DIEU
ET MON
6.
DROI
Government House, 3 ong ong.
383
D
if we delayed, the snowball of opposition set rolling
by the Press would gradually grow and make the whole
thing more difficult. I was averse, however, from raising
the assessment rates, which would have resulted doubtless
in a raise of rents, so explored carefully other avenues
of taxation. Tobacco, petrol and stamps will be fruitful
sources, and the new taxation has caused little outcry.
In taking this line I felt that we should probably under-
cut a good deal of the opposition. In this I seem to
have been correct, for since the resolution was pass ed
in Council, we have heard very little about it. The
Chinese members on the whole were in favour of a revision,
but deprecated its being given effect to at present. I
am told that the European members have since the meeting
expressed a feeling of relief that the thing has been
settled.
Currency is, of course, a troublesome business,
though the dollar has steadied a bit the last week. I
am not a currency expert, nor do the people who express
views in the Press appear to be. They criticize Govern-
ment for not by a stroke of the pen settling the currency
by introducing a stabilized dollar at two shillings!