!
liccuses for working
ar
Sundays.
The Council advised the
suggested action.
gkong
Sf. A. M. Thomson,
20th April, 1891.
Act. Clerk of Cormeils.
Enclosure 6.
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, MAY 5TH, 1891.
THE SUNDAY LABOUR BILL.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS." SI-A. meeting of the Legislative Conucil has been summoned for to-morrow forenoon at 11 o'clock. I cannot possibly attend as it is mail day. The second reading of the Bill sutitled | "An Ordinance to restrict the loading and un- loading of cargo on Sunday in the waters of the Colony" is in the orders of the day. I should like to be present to oppose the Bill in its pre- sent form or at least to endeavour to secure Bertain amendments to it, but as that is impos- sible I beg to send you for publication certain oriticisms. His Excellency the Governor has statod that for all practical purposes I might just as well send my remarks to the newspapers as deliver them in Council and that the same effect can thus be produced.
Is this Bill introduced under instractions from the Secretary of State for the Colonies? If so it is almost useless to oppose it, or to offer any comments adverse to its passing; though perhaps the following suggestions might be made.
It is one-sided and directed to exclude from its operations all native craft, which on short voy-. ages to southern ports can compote successfully against Foreign-built vessels.
Has consideration been given to the food supply of the colony, which is largely imported P The river steamers leaving Canton on Saturday
avoning which arrive in Hongkong on Sunday morning bring large supplies both for the Euro pean and native colonists. Is this perishable : cargo to be allowed to rot, particularly in the hot weather, on board the steamers, or are the vessels to refuse its carriage on the Saturday evening departures from Canton, so throwing the colonists' food wants on the stale supplies of previous importations?
Many time charters are in existence based on the old order of things. To reduce the charterers' ability to work in this barboar by a maximum of nearly 35 per cent. daring the remaining currency of their charters would inflict a hardship on all who have such contracts pending. For, if they had been aware that this Ordinance was contemplated, they could havo provided for a lessened payment to the shipowner in the event of such legislation becoming operative during the term of their charters. Under such circumstances is it not equitable that the Ordinance should not take effect till six months from the date of its passing P
Why should work in the harbour be signalled out and not that on shore ? Is it not "straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel "?-Yours very truly,
T. H. WHITEHEAD,
Hongkong, 4th May, 1891.
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