30
PROPORTION of Military Expenditure to Revenue, &c., paid by this Colony during
the last 10 years.
Aggregate
Year.
trade, ie., iraportsį and exports.
Aggregate shipping, ie., inwards and outwards.
Total revenue.
Totsl expenditure.
Total military expenditure.
Percentage of military expenditure on
revenue.
dollars.
1884
218,108,704
tons,
dollars. 6,210,687 3,516,841
dollars,
dollars.
8,238,031
239,910
6.82
1885
210,870,018
7,860,917 3,508,074
3,598,149
299,606
6.83
1886
225,666,492
1887
263,664,131
8,179,238 8,747,501
8,716,000
3,195,689
241,069
6-43
3,847,650
3,511,096
240,116
6'24
1888
293,479,085
1889
289,418,342
1890
296,375,855
!
1891
279,147,671
9,192,855 3,858,909
9,656,950 4,409,927
9,678,659
10,618,058 8,826,603
3,559,864
242,966
6-20
3,812,612
242,723
5 50
4,289,125
3,757,693
292,493
6.85
4,598,978
1,087,649
28.42
1892
293,085,890
10,200,135 3,652,877
4,266,406
837,967
22.93
1898
1894
323,771,030
*302,348,974
10,613,806 3,706,307
+7,200,000 3,818,170
3,915,481
732,522
20-30
9,826,138
729,118
(Estimated.)
$19-09
• Nine months only.
↑ Singapore only.
↑ Military Contributions reduced from 100,000l. to 80,0001.
31
Singapore,
Sir,
4th January, 1895. The action of Her Majesty's Government in ignoring the appeal of this Colony for some reduction in the Military Contribution is, in our opinion, calculated to have so disastrous an effect upon the welfare of the Colony, that we feel bound, as the only means in our power of protesting against what appears to us such a grave injustice, to place in the hands of his Excellency the Governor the resignation of our seats as members of the Chinese Advisory Board.
T. JIAA KIM. W. JOON SIANG.
S. LIANG SEAH,
L. CHENG YAM.
T. CHENG FOOK.
K. CHENG TEO.
G. ENG SENG.
G. SIN KHO, SIH GUAN.
No KWAI Po.
The Hon. A. P. Talbot,
FUNG YIN.
C. AH PAT.
Acting Colonial Secretary,
Straits Settlements.
(No. 11.)
My Lord,
No. 5b.
Sir C. B. H. Mitchell to the Marquis of Ripon, (Received 4th February, 1895.)
Government House, Penang,
9th January, 1895.
I enclose copies of resignations sent to me by 18 Justices of the Peace for Singapore and by the Singapore Chinese Advisory Board.
2. These resignations are caused by the publication of the decision of Her Majesty's Government in regard to the Military Contribution.
3. If, as I believe it to be, this action is based upon a common understanding on the part of the European and Chinese residents of position in Singapore, I shall probably experience much difficulty in filling the vacancies thus caused, but on this point I shall address your Lordship after my return, next week, to Singapore.
Sir,
C. B. H. MITCHELL,
Singapore,
4th January, 1895.
We, the undersigned, Justices of the Peace, beg to submit to his Excellency the Governor, our resignation of that office, as a protest against the arbitrary action of Her Majesty's Government in regard to the Military Contribution, as set forth in Lord Ripon's latest despatch.
It is a matter for regret that this step should be necessary, but in view of the harsh and, in our opinion, unfair treatment of the Colony, showing a great disregard of its present welfare or future prosperity, it seems to us the only course left to us, as a means of protest.
The Hon. A. P. Talbot,
J. R. CUTHBERTSON.
J. BLAIR,
T. SHELFORD,
C. STRINGER.
J. MILLER.
Acting Colonial Secretary,
A. J. GUNN.
T. C. BOGAARDT.
J. ANDERSON.
T. JIAK KIM.
T. KECG SAIK.
Straits Settlements.
R. W. HULLETT,
T. S. THOMSON.
W. G. TAYLOR.
C. SUGDEN.
A. GENTLE.
J. MACRITCHIE.
J. FRASER.
C. E. CRANE,
S. LIANG SHAH.
(No. 13.)
My Lord,
No. 50.
Sir C. B. H. Mitchell to the Marquis of Ripon.
(Received 4th February, 1895.)
Government House, Penang,
10th January, 1895.
In continuation of my despatch, No. 428, of the 29th December,* I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship a copy of a letter I have received from Messrs. Shelford, Donaldson, and Seah Liang Seah, tendering their resignations as unofficial members of the Legislative Council.
2. As your Lordship will perceive, they state that they have been prompted to take this step as a final protest against the decision come to by Her Majesty's Govern- ment with regard to the amount to be paid by the Colony as Military Contribution during the quinquennial period 1894-98, which was conveyed in your Lordship's despatch, No. 365, of the 6th November last.
3. I also enclose a copy of a semi-official letter addressed by Mr. Bogaardt to the Colonial Secretary, in which he regrets his inability, under the circumstances, to accept renomination on the expiration of his term of office. Mr. Bogaardt had previously intimated to me personally his willingness to serve again.
4. Mr. Donaldson had already, before the receipt of your Lordship's despatch, to which I have above alluded, informed me of his intention of resigning his seat, as he was leaving the Colony early in January.
5. Mr. Hüttenbach, a copy of whose letter to the Colonial Secretary I enclose, has expressed a wish to resign his seat for other reasons than those which have brought about the resignation of the gentlemen above named, Mr. Hüttenbach has been much attacked in the local press lately, and I cannot but feel that the treatment he has received is the cause of his wish to retire. I have asked him to meet me on my return to Singapore, and he may then see fit to reconsider his decision.
6. The Penang members, Dr. Brown and Mr. Vermont, have, up to the present moment, shown no sign of following the example of their Singapore colleagues, and I think it probable that they will adopt an independent course.
7. The decision of the Singapore members has, I understand, only been arrived at after long consideration, and with the full knowledge that it meets with the general support of the influential portion of the local European and Chinese community, It will, therefore, I fear, be difficult, if I restrict my choice to Singapore residents, to adequately fill their places, but on this point I will address your Lordship again after my return to Singapore.
• No. 2038.
C. B. H. MITCHELL.
519