Enclosure
1
HONGKONG, SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1886.
THE Land Commission lately appointed by H. E. the Acting Governor has commenced its duties. He would be a wise man indeed who could prophesy when its labours will be ended, for it is verily a stupendous work which the members of this Commission have now entered upon. The scope of the Commission is almost unlimited, and every imaginable question arising out of the disposal of or rental of land in this Colony may and probably will receive the attention of the gentlemen who compose it.
The members of the Commission are—The Chief Justice (Sir George Phillippo), the Acting Attorney General (Mr E. J. Ackroyd), the Surveyor General (Mr J. M. Price), Mr A. P. MacEwen, and Dr Ho Kai. It is a little unfortunate that the Chairman, Sir George Phillippo, should be absent at the outset of the work. Mr Bruce-Shepherd, clerk of the Deed Registry in the Supreme Court, has been appointed Secretary to the Commission; and a better selection certainly could not have been made.
The unsatisfactory condition of many of the old leases will come up for consideration; and the investigation of the documents bearing on this subject in the archives of the Colony will be a labour of no ordinary magnitude. Of the advisability, indeed the absolute necessity, of such a thorough inquiry into all the branches of this wide question, there can be no doubt; and while much good will be expected to result from the labours and researches of the Commission, it would not be surprising if a Permanent Board of Commissioners for Land were to be called into existence, so as to prevent any recurrence of the confusion and incompleteness which mark the system hitherto adopted.
The burning question of Crown Rents will, we presume, receive special attention, for there can be no doubt that the enormous rentals now sought to be placed on land are the chief obstacle placed in the way of house-building by private residents. It is clear that the enhanced Crown rents now levied have seriously checked private enterprise, and this tends to maintain house-rents at their present excessive rates.
We are convinced that the Commission will have no difficulty in finding ample evidence of this tendency to retard house-building, and trust that an alternative may be suggested to the prohibitive rents now claimed by the Government. The phase of the question which most interests the lot-holders of Kowloong should now receive the exhaustive consideration which it does not seem yet to have received.
The wonderful improvements which continue to change the face of that Peninsula must tend to enhance the value of property there; but it seems short-sighted policy to hamper the action of leaseholders who are anxious to build substantial houses in that district, while at the same time claiming a ground rent equal to many districts in Victoria. A Government seldom loses by liberality to the leaseholders of land; while too much may be sacrificed of present returns for future possibilities. Let the land be utilised now at a reasonable price, and if great prosperity comes in later on, the Crown is bound to share in that, while it receives actual returns in the meantime.
The question also of the position taken by the War Office here will necessarily receive attention; and instead of the military authorities extending their boundary lines within the more valuable sections of the Island, some scheme may be propounded for exchanging these for portions of land equally convenient but less valuable to the Colony.
The subject of overcrowding will doubtless be considered in reference to this hanging after Military Cantonments, and the desire to preserve lines of defence at all points; and it is hoped that the requirements of the growing population and the needs for efficient defence will be harmonised in a satisfactory manner by the recommendations of the Commissioners.
Squatter's licences, and the difficulties which frequently arise in connection with those ignorant natives who fancy the soil belongs to them, while paying rent of any kind is regarded as an unnecessary form, will presumably furnish another subject for examination. In some cases, hardship may have resulted from the forcible removal of these people; and this may possibly be discovered in the course of the inquiry. It might be advisable to encourage permanent residence and an improved description of hut building on the part of the squatting class by giving them greater security of tenure at a slightly advanced price.
Indeed, the quality of houses generally will, we fancy, engage the attention of the Commission; and the efforts to improve the sanitation of the Colony, by opening up new streets, and reconstructing the drains, shadowed forth in Mr Chadwick's comprehensive reports, will be kept in view during the investigations. At least these and other matters will naturally arise out of the important deliberations and suggestions which are expected from this Commission.
The appointment of this Commission is one of the most useful acts done by the Government for many years, and from the character of those who compose it good results may confidently be looked for.
255
Enclosure
1
کے
ng China atlail.
HONGKONG, SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1886.
THE Land Commission lately appointed" by I. E. the Acting Governor has com- menced its duties. He would be a wise man judred who could prophesy when its labours will be ended, for it is verily a stupendous work which the members of this Commission have now entered upon. The scope of the Commission is almo unlimited, and every imaginable question arising out of the disposal of or rental of land in this Colony may and probably will receive the attention of The gentlemen who compose it. The members of the Commission are-The Chief Justice (Sir George Phillippo), the Acting Attorney General (Mr E. J. Ackroyd), the Surveyor General (Mr J. M. Price), Mr A. P. MacEwen, and Dr Ho Kai. It is a little unfortunate that the Chairman, Sir George Phillippo, should be absent at the outset of the work. Mr Bruce-Shepherd, clerk of the Deed Registry in the Supreme Court, has been appointed Secretary to the Commission; and a 'beiter selection cer- tainly could not have been made. The unsatisfactory condition of many of the old jeases will come up for considera- tion; and the investigation of the docu- ments bearing on this subject in the archives of the Colony will be a labour of no ordinary magnitude. Of the advisability, indeed the absolute neces- sity, of such a thorough inquiry into all the branches of this wide question, there can be no doubt; and while much good will be expected, to result from the labours and researches of the Com- mission, it would not be surprising if a Permanent Board of Commissioners for Land were to be called into existence,
so as to prevent any recurrence of the confusion and incompleteness which mark the system hitherto adopted.
The burning question of Crown Rents will, we presume, receive special atten- tion, for there can be no doubt that the enormous rentals now sought to be placed on land are the chief obstacle placed in the way of house-building by private residents. It is clear that the enhanced Crown rents now levied bave seriously checked private enterprise, and this tends to maintain house-rents at their present excessive rates.
We are convinced that the Commission will have no difficulty in finding ample evidence of this tendency to retard bouse-build- ing, and trust that an alternative may be suggested to the prohibitive rents now claimed by the Government. The phase of the question which most interests the lot-holders of Kowloong should now re- ceive the exhaustive consideration which it does not seem yet to have received.
The
Or IN OG The wonderful improvements which con- tinue to change the face of that Peninsula must tend to enhance the value of pro- perty there; but it seems short-sighted policy to hamper the action of lease- holders who are anxious to build sub- stantial honses in that district, while at the same time claiming a ground rent equal to many districts in Victoria. A Government seldom loses by liberality to the leaseholders of land; while too much may be sacrificed of present re- turus for future possibilities. Let the land be utilised now at a reasonable price, and if great prosperity comes in later on, the Crown is bound to share in that, while it receives actual returns in the meantime. The question also of the position taken by the War Office here will necessarily receive attention; and instead of the miliary authorities extending their boundary lines within the more valuable sections of the Teland, some scheme may ไม pro- pounded for exchanging these for portions of land equally convenient but less valuable to the Colony, The i subject of overcrowding will doubtless be considered in reference to this hang- ering after Military Cantonments, and the desire to preserve lines of defence at all points; and it is hoped that the requirements of the growing population and the needs for efficient defence will be harmonised in a satisfactory manner by the recommendations of the Com- missioners. Squatter's licences, and the difficulties which frequently arise in connection with those ignorant natives who fancy the soil belongs to them, while paying rent of any kind is re- garded as an unnecessary form, will presumably furnish another subject forex- amination. In some cases, hardship may have resulted from the forcible re- moval of these people; and this way possibly be discovered in the course of the inquiry. It might be advisable to en courage permanent residence and an im- proved description of hut building on the part of the squatting class by giving them greater security of tenure at a slightly advanced price. Indeed, the quality of houses generally will, we fancy, engage the attention of the Commission; and the efforts to improve the sanitation of the Colony, by opening up new streets, and reconstructing the drains, shadowed forth in Mr Chadwick's comprehensive reports, will be kept in view during the investigations. At least these and other matters will naturally arise out of the important deliberations and sugges- tions which are expected from this Commission. The appointment of this Commission is one of the most useful acts done by the Government for many years, and from the character of those who compose it good results may con- fidently be looked for.
255
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.