it was sale, having so property in the Colony, might quit it, leaving the Government without means of enforcing its just claim.
16.
any
Your Lordships will observe that Messrs Stuart and Davidson, (Despatch A218), recommend the entire abolition of the present Ground Rent, and that some system of assessment be substituted. The opinion of these gentlemen is entitled to much weight, from their intelligence and honesty of purpose, and I have in consequence given every consideration in my power; but I confess I cannot recommend that their plan should be adopted. My reasons for disagreeing with them are much the same as those advanced by Messrs Meever and Smith, but I am principally opposed to their plan, because it appears to me that it would bear most unfairly on those who have improved their lots, and would also render an inquisitive interference in the affairs of Chinese settlers absolutely necessary. This could only take place through the instrumentality of a numerous and unscrupulous crew of Native Police Officers, and would in the end, I am satisfied, do little to relieve those settlers from the taxation at present liable.
17.
In conclusion, I must remark that the sentiments I have expressed in this Despatch are at variance with those I have advanced in former ones on the subject. To this I can only observe that what I then wrote I believed to be the case, but that a further residence in the Colony and a more intimate knowledge of its real state, together with the circumstance that so few claims have been made for a reduction in the land rents, although all feasible means have been resorted to, to induce persons fancying themselves aggrieved to come forward - have
it was selle, having so property in the Colony, might quit it, leaving the Government withouts means of enforcing its just claim.
16.
any
Your Lordships with observe that Meere
Stuart and Davidson, (huelozure A218),
recommend the entire abolition of the present- ground Rent, and that
Lone
system of
: assessment be substituted._. The opinion of
gentlemen is entitled to much weight.
from their inte
these
5. every
recount, from
intelligence and
nonesty of purpose, and I have in consequence suggestion every consideration in
confess I cannot recommend
given
their
my power; but I confere
- that their plan should be adopted. My reasons for disagreeing with them are much the came as there advanced by Mesert Meveer and Smith, but. I am principally opposed to their plan,
because it
appears
most unfairly
to
Mue
that it would bear
on those who have improved_
their lots, and would also render an
295
the
inquisitive interference in the affairs of Chinese settlers absolutely necessary. This could
21
only take place through the instrumentality of a renal and emust crew of -Native Police Officer, and would in the end, I am satisfied, do
little to relieve those settlers
to which they
17.
Jann
are
from
the tayation
at present liable.
In conclusion, I muet, semwork that
the sentiments I have expressed
MUL MVTAC
in this
are at variance with those
Despatch are at
I have advanced in former
ones on the subjects.
To this I can only observe that; what I then wrote I believed to be the case,
but that
a
further residence in the Colony and a more intimate Knowledge of its real state, together with the circumstance that so few claims have been made for a reduction in the land rents, although all feasible
means have been resorted to, to induce persons faneying themselves aggrieved to come forward- have
-
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