July 22, 1899.1
||PEKING AND THE BRITISH
DEMANDS.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT,
THE DOMESTIC LABOUR MARKET IN HONGKONG
(Daily Press, 18th July.) The state of the labour market in Hong kong at the present time is not conducive to domestic comfort. In all branches of
(Daily Press 17th July.) The telegraphed announcement by the Times correspondent at Peking, that the Chinese Government is persistently refusing or ignoring every British demand is not very | trade wages have for a few years past been and that the fight was virtually over, a
cheerful reading. The jelly fish has either once more become insensible to prodding, or it has been toughened by hostile influences in the capital. At the present moment the Chinese Government can hardly be said to exist as a body. The Empress Dowager and her a visers in the Grand Council (where nearly all Manchus) are practic ally deaf and blind to accomplished facts; they have either been kept in the dark in regard to the changed condition of politics in the Far East, or they obstinately cling to the belief in China's superiority to Western countries and to her power of resisting pressure. The Tsungli Yamen, as at present constituted; is singularly destitute of competent or intelligent men, and the few Ministers there are who have a better acquaintance with politics are more than half afraid of airing what they know would boun acceptable opinions. The intractability being developed by China is serving slowly nowbut surely to deepen the conviction which has been forcing itself upon the minds of the Powers that it is no longer possible to begociate with Peking, but that some exceptional methods will in future have to be adopted in dealing with the Chinese Imperial Government. There is no dis- position at the capital to meet complaints of bad laith and violations of the Treaties, and the continued evasion of these Treaty obligations only serves to beget exaspera- ntid and excite disgust.
find
rising, and even at the enhanced rates there is a difficulty in securing good workmen. In general business, however, these matters adjust themselves somehow, but it is a different thing when one's domestic affairs become involved, when the clothes cannot be got back from the wash, when servants are difficult to get and when obtained unsatisfactory in quality, and when chair coolies are almost unobtainable ou any terms. The head washermen say their workmen have all gone to Manila, a number of boys and tailors have been drafted to the same destination, and as for chair coolies, their services appear to be in such strong demand locally that they are enabled to assume a position of lofty indepen- deuce Dismissal possesses no terrors for the coolie, for he knows he can another place next day, possibly at in- creased wages, and ns he rather likes changes it is generally the employer that is dismissed. When accepting a new engage ment the coolie also tries to impose novel conditions, such as that he is not to be re- quired to carry to the Peak, and so forth. It does not appear to us that registration would| effect much improvement. The cause of the trouble is that the demand has for the time being outrun the supply, and registration would rather tend to accentuate the scarcity and the consequent increase in the rate of wages. It may be asked why, in a colony like Hongkong, on the coast of an empire There are many persons in Great Britain, with a population of four hundred millions, and Lord CHARLES BERISFORD has gone many of them living on the verge of starva- over to their camp, who arge that by at- tion. good wages should not speedily tempting to exercise too much pressure on
attract a sufficient supply of labour. Pe- China we shall only succeed in breaking up haps the Registrar-General's department the Empire. We doubt this conclusion. could assist us to a solution of the problem. If, however, we can only get justice by the Prima facie it would seem that the natural application of the screw let us by all means influx of labour must be opposed by some give it a turn. To hope to win Chi- artificial obstacle, and this obstacle may pro- nese official gratitude by proffering goobably be found in the guilds and coolie advice is to expect the impossible; to dream masters, who regulate the supply to suit their of earning their respect by generous forbear- own purposes. In the planting colonies auce is invariably construed by the Oriental wheu labour runs short a fresh supply is into weakness. To talk then of trying to imported, and although the conditions are conciliate Chinese opinion with a view to widely different in Hongkong, it is possible assisting to maintain the " open door is that some relief of the present stringency mere trifling. The only policy now left for might be brought about if the Government Great Britain is that of justice and deter- took steps to let it be known in neighbour- uiuation. Great Britain has by treaty aciug ports that labour was in demand here at quired large commercial rights and privi- good rates. Every day almost there are leges in China, and it must be the care of hundreds of coolies passing through the her Representatives in Peking and in the port as emigrants to other places where they Treaty Ports to see that none of these are
will probably not be able to earn such good frittered away by infractions of the Treaties. wages as they would if they remained here. China is tottering to its base, aud probably, will be split up into several divisions, if not in name, in actual fuct so far as administra- tion goes, before the next decade is com- pleted. In the meantime British interests require sleepless watching at Peking, and the watchdog should possess especial quali- fications for the arduous post. Those in- terests are at present in the hands of a gentleman who, if he will only live up to is name, will make an excellent locum tenens for the energetic Minister Sir CLAUDE MACDONALD He must remember, how ever, that the eyes of the whole British Emre are upon him, and that 'tis his to mike or mar a reputation as a diplomatist.
The report of the Inspector of Schools for
confined almost entirely to statistical informa 1898 is published in Saturday's Gazette. It is
PLAGUE AND THE CALL FOR
VOLUNTEERS.
(Daily Press, 19th July.) At last we appear to be getting out of the wood. There were no fresh cases of plague yesterday and only one death from the disease.
The Sanitary Board's call for volunteers to aid in the house-to-house visitation has not been largely responded to and some speculation has been indulged in as to the reason. Both our contemporaries have ascribed it to an alleged feeling amongst the 1894 volunteers that their services were insufficiently recognised
For our
own part we do not think
with it; on the contrary we believe that that that consideration had anything to do assistance would have been forthcoming as
|
readily as in 1894 had it been felt that the same necessity existed, and that without any thought of reward whatever. The the present occasion was, we believe, due to non-response to the call for volunteers on two considerations, first, that the epidemic was on its last legs when the call was maile consideration which yesterday's returns prove to have been well founded ; and, in the second place, to the prevalent impression that the Government could obtain all the assistance it required by paying for it in the ordinary way and that the call for volunteers was therefore unnecessary, even had it been made at the beginning instead of the end of the epidemic.
SUPREME COURT.
18th July.
CRIMINAL SESSIONS,
BRFORE HIS HONOur W. M. GoODHAN (ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE.)
THE UN LOONG MURDERS, The Acting Attorney-General (the Hồn. H E. Pollock)-Will your lordship kindly allow
me to mention the case No. 2 on the calender
the case of conspiracy to murder. My learned friend Mr. Francis appears for two of the prisoners. I would ask your lordship Hit is convenient to kindly take that case on Monday next at half-past ten. The special jury originally summoned to try the charge of murder with which these men are also charged could also try this case: I understand that my learned friend is agreeable to this. with the charge of murder.
His Lordship-Are you going to proceed"
Mr. Francis-If your lordship will permit me to say so, I intend when the question comes before the Court on Monday next to challenge my friend's right to do that, it w
3
The Acting Attorney General Will your lordship kindly sit at half-past teu on Monday instead of ten oclock.
ed to take both the murder case and the con spiracy to murder case on Monday next.
After some further conversation it was decid
Mr. Andrew, who had been summoned as a special juror, asked to be released on account of having business in Canton, but His Lordships could not see bis way to doing this, adding that it was always inconvenient for business men to have to attend, but they all had to postpone their private business arrangements for a public duty.
RETURNING FROM BANISHMENT. Chan Lai, alias Tsang Cheung, was charged with disobeying an order of banishment." Hỗ pleaded not guilty.
The following composed the jury --Messra! A. H. Silverthorne, M. da Silva Guimarmo, J-
da Silva Rozario, A. H. Barlow, FH, Höhnke, Wan Kai Mi, and L, C. do Rozario..
The Acting Attorney-General said defendant- was charged with returning from banishment within the period of five years for whic he was banished by order of the Governor in Council; It was alleged by the prosecutioni that an order was made by the Governor rus Council on the 31st January, 1896, probibiting- defendant from residing in the colony for period of five years. A book containing. photograph of defendant would be produced and also a book containing certain entries to particulars, corresponding with a description
of defendant:
Warder Souza, and Sergeant Bim. UNT
Evidence was given by Inspector Robertson l
Lordship sentenced him to 12 months impri*: The jury found defendant guilty; andolino
sonment,
BCHARGE OF RAPE LUL Chan Yau was: charged on two counts-
rape, and (2) défilement of a girl betwe years and 16 years. 'He pleaded not quilt, tă
atatement in regard to the case, evidenc
The jury was the same as in the previous The Acting Attorney-General having
called.
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