•
128
ig
To the first resolution I replied that I entirely agreed with the principle. To the second that I was opposed to any idea of an unofficial majority. The third resolution was discussed at some length. I began by suggesting that the election of a member by the Justices of the Peace was
now an anachronism and that it would be better to abolish this separate election and include the member now elected by the Justices among those to be elected by whatever franchise was ultimately adopted. Somewhat to my surprise, as the leader of the deputation was the present nominee of the Justices (Mr. Pollock), the deputation at once accepted the suggestion. We then discussed the proposal that one of the elected members should be of Portuguese race and I found that the deputation really held no strong views on the matter. (Mr. Pollock subsequently admitted to me that the proposal had merely been thrown in as a bid for support from the Portuguese, who were displaying no interest in the Association an attitude which they still maintain). The last clause as regards an elected Chinese member was also discussed somewhat frankly and when it was realised that any such proposal would mean increasing the weight and influence of the Chinese Eurasians, who now control the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, it was, I think, agreed that the idea should be abandoned. The deputation left, apparent ly satisfied, without my having committed myself to any views except as to a preference for election over nomination.
5.
The most important of the Association's proposals is the second, which involves the question of an unofficial majority. On this point I can only express my entire concurrence in the views set out in Mr. Severn's despatch No.32 of the 30th January, 1919. The case of this Colony differs from those of such places as Malta or Ceylon in that there is no permanent population, except to some
-
ertent