December 19, 1895.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
459
WHITEHEAD brought up the subject again | Secretary of State that the unofficials were | INTERPELLATIONS IN THE LEGIS-
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unanimous in supporting a nominal reduc tion in His Excellency's salary as a protest against his action with regard to the Sanitary Board.
LATIVE COUNCIL.
(14th December.)
on Saturday, moving a reduction of $100 in the vote for the Colonial Secretary's department in order to submit that "the "Council and the community are now entitled
to know what has been done by the Gov- It is a pity the unofficial members did not
The wrong application of a principle should ernment in connection with the petition give Mr. WHITEHEAD the same support in
not be allowed to blind us to the intrinsic "dated May, 1894, and presented to the his motion for a nominal reduction of the merits of the principle itself. This reflection
House of Commons in March last, praying Colonial Surgeon's salary as "for reform in the constitution of the focal against the offensive remarks made by that been made on the line taken up by the is suggested by certain comments that have a protest Government." He found no seconder, how-official with regard to the Sanitary Board, Government with regard to the questions ever, and consequently the matter dropped. in his last annual report. Possibly they of which notice was given by the Hon. E. R. With what Mr. WHITEHEAD said with regard thought the matter too paltry to call BELILIOS at the last meeting of the Legis to the necessity of reform we think the for serious notice or that the offence should lative Council. One of those questions was whole community will agree, but it was a be overlooked in view of Dr. AYRES's long ruled to be irregular in form because it in- mistake in tacties and taste for the hon. service and personal popularity. In any
troduced matter of argument. Mr. BELILIOS member to bring in remarks alleged to have case it would have been well if they had
wants to know why salt water is not used been made by the Colonial Secretary in explained their reasons, The remarks to
for the flushing of the drains, and he wished private conversation. Mr. LOCKHART which Mr. WarrжHEAD drew attention
to embody in the question an expression of categorically denies that he ever made such were most offensive and unjustifiable and, opinion that the stenches from the drains remarks, and on the question of fact therefore we think, called for some formal censure.
are daily becoming worse. Such an expres- there is no more to be said; but assuming Other reports have appeared in recent years
sion of opinion is unnecessary for the purpose that he had made the statement attributed to which exception might also be taken, of explaining the question or eliciting an to him, it is hardly in accordance with though not on precisely the same grounds as
answer to it, and it may further be con- recognised rules that conversation at a pri- Dr. AYRES's, and it might be well if the tended that it is not supported by fact. It vate dinner or in the Club should be used as Government issued a circular to the heads is a matter in which every one may appeal a weapon of public attack against of departments directing that their official to his own seuse of smell, but our own political opponent. That Mr. LOCKHART reports should be confined to a plain impression is that the stenches, although hopes his elaborate memorandum may have business-like account of the work of their had enough in all conscience, are not daily the effect of completely quashing the petition departments, with such practical suggestions becoming worse, and that they are very and all chance of its success we think there as they may deem necessary, and that irrele-much less offensive than they were say can be no doubt, his views on the subject vant discussions on things in general should fifteen years ago. We give that merely as being well known, and in friendly con- be avoided. In the Chinese Customs Service an individual opinion and in the conscious- versation he may, have said as much, but the Commissioners are required to limit theness that the observation and recollection it would argue a vainglorious and offensively length of their annual reports to a certain
on which it is founded may be held by conceited disposition for him to go about number of pages and the question whether a
others to be mistaken. But however that may boasting of its effect ብፍ a certainty, similar rule should not he applied to the be, it is clear that Mr. BELILIOS's question and he denies that he has done so.
heads of departments in Hongkong seems
introduced debateable matter and to that In reporting a conversation it is generally worthy of consideration, on special reports extent was out of order. From the report found that some little turn is un particular subjects being permitted when of what transpired in the Legislative Coun consciously given to it by the narrator: circumstances call for them.
eil it might be inferred that the question was and when it is passed from mouth to mouth
ruled out altogether, but as a matter of fact it the deviation from verbal accuracy increases,
was entered in the order book after the last in this way the report that Mr. WHITE-
clause had been struck out and, we believe, HEAD has heard and repeated to the Council
will be duly asked and answered at the meet- may be accounted for, but independently
ng to-day, of the question of accuracy it was a mis take to bring it forward:
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE SANITARY BOARD.
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In any case reports such as the Colonial Surgeon's last one are to be deprecated. The remarks complained of were the more offen- sive coming from the source they did, for in the matter of public sanitation Dr. Aynes is the last man who should throw stones, Personally he was one of the most popular men in the colony and his kindly attention was much appreciated by those members of the Service who were entitled to his attendance as their physician, but as regards measures One satisfactory feature of Saturday's of public health the colony has little meeting of the Legislative Council was the to thank him for. When he was support the Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD repointed to the colony he made an inspection ceived from all his unofficial colleagues in of its slums, as in duty bound, wrote a his motion to reduce the vote for the Gover- | report which was by the nature of the ease nor's salary by $100 as a protest against the sensational, and on the reputation he made action of the Government in regard to the thereby he seemed content to rest. The Sanitary Board and the protracted delay in Tung Wah Hospital was under his inspee- reconstructing the Board upon a propertion, but last year cases of plague had been basis. This support was the more gratify-coming into that establishment for a long ing inasmuch as it was not altogether ex-time before he became aware of it, and this pected. It was understood that at the secret a formidable epidemie which might possibly meetings of the Council last year the hop, have been stamped out had it been attacked gentlemen had allowed themselves to be as soon as it made its appearance was allowed beguiled into an attitude of hostility to the to gain a firm footing. And it is Dr. AYRES, Sanitary Board; but, however that may be, with a record like that, who attacks the they have now formally expressed their dis-Sanitary Board. He was himself a member approval of the action taken by the Govern of the Board, but the reports of the proceed ment. It is true they did not support Mr.ings of that body do not disclose any effort WHITEHEAD by speaking in favour of his on his part to promote its usefulness or to motion, but they voted for it, which is secure for it the powers that were neces- more to the purpose, though we would have sary for its efficiency, been glad had they given expression to their opinions in words, so that the colony might have known precisely what those opinions were and how far the reports as to what transpired at the secret meetings last year were well or ill founded. Whatever vacil- lation or weakness there may have been at that time, the unofficials have
now
come into line on the subject, and in submitting the Appropriation Bill for Her Majesty's approval the Governor will no doubt consider it his duty to report to the
The Foochow Echo says:It is understood that the Society of Philatelists in London are not including the stamps of certain places in their lists, for the alleged reason that the stamps are only made to supply collectors. Foochow is mentioned as amongst the number of these places! How it would astonish the secretary of this Society to see the mass of mail parcels piled up in our post-office on the arrival
matter, correspondence, papers, circulars, and
or departure of any steamer. Happily we are quite independent of philatelists.
The point to which we wish to direct attention, however, is the contention that the Legislative Council of Hongkong is not bound by parliamentary usage. That would be ratlier a flangerous and injudicious position for the unofficials to take up, be- cause if they decline to be bound by parlia- mentary usage the official side may likewise decline to be so bound and the privileges of free and open debate might at any time be cur- tailed by the exercise of the autocratic powers of the Governor. It might be well, for the sake of placing the matter beyond all dispute, if a clause were introduced into the standing rules providing that on points not expressly provided for in those rules the rules and usage of the House of Commons should be followed as far as practicable; but we have always understood that to be a universally recognised, though perhaps in most cases un- written, rule in all legislative assemblies in the British empire. It is a healthy sign to find the officials studying "May on Parliament," that being the standard authority on the subject, and it is to be hoped they will continue to do so and be as ready to conform themselves to the pro- cedure they will find laid down there as they are to enforce it on the unofficial Colonial Secretary and the then Acting members; but not very long ago the Attorney-General united their forces to prevent Mr. BELILIOS speaking on a Bill before the Council when he was clearly in order both according to the standing rules of the Council and "May on Parliament." It is the Governor's duty to see that the pro- ceedings of the Council are conducted fairly, and, having regard to the relative positions and strength of the respective parties, if and
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