May 18, 1899]
tempt P. And who, I ask, more worthy to sit at a conference thau China, whose present un- happy state in due to lack of it, and to having accomplished centuries ago what we only preach and dream about to-day, vis.. the subordina- tion of brute force to morality and intellect? The truth is that if we were true to our ideals, instead of despising we should admire what we are apparently unable to imitate in our present stage of evolution; and the only reason that I can see why China should not be represented at the Conference is that she may throw a damper upon the whole business if she is asked what her experience has been of the insane policy of supposing that humanity at large could be taught to respect anything but Force.-I am, etc.,
CONSISTENCY.
Canton, May 10th, 1899.
AN ORDINANCE FOR THE REGISTRA- TION OF SERVANTS.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
But the system after a time fell into disuse because registration was not compulsory, Like all things of the kind it soon ceased to be binding as it was voted too much trouble by the lazy, which is always the larger, section of the community. Now, Sir, what I propose is that, the Government should draft a Bill to be called the Masters' and Servants' Ordinance, which should provide for the compulsory registration of all domestic servants. There is such an Ordinance in Ceylon, I believe, which might perhaps serve, in some particulars, as a model for such a Bill, but if not it would be a very simple matter to draw one up to meet the requirements of the case. Ordinance No. 15 of 1850 for the Registration and Regulation of Boatmen and others might in some details pro- vide a useful guide for the purpose, but the main provisions should include -
2.-Each refistration ticket should have at- tached to it a photograph of the person regis. tered, and the document should be so drawn up as to provide columns showing name, birthplace, age, first employment, with room for further entries
3.-The employer should be furnished with a card bearing the number of such ticket, the photograph of the servant, and partionlars of service, to be surrendered to Police Office when the servant concluded engagement.
1.-Registration (preferably by the Police Department) of all Domestics (whether boys, coolies, gardeners, or amabs), who should pay TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.' a fee of 25 cents on registration and a similar
SIE,-Since the recent robbery of gold wat-fee be collected from the employer. ohes at my house at the Peak by a substitute boy I have had cause for some reflection, not alone by reason of the loss, which is sufficiently annoying, but because of the revelations which have been made to me by numerous sympathetic friends. From the accounts I have received and from statements made elsewhere it would appear that robberies from the houses of British and foreign residents are constant and increasing, while the convictions in cases reported-some are not reported to the Police-probably do not amount to 5 per cent, of the whole. In many cases valuables are carried off and promptly disappear at Canton or other places on the mainland; in very few instances is the property retained in the Colony; and the Police, as a rule, have but a slender trail to go upon. Now, Sir, it is an undeniable and patent fact that near y all of these robberies are committed either by or with the connivancé of our domestics. I do not wish to impugn the honesty of the entire class, but where there is only a slender basis of moral res- ponsibility, opportunity only too readily makes the thief.
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The Colony has grown so rapidly of late, and the demand for servants has been so sustained, that the supply of decent or even partially trained domestics is considerably short of the inquiry. Thus it often happens that residents, and more especially new comers, in their eager desire to settle thistrouble, engage ser- vants without making sufficient inquiry into their antecedents. Applicants usually present some written testimonials or papers certifying their employment and occasionally giving re- commendations in which the amiable wish not to entirely blast a man's chance obviously struggled with the sense of duty to his fellows when penning the non-committal phrases most frequently found on these well worn documents. How many times these testimonials have changed hands, or at what price they are hired ont, it would be bootless to inquire, but we may be sure that they are considered transferable by the original possessors,
Occasionally some housekeepers are so pushed for domestic aid that they waive the production of papers and content themselves with some inquiries, which the aspir. ing Ganymede finds no difficulty in answering, having probably previously interviewed the other servants. Small wonder is it, therefore, that rogues who have "done time" in Victoria Gaol and bad characters who are wanted for offences on the mainland should often be found in places of comparative trust in the households of foreigners in this Colony. Not long ago a lady who was robbed of some jewellery by one of her servants, on giving particulars of the abscon- der, was informed by the Police Inspector that this servant was a well known "gaol bird.”
It will be seen then that a great and ever growing danger exists in our midst. How is it to be met and overcome ?
4. Any conviction before the Magistrate should be endorsed on the offender's ticket.
5.-Any robbery occurring in a house during such servant's employment and in which no conviction was secured should be noted on registration tickets.
6. Each substitute. servant should be re- gistered, no matter how short the term of leave taken.
7.-Every servant employed in any house in any domestic capacity who fails to produce a registration ticket when demanded to be liable to a fine of $25 or six months' imprison- ment.
8.-Every person employing or allowing to be employed any unregistered servant, to be liable, on conviction, to a fine of not less than $50.
The above are the main provisions necessary, I think, of the Ordinance I propose should be enooted. It would entail no hardship on any person, and it is essentially necessary for the security of property and the preservation of good order. At present we are fast drift- ing into a condition of insecurity which is, to say the least. most disquieting and uncomfortable. It would also be source of protection to respectable servants, who would then be secured from the competition of persoas of bad character.
T'he working of the Ordinance would of course impose additional labour on the Police Depart ment, but that need present no difficulty as the fees paid would yield a considerable revenue, which could provide for an increase of the staff. The Ordinance would also prove of most material assistance to the Police in detecting orimiuals besides serving as a preventative to crime.
I believe this proposal will be welcomed by the large majority of employers and cordially approved by the Police Authorities, but there are hate trouble of any kind. I would beg the sure to be objections raised to it by persons who Government to disregard any such grumblers. If the proposal becomes law they would speedily learn to recognise its value and regard it as an insurance against robbery and misconduct on the part of their servante.
Trasting that you, sir, will see your way to support this proposition, I beg to remain, yours faithfully,
B. CHATTERTON WILCOX. · Hongkong, 11th May, 1899.
SCOTCH VOLUNTEER COMPANY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
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not so far in sufficient numbers to justify any decided action to be taken.
The company proposed need not entirely be composed of Scotsmen; our English and Irish brothers are made heartily welcome. For the information of Britishers, then, I may mention that the authorities have authorised an Infan- try Company of, say, fifty men and officers, and it seems to me under the changing conditions of an expanding Hongkong that an Infantry unit has certain points to recommend it. I shall be pleased to receive additional names of recruits for this company.-Faithfully yours,
JAMES M. FORBES, Hou, Seo.
Hongkong St Andrew's Society, Hongkong, 4th May, 1899.
THE EXTENSION OF THE SHANG- HAI SETTLEMENT.
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Shanghai, 5th May. The extension of the Settlement north of the Yangkingpang is settled at last. The Chairman of the Municipal Council, Mr. J. S. Fearon, and the British and U.S. Consula General, aided by their German colleague, have worked hard anti continuously to achieve this long-sought end, to bring to a practical conclusion the long conceded principle, and have succeeded at last. Except that we take nothing of the hinterland of the French Settlement, the old Great Western Road being the southern limit, the boundaries of the extension on this side of the Soo- chow Creek follow the line given by us in the Daily News of the 23rd of February last, while the boundary of West Hongkew is extended up to but not within the Paoshan frontier, and East Hougkew is ex- tended beyond the Point down to the Plague Station, taking in the Floor Mill. The town' that is growing up round the railway terminus is unfortunately not within the extension but the Council is promised rights of policing, lighting, and sanitation in it. Nothing is granted on the Pootan side. It is not all we want, but it is a very fair portion of what we want, and it will take us some time to digest this. Mr. Fearon has done well and the thanks of Shanghai are heartily accorded him and all those who have acted with him in bringing the Chinese authorities to book.-N. C., Daily News,
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CH NA TO BE REPRESENTED AT THE DISARMAMENT CONFERENC*.
The Peking correspondent of the N. C. Daily News says that Li Hung.chang was talking with the Datoh Minister the other day, and inquired why China had not been invited to participate in the Peace Conference next month at the Hague? The Minister was puzzled, but finally said he would telegraph to his Govern- ment about it. He did so, and promptly re- ceived instructions to ask China to send a the Court of St. James will be selected for this representative. Probably the Ambassador to
honour, but whoever goes, it is certain that he will be fully as zealous in urging disarmament as the Great White Czar himself. China wants.
peace—and a great deal beside.
T..E OPENING OF NANKING.
The opening of Nanking, the former Cal
about it till it was all over. In accordance. of China, to foreign trade was managed quietly that few foreigners heard anything with the undertaking of the Chinese Govern- ment, it was officially declared open to the
commerce of all nations on the 1st inst. No notification of the fact has, however, yet been given to any of the foreign officials in the neighbouring ports. A Commissioner of the I. M. Customs was duly installed in Nanking on that date, and the Chinese officials signalised the event by a liberal explosion of crackers on the river front. The honour of being the first to put cargo through the new Custom Honas : belongs to the China Merchants' Company, who shipped seven rolls of satin to mark the occasion and make a record. The river front lots have largely been bought up by foreign firms, but it is not expected that the opening of the new port will have any great effect on trade. It is, however, a step in the
When I first arrived in the Colony, more than twenty years ago, there was in force a system for the registration of servants, which, so far as it went, worked well and formed some guarantee for the respectability of dom-
" DAILY PRESS." estics. The servants were duly registered at SIR,-Referring to the letter of our worthy the Police Office, if I remember rightly, and Vice-President on this subject of date 21st on leaving a place the employer was supposed April. : I have now to inform you that certain --and usually complied with the requirement- good men and true have responded to the appeal | to fill in the date of termination of engagement. I by sending in their names for enrolment, but 'direction.--China Guestie,
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