1921-05-24 — Page 3

RANDOM REFLECTIONS. The Telegraph, I notice, lays the flattering unction to its soul that the three columns which I devoted last week to exposing some of the fallacies

1)

tained in two recent issues may be re garded as proof that it is an interesting paper." It's a poor sort of consolation, in the circumstances, but, poor as it is, I am afraid it must be denied. Mislead ing and contradictory statements are more correctly described as irritating than as interesting. Nor are they so Tale in The Telegraph as to call "for comma, unter ordinary conditions, but when, as in the present instance, they are calculated to hinder reforms and play into the hands of the reactionaries, silence becomes a sin. I don't suppose they will bamboozle many people here; but they may be, aent Houta as reflecting popular opinion a little device which the Government occasionally resort to

when it serves their purpose, as the copy of a communication, which I have before me, from the Colonial Office, shows.

which

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, MAY 24TH. 1991.

the subtle sort of attack that one would xpect from astute and uncompromising apponents of reform, aware of the fact that their ratiounted ideas, if expressed openly, would be greeted with shouts of derision. To say straight out that the

Crown Colony system of Gövernment, as

LOCAL WEDDING.

HALE-LUNGAIR.

on

I have never donied that some of the little girl slaves are humanely treated; the same could be said of many of the

An interesting wedding took place ab South American aegroes to secure whose liberation the Northern States fought St Andrew's Church, Kowloon against the Southern. But common Saturday, when Mr. William Eric Hale, sense tells us that the system which manager of the local agency of the Liver we know it, in the apotheosis of political flourishes in one midst, uncontrolled in pool and London, and Globe Insurance science and should be regarded as any way, is preuliarly liable to abuse. Co, Ltd., was married to Miss Eleanor Elizabeth Luugair, recently arrived from sacrosanct would be inartistic and fore- Occasionally a glaring ease of this comes

bore: doomed to failure; but to pose us a before the Police Court, but how many reformer while consistently opposing cases of equal and lesser gravity never every reform suggested, ärst on the come to light at all? Isn't it our busi ground that it does not go far enoughness to try and And out? Mr. Ross, who of honour, and Master Neville Wilson, and next on the ground that it goes too poses as the fond father of this forloras page, was given away by Mr. J. §. far, is sounder strategens for stemming family, professes that the utmost is Melana, of the P. & O. Company. The progress. It is a very old device, when being done to stop cruelty. Yet, beyond

was Mr. Eric Roberts, of the you lack the force necessary to deliver asing formal instructions for proceed- Union Insurance Society of Canton.

ings to be taken when cases are brought Martin presided at the organ. to his notice, there is no evidence of

Following the ceremony, a reception activity on the part of the Chinese Secro-was held at the residence of Mr. and Mrs.

frontal attack, to do as much damage as possible by means of flank attacks or a little sniping.

"The coremony was performed by the Hov. G. R. Lindsay. The bride, who was attended by Mrs. N. Lamble, is matron-

best man

Mr.

In fairness, however, it must be pd-tariat. The prosecution on Saturday, for Meann, at which a number of intimate this occasion. The example, was due to information laid by Friends of the couple were present. The mitted.

Chinese living in the house where the honeymoon is being spent at Macao.

that

It

Telegraph, has been usually frank. unblushingly revealed the flunkey's rei-. pect for those "bern to the purple" and its contempt for the ordinary run of My friends discreetly ran away from mankind, by contrasting the capacity, the eu tai question, to which I address experience, and disinterestedness of the ed the greater portion of my remarks, trained expert in public "adminis on the plea that it mainly concerns tration with the incnjacity, inexperience, what Mr. S. B. C, Ross toket us and nos and liability to corruption of the vulgarly what we mid ourselves. No attempt, | electes representative. Yet, in face of however, is made to justify the innuendos this, it has the effrontery to complain the newspaper, of its own that to accuse it of despising those from responsibility, levelled against the whom it draws its support is "mani- bond fides of a lady who is not here festly unfair" What other deduction is to defend herself. At that I am not it possible to draw from the arguments surprised, knowing that the task is employed i

insinuationS impossible. But if the cannot be substantiated, why are they "People are fond of bioting," we are Dog withdrawn. The care which is taken told, at the present existence

the 'interests' and of the Government pander- not to make any imputation on boneaty of those sponsoring the Coming to them. We know of none that are stitutional Reform Movement, none of inimical to the Colony's welfare, or that whom probably cares a Len-cent piece condict in any way with just and clean one way or the other, is in curious con-administration." Reformers are invited "trust with the carelessness shown in cast-to" prove the contrary. Well, Sir Henry ing aspersions upon a lady who is ten or May's confession about sanitation and twelve thousand miles away.

In pursuance of its policy of rauning with the hare and hunting with the bounds," The Telegraph condescendingly Masures you and me the "common herd

that it is willing to trust us with a vote so long as we do not ask for any executive power. It is terrified at the mere mention of an unofficial majority on the Council. It must be aware, of course, that the unofficial majority, asked for two years ago was a bare majority of one, and that it was to be composed of Chinese, Portuguese, and British subjects of pure European descent representing different electorates a com. bination which by its very nature would scarcely ever be unanimous and, there- fore, when it was, would deserve to carry the day, though there would still remain the veto of the Governor and of

¿

the lamperial authorities. How, then, can any sane person be expected to boggle at the bogey which The Telegraph as set up in the hope of scaring the ignorant and credulous away from the path which leads to "greater freedom 1.

of

"

offence was committed and not to any official vigilance.

INFANTILE MORTALITY IN

HONGKONG.

MRS. NEVILLE ROLF'S STATISTICS

Dr. W. V. M. Koch, pursuant to notice, will ask at a meeting of the Sanitary Board to-morrow the following questions:-

With reference to the following cable- grum published by Reuter

My friends, who must, I think, bave enlisted the aid of the wily “Adver- arius" for the purpose, seek to put me off the scent by dragging a red herring across the path. But, without condoning ill-treatment of amahs or ricksha and chair coolies, it is not impertinent to point out that they are better able than little children, with whom we have start ed, to look after themselves by reason of their age and their guilds. Even if it

At a meeting of the National Council were otherwise, I should refuse to admit. that their grievances furnished anyon Venereal Diseases, to which the Mis- alleviation of or justification for the mos to the Far East presented its re grievances of others. At the risk port, Mrs. Neville Rolf declared that of arousing the ire of my friends I must be was never ao ashamed of being sa continue, so long as they refuse to re- Englishwoman as she was in Hongkong, cognise the fact, to repeat that "two where, the registered infant death rate. wrongs don't make a right." The illus-Was eight hundred higher than the birth rato, despite, British occupation for tration of the 'mote and beam doer

eighty years" not tench us that one evil justifies an other, but rather that we should put our own house in order before criticising others Hongkong is one of the rooms in our Imperial mansion,

Will the Head of the Sanitary Depart ment state for the information of the

Let as see whither our friends' argu- went leads us. The China Mail is shock- ed at the suggestion that the proclama buildings is public property, but what tion in which Capt. Elliott, promised further proof does The Telegraph want to respect Chinese customs, when he than its own statement, published a few entered into occupation of Hongkong, was subsequently repudiated by both the days previously, that. Hongkong is the British and Chinese Governments. Yet, shred of excuse, the British home of strong vested interests, of without a sharply distinct communities-a Colony Government, some years previously de- clined to fulfil the obligation which Light wherein the grinding of axes' is by no bad entered into with the Sultan of nieans unknown, and one cannot view Kedah to protect him from the assaults of with anything but apprehension a move his enemies in return for the gift of Penang. Would my friends contend that ment that has as its object the giving of this would suffice to justify a similar. power to men drawn from private in-breach of faith with the Chinese? Hap terests." You will observe that in its pily, the question is purely academic, for in the case of China, as I have said, the eagerness to resist any change in the arrangement made between Capt. Elliot Constitution it is quite prepared,, if and the Chinese Commissioner Ke-shan was turned down by the principals of necessary, to play upon the known anti-both. If one part is to stand how about pathy of the public to the vested in the other part, in which Elliott under terests in order to further its ends. took that all just charges and duties of The" vested interests" will not mind. the Chinese Empire upon the commerce carried on here were to be paid "as if A sorely-pressed amy gften has to make the trade were conducted at Whampoa ↑ " snerifeer to save itself."

4

Mr. Orme's method of dealing with the woman charged with assaulting her little official adopted daughter "touae euphemism-is not calculated to prove

Board:-

(Whether these figures were sup-

plied from an official or other authorised source, or whether it is known how they were ob. *tained?

(ii)—Whether the Infantila Mortality

rate of the Colony has been cal culated and if so what are the latest figures available? "1 (i)-II such rate has not been cal-

1991. A

culated what are the difficultion which would tend to invalidate such calculation?"

COMPANY REPORT, PEAK TRAMWAY CO., LTD. The report of the directors for the

The Directors now beg to submit to year ending April 30th, 1921, states:- you their report and statement of ac counts for the year ending April 30th,

The net profit for the twelve months, after deducting directors' fees and generai. managers' remuneration. amounts to, ............. To which has to be added the balance brought forward from inst account,

Making available for appro-

priation

.876,261.34

7,400.43

.....877,681.77

The Directors recommend that a divid- end at the rate of 10 per cent. per annum

DIRECTORS.

Mr. L N. Leele having resigned, Mr. J Bell Irving was invited to occupy the vacant sent on the Board.

In accordance with Rule 73 of the Company's Article of Association, Mr. J. Scott Harston, the Hon. Sir C. P. Chater, C.M.G., Hon. Mr. A. O. Lang, Mr. A. S. Gubbay, and Mr. J. Bell-Irving retire, but being eligible offer themselves for re-

"We would ratter trust," proceeds The Telegraph, to the system that has brought us so far in the road than to much of a deterrent to those disposed to the trial of one that has at Home been behave brutally towards the helpless un-

chase. The medical evidence showed 30.000 that $40,000 be transferred to so openly abused." Some of us would fortunates whom they acquire by pur- be paid to shareholders, absorbing prefer that if there has to be abuse it that the little child, who was only nine special repairs reserve account, and that should be open rather than clandestine: or ten years of age according to English the balance of 87,061.77 be carried to a above and below the left eye, twenty-four In view of the way in which it has But what precisely do my friends mean? reckoning had two cane-marks just new proft and loss account. philandered with Reform during the had ample opportunity for some years others on different parts of her body, a past five years, blowing hot and cold by of watching at clow quarters the trans small contused wound on the head, a bruises on the forehand. A neighbour, turns, can anyone be blamed for doubt actions of popularly elected bodies in bruise on the right cheek, and three ing whether the intentions of The Great Britain from Parish Councils to who gave the information which led to Telegraph are honourable? Three schemes County Councils, and I cannot recall the proceedings, deposed that he had "often urged the defendant, not to beat have been submitted, each modification single instance of corruption amongst the child, and he was not on friendly making for a greater measure of popular them. John Burns, it is trae, found terms with her because she would not

causa to come down rather heavily on listen to his proteste." The defence election. representation. The objection raised to

friend of the defendant who, beat the the first was that the franchise was too couple of metropolitan authorities resolved itself into a plea that it was

was President of the Local child, though, in cross-examination by SHOP HELD UP IN YAUMATI. limited; to the second that special repre- when he sentation was retained for the Chamber Government Board, and, as usual, the solicitor, the little one admitted that Ou Sunday night a shop was held up

she had been guilty of various pecula- of Commerce and the Unofficial Justices; most was made of it for political pur- tions and that her mistatsstrestell her in Reclamation Street, Yaumati, în 4 most daring fashion. About 10 p.m., as and to the last that it repeats the demand poses, but do not forget that ho was well. Even if a senus of fear did not the shopkeeper was closing the place for mado from the outset for an unofficial himself a son of the people" and more induence the mite in answering these the night, two men walked in and bought questions, there is a limit to the punish a packet of cigarettes, tendering a coun- mora ment which should be meted out by a majority. One could be more impressed vigilant, apparently, than his with this criticism if it had followed a aristocratic predecessor in office. When guardian or owner as a corrective for terfeit ten-cent piece in payment. When this was refused, one man produced a consistent line, and if it had been uttered it is remembered, that Great Britain is naughtiness, and that limit was surely revolver and the other a dagger and in time to be helpful instead of merely honeycombed with thousands of local exceeded in the ease under notice drove the master and bis fukts into a Nevertheless, the woman was discharge cubicle where the master's wife was obstructive. It is difficult to avoid the authorities some of them dating back with cation. I notice that a question asleep. They removed two rings, valued Conviction that the real intention was hundreds of years-chosen by and from was put in Parliament last month asking at $7, from the woman's fingers and if the Willesden Magistrate could be forced her to open her boxes, from which to put obstacles in the path of progress, the populace we may surely be proud censured for merely áning a man: 408. they took a $3 note and 83 in small coins. and that had the suggestion been made of the success which has attended for kicking a puppy to death, and if the Leaving the inmates with their hands at the beginning to abolish all special repopular administration. Take it from sentence could not be revised. Comment tied behind their backs, the robbers then presentation and elect all the unofficials me, nothing in the slightest degree a wide franchise frantic appeals resembling corruption stands any chance

Evidently newspapermen are not the would have gone up to us to exhibit of escaping exposure in the Council only class, of the community who scatter greater caution in plunging into the Chambers of Great Britain. The present seed on stony ground. The other day a friend of mine gave his boy instructions unknown. Alternatively, if every other régime can fearlessly challenge compari- to take his dog for treatment to the objection had been removed, we should son with the nepotism and corruption slaughter house. The boy misunderstood, have been warned that an unofficial that were rife in the good old days and went, instead, to one of the hos pitals, Catechised subsequently, he stated majority would have no power but that of patronage and privilege, when our that he did not realise at first that his of disturbing the penes and hurmony that grandfathers, in their fight for reform, inaster wanted him to take the dog to bad so long been a treasured possession had to encounter the same arguments kilium-cow-place" and went in error

to the killum-man-place!? of this highly-favoured little outpost of as The Telegraph is disinterring now. Empire.

On the subject of the mui ta the The laboured and unconvincing case China Mail threw me so many, bouquets which is presented to-day against the that it seems a little ungracious to find demand for a more popular and repre- fault. There are one or two little points, sentative form, of local Government is however, that require to be touched upon,

is superfluous.

made their escape.

THE CONFIDENCE TRICK.

·SUCCEEDS ONCE AGAIN.

A woman, living in Yaumati, was a victim of the confidence trick, as locally practised, on Saturday. About 2 p.m., she was walking near the Sincere store ed by two men who declared that they in Shanghai Street, when she was accost 'had found a bundle of notes on a steam launch, but did not know where to get Does the new regulation issued by the them changed, sa they were strangers to Executive Council referring to the price Yazmati. The woman agreed to change of water mean that the cost of another the money for the strangers, handing prime necessary of life is to be in them as security eight pieces of jewel- far before she discovered that the parcel creased and a premium placed upon dirt lers, valued at $113. She had not gone

RODERICK RANDOM.Contained the usual waste paper.

and disease?

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