82.
4
performance of these duties; and that it appears to him to be also objectionable as "being in contravention of the Despatch read in the Legislative Council by" in which the Right Honourable "the Secretary of State for the Colonies strongly urges upon His Excellency the necessity of keeping my office safe from such interference, and "preserving me in the duality of my "power and independent of other Departments :
"I concur with which views the Registration Ordinance of last year " had to be repealed; and that of last "month substituted. That all "Labouchere's apprehensions are not ill-founded is proven in the "case. As all these theatrical... or as they are called Religious Ceremonies entail extra work on
125 the Police, I have to make special arrangements. I cannot but submit that an expression of opinion on the part of the Police Authorities as to the allowance or otherwise of these shows is a matter that pertains to the Police, and in this view I am supported at least by the Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council, who have just rejected a draft Bill conferring such powers on the Registrar General.
48. In conclusion, I have to observe that in the course of my 24 Years' service under Government, for nearly twenty years of which I have been in command of the Police, I don't remember to have received