which were not clearly
Leew
by them, and
which, at the first occupation of the island,
the
sanguine spirit of the community
led them consider.
considerably
to overrate
At a meeting of our Committee
it was endeavoured to show that the high Land Rents did actually press heavily
upon the Chinese inhabitants, and it was suggested that the
requisites
calculation
I proved this. The calculation was made, and it appeared that, in that
part
average proportions
of the district which paid the very highest Ground-rent, the burden was about thirty
shillings per
annum
house! The
conclusion could not be drawn, for
as was
then remarked, the crowded manner in
which Chinese live together, forbids the idea
that
any one person living in such a house could feel the weight of such a tax, or that the tenant or proprietor of such a
house could be prevented by that tax from
realizing good profit on his property. I know that with some Europeans in the Colony Chinese house property
is a source
of very
large
income, and believe such to be the case with Chinese proprietors also; while I have
no reason to think that amongst any class
of Chinese, whether they be respectable
shopkeepers,
Coolies, or the lower order of labouring
classes,
house
lodging rent is exorbitant.
rather
But if it were, it plainly rests with the
proprietor to reduce his profit, than with the Government to forego its revenues, which, as shown above, falls lightly
every where it falls
the most
A scheme, which I cannot but
characterize
in its most
favourable point of
view, has been
suggested and advocated,
by two members of our Committee. This scheme is to abolish altogether the Land