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by the Unofficial Members of Council, and the passing of
such a Bill might not improbably result in their resigna-
-tion, and in producing a most undesirable crisis in this
Colony. In this connection I have the honour at the request
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closure 2.
one
Enclosure 3.
of the Local Chamber of Commerce to forward a Resolution
passed by the Chamber on the 16th. May, 1908. I have also
the honour to enclose copy of a Resolution brought before
the Legislative Council by the Member who sits for the
Chamber of Commerce with the "Hansard" copy of the debate
which ensued.
5.
From these enclosures Your Lord-
-ship will perceive that the community here, are not
opposed to the gradual extinction of Opium Divans but they
'resent' in the first place their arbitrary closure without
due notice, which will throw a large number of persons out
of employment before they have had time to make other
arrangements, and inflict losses on property owners and
others, and in the second place they feel very strongly
and deeply that in a matter so intimately affecting the
taxpayers, and involving considerable sums in compensation
to the Opium Farmer and Divan Licensees, the representa-
-tives of the taxpayers on the Council should have an
opportunity of expressing their views as to the method of
abolition
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