CO129-289 - Individuals - 1898 — Page 185

182

Report on the Village Communities.

Ordinance

L.

Cey Corn

4:2497887

We have considered in detail the Ordenance

as

relating to Village Communities

printed in the authorised revised edition of the Ordinances of the Government of Ceylon, and we believe that principle it is admirably adapted for the village communities of China, that it would be quite rentable if adopted en bloe with the -exception of those small portions dealing with circumstances peculiar to Ceylon, несения modifications being made afterwards experience shewed their necessity. We think, however, that the limits of the pririsdiction

village

Doxay

granted to ve

tribunals

inlarged without any fear of injustice

the

be greatly!

oppression. The Chinese have been accustomed centuries to a very langa and extended

local government, the Imperial

for

system of

solely

:"fficers confining their attention almost to the collection of revenue and to the suppression of armed piracy and brigandage. There is never

attenyt

t to deal with individual crime

com-

unless complaint is made, and on account of the extensive and universal corruption of the official class and the consequent suspicion and distrust on the part of the people, plaints are rare, and it is in this way the village tribunats of China have

which they

the

both

that

acquired now exercise

very wide rowers which cases, and

civil and criminal

communites a thorough training

The village communities

(in