CO129-316 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [1-4] — Page 316

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compensation in certain cases.

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In this connection I enclose for your infomation

copies of two Petitions that were addressed to me on behalf

of the principal European landowners in the Colony and of the

Chinese Community, on the subject of the Bill.

I do not accept as correct all the statements made

in these Petitions, but the points raised in these Petitions

had already engaged my careful attention and after an examina-

tion of the Imperial Acts bearing on the subject and of the

Municipal Acts forwarded in your Despatch No. 261 of the 21st.

02 of August, 1902, I had already before the receipt of the

Petitions decided to make provision in a new draft Bill for

compensation in those cases in which I found precedent for

its provision, or to give a discretionary power to the Governor

in Council whereby exceptions could be made in special cases

where owing to the configuration of the ground large sacrifice

of property would be involved by a rigid enforcement of the

law. Sections 154, 176, and 185 are the principal instances

in which such discretion was provided for. I enclose copy of

a further letter written on behalf of the European landowners

showing that they are fully satisfied with the provision made

for compensation. The Chinese representatives on the Legisla-

tive Council are apparently equally satisfied, for the Bill

during its passage through the Council did not lead to a

single division.

Onclosure 5.

The December,

1907

42311

•

4.

In accordance with my proposal approved

by your telegram of the 31st. of October last, no provision

has been made in the Ordinance for the appointment of a

Sanitary Commissioner, and with reference to your Despatch

No.

તા.