"lations and conditions as may be deemed expedient for the total "suppression, or in the meantime, for the better limitation and "control of Gambling in this Colony,
5.-The Ordinance of last year, like that of the present, contemplated if possible the suppression, and failing that, the limitation and control of Gambling. The Governor had then hopes that by increased exertions, Gambling could be put down, hopes which, after the greatest personal efforts, aided by equal exertions on the part of several Officers of the Police, he has been obliged to abandon, as he found the attempt only led to the continued corruption of the Police on whose efficiency the security of the lives and property of the community mainly depends.
6.-Those efforts moreover drove the incorrigible and numerous Chinese Gamblers of the Colony to resort to secret lairs, to live in a perpetual defiance of the law, and thus established numerous rendezvous of the worst classes, where nine-tenths of the burglaries and daring crimes perpetrated were planned.
7.-His Excellency might of course have left matters in that state, which he presumes is what you would advise, or he might resort to the other alternative of the Ordinance for the better limitation and control of Gambling, which is the policy that he considers most consistent with his duty to maintain "Order."
Last month the Colonial Press gave extensive publicity to the Governor's declaration in Council of his opinion that it would be wise to regulate what we could not suppress, and if publicity be un-English, and "calculated to blindfold the Public," you will find it in extenso in the reported proceedings of the Legislative Council of the 17th ultimo.
9.-His Excellency would have expected from the deep interest which you feel in the question that you would then have avowed your opinions. It may be a satisfaction to you however to know that Members of Council, at least all the non-official Members, so far back as the passing of the Ordinance last year, were well acquainted with and entirely approved of the alternative given to the Executive, if the suppression of Gaming proved impossible. Such also is the opinion of the most experienced residents here, men whose opinions are entitled to equal weight with yours, for His Excellency presumes that you do not claim a monopoly of either sagacity or virtue.
10. You allude to the "large Revenue" which Gambling licenses will bring in, and some of your number have published letters imputing to the Government the most sordid motives. Your imputing such motives, when disavowed by the Government, gives them neither truth nor even increased probability.
Page 13
11.-The Governor simply wishes to free Gambling from its present illegality so far as to break up the gangs of illegal Gamblers, whose cliques are now the schools and nurseries of crime. He would do so if he saw his way to such a result, without adding a cent to the Public Treasury.
783
12.-He cannot however make the Chinese aid in putting down illegal Gambling otherwise than by rendering it essentially their interest to do so, nor can this be effected unless they have a large interest at stake with which illegal operations would interfere. The larger that interest, the greater and more effective must be their co-operation with the Government, and the more stringent the power of the latter to enforce obedience to its Regulations, because that co-operation and obedience must be proportioned to the sums invested, and risked by want of co-operation and by disobedience.
13. Nevertheless, when the amount paid is sufficient for the above purpose, a point that can only be settled by experience, it is not desirable to increase it for mere purposes of Revenue, and for that reason His Excellency has refused offers exceeding the amount accepted by more than $100,000. He will even be glad to find hereafter that a less sum than that now tendered will enable the Government to attain the principal legitimate objects sought, as above stated.
14.-In this small Colony, situated within a mile of the mainland, there has been between the latter and this Island an interchange to and fro of 200,000 persons in the last Six Months, and His Excellency despairs of producing a moral impression against Gaming on a community formed of such changing elements, and the individuals composing which are, in the aggregate, notoriously addicted to Gaming.
15.-He prefers addressing himself to the practical question of protecting property by suppressing meetings of illegal Gamblers and retrieving the efficiency of the now corrupted Police. He does not believe that vice ceases to exist when he shuts his eyes and refuses to see it—and if that, which is a sin of deeper dye, is, from the necessity of the case, submitted to regulated sanction with the approval of the wise and good in England, for the prevention of disease, His Excellency cannot admit the distinction without a difference, which would forbid his endeavouring, with a view to the suppression of crime, to control that which was not illegal by English Common Law, and is not denounced as a sin by the Sacred Law.
12
"lations and conditions as may be deemed expedient for the total "suppression, or in the meantime, for the better limitation and "control of Gambling in this Colony,
5.-The Ordinance of last year, like that of the present, con- templated if possible the suppression, and failing that, the inita- tion and control of Gambling. The Governor had then hop that by increased exertions, Gambling could be put down, hopes which, after the greatest personal efforts, aided by equal exertions ou the part of several Officers of the Police, he has been obliged to aban- don, as he foun1 thelattempt only led to the continued corruption of the Police on whose efficiency the security of the lives and property of the community mainly depends.
6.-Those efforts morcover drove the incorrigible and numerous Chinese Gamblers of the Colony to resort to secret lairs, to live in a perpetual defiance of the law, and thus established numerous rendezvous of the worst classes, where nine-tenths of the bur- glaries and daring crimes perpetrated were planned.
7.His Excellency might of course have left matters in that state, which be presumes is what you would advise, or he might resort to the other alternative of the Ordinance for the beffer limitation and control of Gambling," which is the policy that he considers most consistent with his duty to maintain "Order."
Last month the Colonial Press gave extensive publicity to the Governor's declaration in Council of his opinion that it would be wise to regulate what we could not suppress, and if publicity be un English, and "enlculated to blind fold the Public," you will find it in extenso in the reported proceedings of the Legislative Council of the 17th ultimo.
9-His Excellency would have expected from the deep interest which you feel in the question that youfwould then have avowed your opinions. It may be a satisfaction to you however to know that Members of Council, at least all the non-official Members, 90 far back as the passing of the Ordinance last year, were well acquainted with and entirely approved of the alternative given to the Executive, if the suppression of Gaming proved impossible. Such also is the opinion of the most experienced residents here, men whose opininis are entitled to equal weight with yours, for His Excellency presumes that you do not claim a monopoly of either sagacity or virtue.
10. You allude to the "large Revenue" which Gambling licenses will bring in, and some of your number have published letters imputing to the Government the most sordid motives. Your imputing such motives, when disavowed by the Government, gives them neither truth nor even increased probability.
13
11The Governor simply wishes to free Gambling from its present illegality so far as to break up the gangs of illegal Gana- blers, whose cliques are now the schools and nurseries of crime, the He would do so if he saw continuance of which you advocate.
his way to such a result, without adding a cent to the Public Treasury.
783
12-e cannot however make the Chinese aid in putting down illegal Gambling otherwise than by rendering it essentially their interest to do so, nor can this be effected unless they have a large interest at stake with which illegal operations would interfere. The larger that interest, the greater and more effective must be their co-operation with the Government, and the more stringent the power of the latter to enforce obedience to its Regulations, because that co-operation and obedience must be proportioned to the sums invested, and risked by want of co-operation and by disobedience.
13. Nevertheless, when the amount paid is sufficient for the above purpose, a point that can only be settled by experience, it is not desirable, to increase it for mere purposes of Revenue, and for that reason His Excellency has refused offers exceeding the Emoant accepted by more than $100,000. He will even be glad to find hereafter that a less sure than that now tendered will enable the Government to attain the principal legitimate objects sought, as above stated.
14.--In this seall Colony, situated within a mile of the main- Jand, there has been between the latter and this Island an inter- change to and fro of 200,000 persons in the last Six Months, and His Excellency despairs of producing a moral impression against Gaming on a community formed of such changing elements, and the individuals composing which are, in the aggregate, notoriously addicted to Gaming.
15.He prefers addressing himself to the practical question of protecting property by suppressing meetings of illegal Gamblers and retrieving the efficiency of the now corrupted Police. He does not believe that vice ceases to exist when he shuts his eyes and refuses to see it-and if that, which is a sin of deeper dye, is, from the necessity of the case, submitted to regulated sanction with the approval of the wise and good in England, for the pre- vention of disease, His Excellency cannot admit the distinction without a differencc, which would forbid his endeavouring, with a view to the suppression of criwe, to control that which was not illegal by English Common Law, add is not denounced as a sin by the Sacred Law.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.