10
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have omitted to look carefully for a cure for its abuses, which have the effect of bringing everyone who shares in the system and follows the custom into disrepute abroad.
These institutims are good evidence that the Chinese are not indifferent in this matter: and the trouble and money they expend is evidence also that there is no simpler solution to be found than the detailed detection of abuses. They have realised that native sympathy and assistance are essential, and the best of them have assisted loyally. Registration, either in the general or the more limited form, does not meet with their approval as a practical measure, and they are intensely practical HON - and will even perhaps be resented for reasona already detailed: and any attempt to impose it would risk the loss of the present sympathy and co-operation without which the efforts of the Government would
amount to very little indeed. Even now there seems
a dangerous tendency to resent the manner in which their work has been ignored in all the publicity that has been given to the *Slavery" question: and to feel that the positim given them is not proper recognition for arduous work done by busy men for no remmeration. It might be added that the implied reflections on their
capacity are no less unjustified: the members of the
Committees are drawn from the most prominent Chinese business men of the Colony, who have set a high standard for broadminded ness and ability.
lf any better practical scheme than their own can be devised,
they