster sire; and KEIR HARDIE semua He is a bit of a nuisance, a good deal wrapt equally determined to make the lion and in foolish dreams, but that, after all, is not the lamb everywhere kiss each other. When a rare character in human history. An he gets to India, he will probably sec and unprejudiced debater would probably decide learn things that will make him wiser, but that KEIR HARDIE's philosophy is too there are none so blind as them that will Christian for Christendom; and if we dared not see, and if he be that sort, bis visit will to be frank, we should boldly affirm what meau harm instead of good. But in all we more than suspect, that it is an uneasy probability the patent complexity of the conscience, convicting us of humbug, that Indian problem will strike him, and cure makes us dislike and fear him and his like him of some of the dogmatic notions that so much. As a socialist he is where the characterise those who only England parsons are, fighting a losing fight, or like know." "But nothing has ever been heard of the Sisyphus, pushing uphill a big boulder, that success of the two steam trawlers up north,' will not stay where it is pushed to, because interrupted v stickler for facts, and I it is "against nature" for it not to roll back! believe there was a good deal of difficulty again when the gravity-opposing pressure put in the way of the French company, 80
relaxes. So with other matters. It is that it is still only in the projection stage, unnatural to "turn the other check.” I understand. Is it not the fact that it is when we know the smiter will thereby a local scarcity of fish that requires the merely be encouraged to further aggression; produce of our twenty thousand Hongkong it is unpalatable to be told about the folly junks to be augmented from Canton of piling up earthly treasures, when we are have heard it repeatedly said that the local busy making our fortunes; and we really, fishing grounds are comparatively exhaust-pursuing our way up the sauce hill, wish that ed. The Government tries to stop dyua- miting, but it still allows a ridiculously small mesh."
The reformer made short work of him. If they were to kowtow to the conservatism of the natives, nothing would ever be done. Besides, bad not electric trams superseded ricshas without doing any harm? There was a big market here for fish, and it was time less antiquated methods were adopted to cater to it. At present there were 22,000 odd fishing boat licences issued, and yet tous of fish had to be imported by steamer from Canton. That showed that the juuks could not cope with the demand. Chinese elsewhere had gone in for steam trawlers-on the Shantung coast, he believed-and he had heard there was a big company at work on similar lines in Cochi-China.
ז'
"All the more reason," put in the first speaker, "for the introduction of steam trawlers. They could go further afield in the same time."
The reply was that fish was too cheap here to make it pay. It would otherwise mean an increase in the price of fish, au awkward problem. Even at home, where fish was dearer, the industry was not particularly flourishing. “Besides," added A well-informed listener, "the present method of getting the fish to market from the local fleet is not so antiquated as you suppose. A number of steam lauuches are
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fussy SISYPHUS would take himself and his boulder away. KEIR HARDIE keeps on pushing, however, and if only out of pity for the vauity of his self-sacrifice, we should avoid that cry of "crucify him." When be lauds at Hongkong, those who talk of tar and feathers so glibly had better keep in the background. In addition to being a Christian Socialist, KEIR HARDIE is also a pillar of the Independeat Labour Party. The two things hang together, ot course, but while the Socialists are concern- ed mainly with theories and ideals, the Labour champions have begun to handle practical details. Mischief is to be more immediately apprehended from them. For tunately for those who do not appreciate
J
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE SANITARY BOARD.
(Daily Press, September 6th.) The proposal of the Government that the Sanitary Board should include among its Standing Orders one corresponding to the
rule of the British House of Conimous
embodying the principle that no member shall vote upon a matter in which he is beneficially interested, is one to which no one cau reasonably object; but coming as it did before the Board without any previous indication that such a rule was necessary or desirable, it implied conduct on the part of the unofficial members which they would seem to have every right and reason to resent. For the present, the suggested Standing Order has been "shelved," the Åttorney-General having endorsed Mr. SHELTON HOOPER's view that it could not legally be adopted under the present statutory powers of too Board. But in communicating its decision to withdraw the suggestion, in view of the opinion expressed by the ATTORNEY-General, the Government intimates that it will later