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Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.--The charges are there as modified.
The CHAIRMAN.-The charges have never been made. There was the charge of the Society being a Secret Society, and the charge of squeezing.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-I never made a charge of squeezing, of course.
The CHAIRMAN.-You say Mr. EDE may give us some information? Honourable C. P. CHATER.-His is merely an expression of opinion of course. Honourable Ho KAL.-He might send in his opinion. It will only waste time if we call him.
The CHAIRMAN.-How many witnesses have you, Mr. WHITEHEAD? Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.~~I don't know, but I will send you in their names. The CHAIRMAN.-Do you think we could finish next meeting?
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.—No. I did not know that you wanted the names to-day. I will send them in on Monday.
The CHAIRMAN.--I think it is desirable to get to the end of this Commission as quickly as possible now. We have now being going on several months. Unfortunately we have not been able to meet for a month owing to an accident which befel one of our members, Mr. WHITEHEAD, which we all regret. I think we ought to make an effort to get to the end of the meetings, especially as these charges supposed to be hanging over the head of the Society have not been made, and the Society are not aware that there are no charges.
Honourable Ho KAI.-Now Mr WHITEHEAD says that the charges were only
modified.
Honourable F. H. MAY.—I think it would be better to induce the members of the Committee to attend here, without explaining any decision which the Committee has arrived at, because we might get into a mess about it. If you tell them in a vague way
that certain charges have been withdrawn, it may be giving them a false impression. I should be sorry if they did not come.
Honourable C. P. CHATER.
we have before us.
Their reason now is a totally different one to the one
Honourable F. H. MAY.-We don't know that is the real reason.
Honourable Ho KAI.--You must always make allowances for Chinese. They do not always give the true reason. They give reasons which are not really true-at least that is so far as my experience goes.
The CHAIRMAN.--As a matter of fact all we are doing is to enquire into the work- ing of the Society. We are not enquiring into charges. There are no charges so they cannot be modified.
Honourable C. P. CHATER.-That is my contention.
Honourable Ho KAI.-There are members of this Committee who still say there are charges.
The CHAIRMAN.-Who is the member?
Honourable Ho KAI.-I think Mr. WHITEHEAD said just now that there are charges but modified.
The CHAIRMAN.-I know of no charge.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-My reference to the Society being a Secret Society was explained away. You may call it a charge, if you like. I did say that it was in my opinion something like a Secret Society, because it carried on its work in secret.
The CHAIRMAN.But not like a Triad Society. Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-Certainly not.
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