Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 180

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SIR,

HONGKONG, 20th December, 1900.

I have, within the last hour, received from Messrs. Osborne, Marshall, Maitland, Fung Wah Chün and Hartigan, Members of the Food Supply Commission of which I have the honour to be Chairman, a copy of a report signed by them and sent in to you with a covering letter dated the 18th instant, of which they also sent me a copy. I received from them at the same time a joint letter addressed to myself, of which it appears they have also sent you a copy.

I have no objection to make to the report they have sent in to you on the subject- matter of the inquiry. It embodies in brief the conclusions at which we unanimously arrived. I should have had very much pleasure in signing it if they had asked me to do so.

I only wish to correct one trifling mistake in the last paragraph which runs as follows :-

"(12) We desire to state, in conclusion, that the delay in the publication of "the Food Commission Report has been due to the Chairman of the "Commission being unable to afford time for the prosecution of the

enquiry and the preparation of the Report.'

There was no delay in the prosecution of the inquiry. The members were unable to sit for more than two days in the week for a couple of hours each day and the taking of evidence was proceeded with with all due diligence and was completed in July last. The delay has been in the preparation of the draft report, and I regret to say, that my time was so fully occupied with my own business that I could not get it completed in time to satisfy the impatience of my colleagues. I am unable myself to see that there was any very great urgency. I was preparing a very full and detailed report, two- thirds of which had been completed and approved by Mr. Marshall, to whom I sent it a short time ago, with a request that he would, as I was so full of work, finish it for me, he being fully acquainted with my views and concurring in them.

Instead of doing so, a meeting of the other members of the Commission was held to which I was not summoned and the report prepared which has been sent you.

I probably ought not to have accepted the appointment as a Member or Chairman of the Commission knowing how fully occupied I am in my profession at all times. If I have put the Government to any inconvenience by so doing I apologize to the Govern- ment and to the public.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

JNO. J. FRANCIS.

The Honourable

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,

St.,

$'c.,

sc.

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