CO537-1651 — Page 18

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he has in fact been elected. But discussion with Mr. MacDougall did not disclose any satisfactory alternative save that of increasing the number of nominated members at the expense of the elected non-Chinese and that has no real advantage over the Governor's proposal.

10. Next, I agree with the view expressed in previous minutes that the trade unions ought to be given more than two of the ten nominated seats. Only thus, in view of the property qualifications, will the poorer sections of the community get adequate representation and I would press the Governor strongly to increase the number to three and, unless that would disturb the racial balance of the Council, to four.

11.

I am passing through Mr. Caine for his comments on the finance and property sections (paragraphs 34-38 of No.69) and he will perhaps deal with the point (see paragraph 36) of audit if that comes within his scope. My own preference would be for professional audit as marking independence from Government. We should, of course, be most grateful for any comments which Mr. Caine may have on the non-financial aspects of the Governor's proposals.

12. As regards paragraph 41 of No.69, my own inclination would be to start the Council with a seconded Government officer as Town Clerk, but influence the Council to ask, soon after its establishment, for an experienced Town Clerk from this country. If the man has been appointed at their instance he is much more likely to get their goodwill) and to be successful.

13. There remain Sir Mark Young's proposals, set out in paragraphs 44 and 45 of No.69, for a variation in the composition of the Legislature. He proposes to reduce by two the number of nominated officials and thus to have an unofficial majority in the Council, unless the Governor chooses to exercise his own original and casting vote. He also proposes that provision should be made in the constitution whereby of the eight nominated unofficial members four shall in future be directly nominated, two by the Municipal Council and one each by the General Chamber of Commerce and the unofficial Justices of the Peace. The latter two bodies have for some years past had in practice a right of such nomination though this practice finds no place in the

I constitutional instruments. If the Governor's

proposals are approved, he would still have the right to nominate four of the eight unofficial members.

14. To sum up, I recommend that subject to any financial or other points which Mr. Caine may raise, the Governor's proposals should be accepted, but that he should be invited to consider further the half dozen points of detail on which I have commented at length above. We should also express warm appreciation, as Mr. Mayle has suggested, both of the Governor's thorough, careful and clear despatch and proposals and of the valuable work by Mr. Hazlerigg whose admirable discharge of the special duties entrusted to him has contributed so much to this successful outcome.

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довани

in view

N'Hall's statement

(see last senterer of first cathing in to 44 on

Part I)

Tk. / Gov

12.12.46.

thes the aim is to announce Send punciples by the end of 1916.

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