CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 353

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KIANGSU,

The appropriations for the assembly are stated to be 120,000 taels (15,0001.) for“, the buildings at Nanking, and 69,000 taels (7,5001.) annually for salaries, allowances and current expenditure. The payments to members are:-

President

Two vice-presidents, each

Members of standing committee, each

Chief secretary

Other secretaries, each

Taels.

150 a-month. 120

**

70

"

100

50

*

During the session a committee presided over by the Viceroy and composed of the principal provincial officials sat every fifth day at the Viceroy's yamên for the purpose of dealing with business submitted by the assembly, and a similar committee was organised at the governor's yamên at Soochou.

A passage of arms occurred between the Viceroy and the assembly in connection with a resolution advocating the construction of a railway from Hai-chou to Ch'ung- chiang as a form of relief works to alleviate distress caused by floods. The Viceroy approved the scheme, but remitted the resolution back to the assembly because of the difficulty of raising the necessary funds. The standing committee, in reply, reminded the Viceroy that it was only in the event of a divergence of opinion between him and the assembly that a matter should be referred back for further consideration, and they urged that, as the railway scheme had his approbation, his proper course was to do his utmost to carry it into operation. They accordingly declined to consider the matter further.

In his decisions on the resolutions submitted to him the Viceroy vetoed some as being outside the assembly's functions, others he remitted for further consideration, and a few he approved. In his minute he dwelt on the clause in the regulations empowering him to close the assembly in the event of his admonitions being disregarded. In reply the assembly contested his reading of the regulations, and protested against a minute such as this being made the occasion for reminding the members of the penalties to be incurred for infringing the regulations. His Excellency's attention was called to the fact that the provincial assemblies are the first step towards constitutional government.

At the request of the standing committee an extraordinary session was called for the 18th April, when it sat for twenty days allotted by regulations. In the petition of the standing committee to the Viceroy it was pointed out that of the forty-six resolutions submitted to the executive only five had been given effect to. The relations between the assembly and the authorities during this session would appear to have been harmonious, though complaint was made that the Viceroy did not give immediate effect to the resolutions passed by the members, even when they were approved.

The principal matters dealt with of interest to foreigners referred to:—

Payment of Land Tax by Foreigners.-The assembly complained that in spite of the Viceroy's approval of the principal, no effect had been given to their resolution, and the question had been simply referred to the Shanghai taotai. His Excellency replied that the report of the taotai was essential, and that he would direct that official to forward it as soon as possible.

Puo-Shan Title Deeds.--The assembly requested that no more official deeds should be issued to foreigners for land in this district. The Viceroy replied that the right to purchase land in Pao-Shan was accorded in 1900, and that he could not now withdraw it, but he undertook that the greatest care should be exercised in order to prevent abuses.

The assembly have now asked for papers on the subject to see whether this right cannot be recovered.

Land outside Settlements. The assembly requested that official deeds for lands outside settlements should not be granted to foreigners. They also referred to foreigners establishing firms in the interior, especially the Japanese, and pointed out that the treaty of Shimonosiki only authorised the temporary renting of premises

in the interior.

Shanghai Taotoi.-The assembly preferred the following charges against the taotai Tsai Nai-hung, and requested the Viceroy to enquire into them :-

That he surrendered China's sovereign rights by allowing a consular representative to be present at inquests on Chinese in the settlement;

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That he had, at the request of the consuls, released a headman who was arrested by the magistrate;

That he had given foreigners facilities to buy land in the settlement; and That he had permitted lotteries in his jurisdiction.

KIANGSI.

The governor's report on the first session merely says that the deliberations of the assembly were conducted in strict accordance with the regulations. There was no transgression of powers, no disturbance or difficulty. No details of the discussions are given.

The payments to officers and members are the same as in the Nanking assembly, The estimate for yearly expenditure for salaries, &c., is 46,000 taels (5,7007.).

Six members were elected to the Senate by ballot.

HUPEI.

In its first session the Hupei assembly displayed a distinct bias against foreigners and an ignorant zeal to minimise treaty rights. Their schemes for reforms were as complicated and regardless of financial considerations as the stock proposals of officials. The native papers, which were supplied with lengthy reports on various topics, lamented the narrowness of the members' views, and pointed out that, being either gentry or officials, actual or expectant, they did not sympathise with the masses, whose burdens they were ready to increase.

The body of executive officials, from the Viceroy down, affect in conversation to think better of the assembly, but two of them have admitted to His Majesty's consul-general that it deals a serious blow at the Viceroy's power. It supplies the discontented with a means of ventilating grievances, but already its honesty is suspect. It also works with the Hunan assembly in opposing the foreigner over railways and the rice trade, and both show eagerness to combine with other assemblies in coercing the central Government.

Since the close of the full session, the standing committee besides having a fierce dispute with the President which ended in his resignation, and joining in the campaign against foreign loans for the construction of railways, has submitted elaborate schemes for reform of district administration, educational arrangements, and famine relief.

Local self-government in Hupei has not advanced beyond attempts to draw up voters' lists and exhortations to the people not to suspect that the returns will be followed by extra taxation.

HUNAN,

His Majesty's consul notes that the assembly is entirely composed of " gentry" whose reputation as private citizens is on the whole good. Of the eighty-two members, at most eight have any reputation for capacity, and the rest are mere followers. The people are generally led to regard the asserably with favour, as an appeal to it is encouraged, and many matters are now submitted to it which were formerly referred to the executive. A high official who has spent the best part of his life in Hunan bas told His Majesty's consul that the power of the governor has been seriously undermined by the assembly, and that it is a serious menace to the peace of the province. The general opinion in Hunan is that the demands of the assembly to be recognised in all matters will increase, that the power of the executive will diminish correspondingly, and that serious trouble must result. The attitude of the assembly towards questions relating to foreigners has been actively hostile.

The business discussed during the first session referred to the following subject:-

1. Extension of primary schools.

2. Reform of mining affairs.

3. Reform in method of sealing deeds for real property.

4. Reform of prisons.

5. Reform of abuses in official yamêns.

6. Reform of law school.

7. Enlargement of streets.

8. House tax to be devoted to police service exclusively.

9. Conservancy of the Tung-ting Lake.

[2788 dd-2]

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