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suggestion is that it would involve as a necessary preliminary,
Registration of Marriage with some account of the amount of
money involved es a guide in disputes that might arise. This
Registration the Elders declared would be quite agreeable to
the people - they would in fact welcome it: more than 20 wives
having run away in Fat Heung alone during the last two years,
they feel the necessity for action of some sort.
4.
I believe that if this Registration Scheme
is put into practice, it will lead later on naturally and
peacefully, to the further Registration of Births and Deaths.
This point I did not discuss with the Elders.
5.
The Elders present on May 8th., were only
sore of one district: but they pledged themselves confidently
as to the probable views of all the New Territory.
I have etc.,
(Sa.) 6. B. Hellifax,
Police Magistrate, N.I.
The Honourable
K. H. May, O.N.G.,
Colonial Secretary.