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The passing of the vote applied for would, therefore, not only enable Mr. May to keep up his knowledge of Mandarin, but would also help him to perform his duties more efficiently. The sum cannot be said to be excessive. There are many officers of the Government who are granted an allowance almost as large to acquire a knowledge of Chinese, and I am sure that the value received by Government from this outlay does in no way equal that likely to be derived from allowing Mr. May to continue his study of Mandarin at the small cost of fifteen dollars a month.
It has been suggested as a way out of the difficulty that Mr. May should acquire a knowledge of the Cantonese dialect. This question is, however, quite independent of that raised, viz, whether Mr. May is to keep up his Mandarin, and is not offered as a solution of it. In mentioning this matter I wish it to be understood that I do not in any way intend to modify my opinion that every facility should be afforded to Mr. May to continue his study of Mandarin. With this proviso, I have no hesitation in stating that a knowledge of Cantonese would be of great use to Mr. May in the discharge of his official duties, whatever the post he holds, and suggesting that he be allowed to do so.