Sessional_Paper_1893 — Page 778

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Q.-Even if the Registrar General was President of the Society, would he know everything that takes place ?

A.--I do not think it is possible that he could.

Q. Are you aware that the present Society has been recognised and its rules and regulations approved by the Government?

A.-I have read that. I have read the rules.

Q.-Is anything more needed for the purposes for which the Society was founded? A. I should think not. I understand that it is a benevolent institution. There might be perhaps a few rules altered.

Q.-Are you aware of the powers which the Government has conferred on the Society in its present shape?

A.-I cannot say that I have studied them.

Q.-Are you of opinion, from the recent case in the Police Court, that the Society has exceeded its powers?

A.-According to the decision of the Magistrate they seem to have done so. I recollect rightly, he said they had exceeded their powers.

If

Q.-If the Legislature were to confer Governmental authority on a body corporate, would that be conferring immensely greater powers and authority than is either desirable

or necessary

?

A.-I think so. I think that, especially with Orientals, it carries an immense amount of weight to have a status conferred on them by the Government. It does so with everybody but very much more so with the Chinese that we have amongst us-- and it would with the Oriental mind generally.

Q.-If such Governmental authority was conferred, would not the Chinese, and especially the lower classes, regard and look upon the acts of the members of the Society as the acts of the Government ?

A.-I think they would to a great extent. I do not think that the masses can distinguish very exactly. They would simply know that this was done under the authority of Government. A great many things that were done they would naturally infer were being done by the Government.

Q. Are the Chinese unwilling to complain or come into collision with the authorities for fear of unpleasant consequences?

A.-I have always found that to be so during my 30 years' experience. Whenever I have suggested to a Chinaman to take action when aggrieved he has shrunk from it. Once or twice in my experience a man has come to me and said "I have an injury done to me." When I have endeavoured to put it through for him he has been very backward. The Chinese generally, I think, are afraid of coming forward.

""

The CHAIRMAN.-You mean to prosecute people?

A. Yes, or complaining when they fear they may get the worst of it and perhaps by and by incur the displeasure of somebody in authority, or anything of that kind. I have found that to be so as a general thing.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD,-Would the granting of the proposed Govern- mental status amount to erecting in our midst a secret form of Government which may do much mischief?

A. I think so.

Q-Does the proposed Ordinance provide for the publication of the names of the members elected from time to time on the Committee or Board, or for such elections being held in public?

A.-I think not.