1921-05-19 — Page 3

RANDOM REFLECTIONS.

The idea msad have occurred to every mody, imagine, that the Hon. Mr. H. E. Pollock and the Hon. Mr. Lau Chu-pak required a good deal of courage to lend the public protest against the increased House Rate after silently acquiescing in at at the Legislative Council meeting, in mmilar cireunistapices in England they would have met with a good deal of beckling, but out here we have learned to wo.come these signs of grace in our pub- lig men even though they make a rather terdy appearance. With characteristic Inconsistency, however, the junior oven-

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, MAY 19TH, 100,

All these official denials are, however, more academic, quibbles. The report tells us that'

To characterise the allegations that girls and boys are bought and sold in the Colony, for the purposes of labour as being absolutely untrue," as Mr. Ross

COMPANY REPORTS. UNION INSURANCE SOCIETY OF CANTON, LTD. ·

Mr. Ross characterized the allegations that girls and boys are bought and is said to have done in patently unwar [ · The report alates:— sold in the Colony for the purposes of ranted by the facts. My information in The Hoard has now to lay before the labour as being absolutely untrue." Any girl who was not in the custody that the practice is widespread. Mr. Ross shareholders & balance sheet containing u summary of the property and liabilf- of her parents was the official ward of is further reported to have said that any ties of the Society on the 31st December, the Secretariat. She was not under the girl who was not in the custody of her 1820, and a stalement of working guardianship of anyone else. Slavery did

accounts. not enter into the question. Cases of Parents was the official ward of the

1019 Account-After payment of the cruelty, whether to a child with its Secretariat." Now, will the Secretary of interim dividend of 24s. per share and parents or to a tai, who was the Chinese Affairs kindly tell us how many the bonus of 20 per cent. to contributors legal ward of the Secretariat, were of these official wards he hart. Could he at the last annual meeting there amenable to both Chinese and English

remains a balance of Ep04,392,1.4 as law.

my, if he would! The truth is, that hoper annexed statement

The Board recommends. that this sum cannot Thero must be hundreds, probably

appropriated as follows! thousands

of them in the A linai dividend to share Colony,

and it is sheer

holders of 10a. per share on 110,679 shares....

... 88,543, 4.0

be

A bonus dividend to share- balders of 208. per share on 110,870 shares ................. 110,670, 0.0

An addition to the reinsur An addition to the building

ance fund

reserve fund

tion of dividend fund ......

If the innocent young man of the ing paper castigated Mr. Pollock and Telegraph were sont back to Mr. Ross

r. La for their neglect of duty, for-with instructions to ascertain, if possible. to my at the present time that ther getful of the fact that some day's pre-what subtle reservations Were inus tai are not under the guardinalip riously it had said! These taxes were his mind when to characterised, the of anybody, but the Secretariat of imposed without a single protest on the allegations in the manner above written, Chinese Affairs.

The Government las part of the unofficial members of the the Secretary of Chinese Affairs would resisted the demand for the registration Council for the very simple reaim that the Colony's fiances are, in such a bad be hard put to it to give a satisfactory of these children, and the Secretary for

explanation. It would be utterly impos Chinese Affairs, I venture to say, is An addition to the equaliza way that more revenue is

sible for anybody acquainted with the absolutely without knowledge of the To be carried forward to practice to deny flatly that children are number or the place of abode of nemorwriting suspense ac bought and sold in this Colony (as they per cent. of his official wards." ate in many provinces of China, if not in all; and if the reservation in Mr. Ross's mind is that they are not bought for labour all I can say is that it is con- trary to general experience.

matter of

absolute necessity." Clearly Mr. Pollock and Mr. Lau were not alone in changing their minds as the results of a little

reflection.

read the Hank It is inusing to attacks that are made on Constitutional Reform. A little while ago the grievance was that the scheme decided upon after full discussion in the Press and on the platform was not worth having because, although it provided four members for the general public and abolished the two nominated seats on the Council, it left the representation of the Chamber of Commeren and, the Justices of the Pence untouched. Now that it is proposed to send a petition to the House of Commons asking only that there should be an unofficial majority elected on a popular franchise, so far as all the non-Chinese members, except the representative of the Chamber of Commerce, are concerned,

count to close the account for the year 1919

LANE CRAWFORD & CO.

ESTABLISHED 1851

FOR BOOTS & SHOES

THE PRICES OF TO-DAY MAKE

akmore OAKMORE VALUES HIGH AND

100,000 0.0

70,000. 0.0

$5,000, 0.0

|Boots for Men

200,100,14.4

£304,322.18.1

account on the 31st December, 1920, was 1920 Account.The balance of working 01,000:16.5 as per annexed statement. The Board. recommends that an in- terim dividend of 248. per share be paid to shareholders, absorbing £139,514.18.0 that a bonus of 20 per cent. be paid to contrtibutors, absorbing about £50,000, and that the remainder be carried for

Mr. Ross is further credited with xy-

which the better einss of Chinese secured ing that the mui taai is a system, "by

domestic servanta An Under Secretary of State for the Colonies has referred to it as a system of child adoption," the Here is the opinion of a leading Chi-inference being that the motives are purely nese resident on the subject: "It is from philanthropic. On the other hand a lead no altruistic motives that the services of ing member of the Chinese community otward.

Directors. Since the last general meet- the mui lui are employed. It is simply long ago expressed to me the view that ing Mir. A. Forbes has resigned hin sat a matter of dollars and cents pure and 9 per cent. of these transactions were on leaving the Colony. In accordanco simple. Her board, lodging and clothing purely commercial. The practice of buy with Clause 50 of the Articles of Associa and the meagre amount of schooling sheing children is not confined to people tion Mr. G. M. Dodwell and Mr. G. T. receives work out on the whole far more

we should describe as well-to-do, but is retire, but offer themselves for cheaply than the wages paid for domestic extends to artisans, clerks in mercantile

BRITISH TRADERS' INSURANCE It is thus clear enough that, offices and even to amahs. Children are Service.

CO., LTD. where she is employed by an exacting bought when very young, say about eight housewife, the anal trai can be made the or ten years of age, worked as domatio victim of labour by compulsion which drudges till they reach marriageable not be exacted fromage, and then sold to the highest bidder.

otherwise could

monthly hire basis.

reelection.

The report states:---

shareholders & balance sheet containing The Board has now to lay before the Summary of the property and liabili

we are asked to believe tha" the art moniala in the household engaged on That is the systein in actual practice.ties of the Company on the 311 Decem- Herein lies the It is recognised by Chinese law to be ber, 1990, and a statement of accounts

to the same date, greatest objection to the prevailing an evil system and was prohibited system.... There is no such thing 'social custom' in the mui trai system."

good government and public administra „tion lies in the ability of men to come to their task in an absolutely disinterested spirit; in their being able to view a pro- ble unhampered by personal considera- tions and free to a large extent from the operation of their Own decisions."

The present discussion on the subject had its origin in a case at the Criminal Sessibus three or four years ago when a

throughout China when the Republican "régime was inaugurated. That the Chinese are impotent to enforce their own Jawa is no excuse or justification for similar laxity in a British Colony.

Lord Milner, some months ago, exprred

to aim at gradual reforms, where ne

1

WILS

£57,600. 0.0

30,000. 0.0

5,000. 0.0

1910 Account. After payment of the interim dividend of 9. per share and the bonus of 20 per cent to contributors passed at the last annual meeting, there. balance of £245,702.3.9 as per remains unnaxed statement.

The Board recommends that this sum be appropriated as follows: --- A final dividend to share holders of 128. per share an Like **guinea-pigs Ori Ev Company man was charged with having unlawthe opinion that "the right course" is

96,000 shares directorate, for example. That's why fully by fraud" enticed away two little sary, in co-operation with culightened An addition to the reinsure the Government and their satellites are. Chinese servant girls (amui tazi), under and humane Chinese, and he suggested Lace fund given houses at nominal rentals and free the age of fourteen years, from the that the Governor should persuade proTo write off leasehold pro.

minent Chinese to form Society Ins "perty, account from taxes, I suppose; it enables them to custody of their" lawful guardiana." Mr. the protection and improvement of the To be carried forward to clap another, seven per cent, on to the C. G. Alabaster, who defended, argued conditions of these girl domestic, naderwriting suspense no

which

count to close the account Home Rates with breezy insoucinner.

arrangement

considered that the indictment could not stand re

preferable to system of coal-

for the year 1910 because the lawfulness of the cussory registration, which the Colony's Then we are told that the most tody was an essential ingredient in officers considered "impracticabl efficient and beneficial direction can be the offence, and these, children were! Nothing has been heard yet of the given by trained experts, to whom the living in a state of slavery, which could appetatment of that committee. performance of duty is just that and not be recognised in a British Colony.clear that the official attitude towards the nothing more." No doubt if we could get These two children had been bought for question in one of fear to reveal the a junta of archangels it would be $100 and $146, respectively, they received extent to which this system of slavery superior to the representative form of so wages-except clothes and food-in prevails in the Colony. Oficial denials government which is the best system return for their work, and their mis. of its existence are nothing more than that mankind has been able to evolve tresses claimed the right to sell them clumsy camoußage, up to the present, but, to parody the again. The Chief Justice painfully sur words of Mrs. Beeton, you must first prised some people at the time by asking The gross cases of cruelty to mus ini -catch your archangels," The most devout What is Slavery?" Mr. Alabaster which have come before, the Police Court Directors Since the last general admirer of our local Government will furnished an answer by arguing that from time to time would be regarded by meeting Mr. A. Forbes has resigned his hardly claim, I suppose, that we have person who is sold and bought, and most people as proof of the evils atm-seat on leaving the Colony, In accord- achieved this necessary preliminary, yet; receives no wages, except clothes and dont on the system and of the need for ance with Clause 70 of the Articles of and there are some of us rude enough food, in exchange for work, is a slave closer supervision. "The, official wind, Association Mr. G. M. Dodwell and Mr. to question whether cadets who are That is the meaning of slavery through-however, as I anticipated, pretends that. T. Edkins retire, but offer themselves "everything by turns and nothing long out the British Empire, and the law does these prosecutions can be accounted toit for re-election. can truthfully be described as "ex- not sanction its existence in this Colony, for righteousness as a sign that "the perta." The tenour of the whole argu-

utmost" is being done to stop cruelly. ment is reminiscent of

What special steps, it seems pertinent to ask, are taken to discover such cases1;

*God blow the Squire and his relations And keep us folk in our proper stations.”

.LI

The Chief Justice on that occasion argued that it was a Chinese custom and that Chinese were protected in their cus toms under a proclamation issued by Capt. Elliot, when the British took possession contract

:

It is

There is a recognised form of write which is used when these

133,109, 3.8

£245,702. 3.8

1920' Account--The balance of working account on the 31st December, 1920, was 306,515.8.11 as per annexed statement.

The Board recommends that an in

terim dividend of 9s per share be paid to shareholders, absorbing £43,200 and that a bonus of 20 per cent. be paid to contributors, absorbing about £25,000, and that the remainder be carried for- ward.;

Hongkong, May 16th, 1921.

WIS

his

In the first place the activities of Lieut. Col. John Ward on this subject move in the matter while still in Hong- are entirely ignored. He was the first to Nobody in these days is likely to be

kong. Long before Lieut. Commander. impressed with such antiquated notions, of the territory: but. Sir William Rees children are hought and sold. Will some and Mrz Haslewood appeared be which are really intended to furnish Davies overlooked the fact that this wner of the Legislative Council ak scene he wrote home to the Labour Party. contrast to the dread alternative proclamation was repudiated by both what has been the amount of Stamp Upon receipt of his letter, they inter- the giving of power to men drawn the British and the Chinese Governments duty collected in the last three years on viewed p

these agreements of sale, and ·what.

Walter Long, who from private interests and the accom and it ceased to operate when the amount is estimated to be produced on and, as a result, a dispatch was sent Secretary for the Colonies at the time, panying risk of all those objectionable Treaty of Nanking was signed, ceding them under the revised scale of Stamp out to the Governor. Col. Ward never abuses which creep into democratio the island of Hongkong in perpetuity to duties. The information would be made any secret of his views, but administrations. This, let me remind the British Crown to be governed by intereeting- If the duties are evaded stay in the Colony was not curtailed. you, is not extracted from the Govern such laws and regulationis as the occupant will the persons responsible be prosecuted! The explanation may be that his wife ment Gazette but from a newspaper which of the Throne of Great Britain shall see

was not out here to write to the news draws ita, support from the people it fit to direct despises. It is very ingenions, but

Margot Before leaving this subject. I cannot Papers, as

would probably refrain from referring to a lending

insist that she had a my own opinion of the intelligence of the "It has frequently been said by the official article which appeared a few days buff she chose; or the fact a "ght to do. that he was a public is not so poor as to fear that they spokesmen that the position is well in the Telegraph purporting to give be Member of Parliament may not have will be deceived by any such artifices understood," but when we have the Chief trus reason why. Hongkong has attracted been entirely ignored. Bincs his return They know perfectly well, without being Justice himself arguing in this way and so much unenviable attention in the to England, as the files of the local Press reminded, that "Hongkong is the home of finally saying that if Ar. Alabaster House of Commons and in the Press it will show, Col. Ward has continued, strong vested intereste" and that under

succeeded on the point he took it would Home There may be we are solely with the aid of others in the House the existing regime those interests get raise a question of a serious character assured, a deal of sound, humano argi- whose interest he has enlisted, to bombard all the consideration while they get none because it means that the Legislature will ment in favour of certain reforme, unde Secretary of State, and be has no In these circumstances they are not likely to be jockeyed into the belief that, if take steps to amend the law "it shows there are certainly those who feel that intention of ceasing. given the vote, they would be such fools that the question is far from being, well the mus trai system and the employ

'understood." No amendment of the law ment of women and children

without

of

n

as to elect those with axes to grind.would, in fact, be necessary Lieut Col enlightened factory inws should be before, in fact, her husband was inter Boma time before she left this. Colony Amory, while Under Secretary of State legislated on, but it is not the fire of viewed by his superiors Mrs Hasle 1 observed the other evening that the for the Colonica, said in the House of righteous indignation at the existence

wood, acting upon the advice of sym- Hongkong Telegraph had discovered, as Commons on more than one occasion that these things that has prompted the cap- a result of an interview with the Becre- the law of the Colony does not recog.paign, at Home We have to look for thisers who pointed out the hopeless.

Then the story, which less of attempting to another cauze."

move the local tary for Chinees Affairs in regard to the mise the custom whereby girls are trane was given by me in detail at the time, in

authorities, wired home at considerable mai tari system, about which so meerterred in payment from parents at tightly sketched or the suppression certain members of both Houses of expense to secure the co-operation of questions have recently been naked in the guardians to another household, sny Mrs. Haslewood's brief campaign in Parliament. It cannot, therefore, be House of Commons, that "Slavery is for purposes of domestic service, as con- Colony on behalf of the mui fear by offs officially denied" It would have been ferring any right or title on the employer pressure brought to bear upon her his insted that her activities at Home are worth a bigger head-line 1 Slavery against the girl. The law does not band, who was a Lieutenant-Commander nied by pique. So far is this from had been officially admitted to exist recognise the custom, and the Govern in the Navy. We know concludes the ing the case that it was not until in the Colony. It has been officially ment, owing to its wide prevalence, article, why all this talk is being madonths after her return, and then only denied on many occasions since the first has, ostrick-like, buried its head in at Home about this Colony, and we on the advice of friends, that the per- question on the subject was asked in the the sands and said Slavery does not think our readers will after thional element was introduced into the

case at the Nothing very definite, you will notice, House of Commons. Of course, its exist exist here. In the ence is officially denied. Imagine what Criminal Sessions to which reference has at the inference to be drawn is obvious, would happen if it were officially

been made, the defendant was acquitted ungenerous, and, to my knowledge on the technical ground that the jury utterly at variance with the facts. It admitted! There would be a demand from Home for the scalps of all the did not consider the facts of the alleged recalls Pope's couplet: officials who are responsible for seeing kidnapping proved, and consequently Willing to wound and yet afraid that the laws of the Colony and of the there was unfortunately, no necessity to

strike: whole Empire, on this pubject are decide the very interesting point raised obeyed!

by Mr. Alabaster.

Just hint a fault and hositate dislike."- (Continued at foot of next column.)

Tho-circumstances surrounding-her-sup- correspondence with the Colonia! Office pression were never disclosed in Eng lund up to that time for fear that they might divert attention from the cause which she had at heart-an example of selflessness which many of us may find it difficult to credit because of our con- scious inability to emulate it

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