August 12, 1899
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE RUMOUR: D ABDICATION OF work better with a Prince who is not
I
THE CZAR,
123
nuisance to the neighbourhood. During troubled with too many scruples or who is the last few years, since the rep not too hampered with proclivities for peace system was abandoned, objectionable hous of NICHOLAS II. into private life would much to the annoyance of the respect. at any reasonable price. But the retirement have been opened all over the colony unquestionably prove a "maleficent fact in aule population both Native and Fo European and doubtless, also in Asiatic eign, and the relief promised by politics. The present CZAR acts now, there present Bill will be much ia reason to believe, as a restraining influence Section 5 imposes a penalty upon an owner appreciated. on Russian politics, and prevents much aggression that would otherwise have been a brothel after they have been once closed who allows his premises to be again used as inaugurated. lieved, strong leanings towards Great person for the time being receiving the rent
NICHOLAS II. has, it is be- as such. (*wner" in this case means the” Britain. He is nephew to the PRINCE OF WALES and rightly attaches great weight whether on his own account or as agent or or a consideration for the use of the premises to the advice of his royal uncle. Whether trustee for any other person, so that where the Grand Duke MICHAEL has any special property is sublet, as is so very largely predilections, or whether he would prove a pliant tool in the hands of ambitious Minis- the person to whom the tenant actually the practice in Hongkong, it will be ters, it is yet too early to pronounce an opinion upon, but it is not unlikely that heponsible, which is reasonable, for he is the
pays the rent who will be held would be much more easily led, and in the person who has the selection of the tenante present situation of affairs this would not be and is therefore in a position to exércise likely to make for peace. the keeper of the pence—a role first assumed the police and the Registrar-General's With Russia as control in the matter. Section 6 gives to by ALEXANDER III. and since followed so officers extended powers of visitation and faithfully by his successor-there is little search and interrogation, which will facili- chance of a great war, but an ambitious and tate the discovery of abuses and increase aggressive Chancellor might readily reverse the protection the law is supposed to afford this policy if a young monarch more solici- to the unfortunate inmate. tous for extended power than for pacific fame. Section 7 renders male persons trad-
of houses of i triumphs were to fill the throne of the ing in prostitution liable to imprisonment ROMANOFPS. the possibility of the report fathered by the ment. The class of persons to be dealt with While therefore conceding and, in the case of foreigners, to banish- Times correspondent in Paris, we will hope, under this section is, as mentioned in the for the sake of the world at large, and the statement of objects and reasons attached to peaceful development of Eastern Asia in the Bill, on the increase in the colony, and particular, that it may not prove correct. it is to be hoped that when the Bill comes NICHOLAS II, has clearly a mission to fulfil, into operation this provision will be strictly and long may he be spared and great may enforced, for it is very much needed, be his powers for carrying it out.
Altogether the Bill promises to prove n very useful piece of legislation, the only point for regret being that the home Government could not be induced to anction more effective provisions for the prevention of disease, that being a decidedly weak point in the measure.
THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS ORDINANCE,
(Daily Press, 9th August) The Russian rumour to which the Paris correspondent of The Times refers, though at first blush rather startling, is not so wildly improbable as some persons might suppose. To begin with, NICHOLAS II. ĥas never coveted place or power.
He is a young man of refined but simple tastes, with no passion for display or craving for the exercise of that autocratic power his family have so long wielded over the Russian | people. He is a lover of free institutions, a hiter of war and all its attendant horrors, and he has no ambition to carry out a great programme, like that of his rude but illustrious redecessor PETER THE GREAT. He only craves for opportunities to better the condition of his people and to give to them freer institutions. His first great scheme was to bring about international disarmament as a means presumably of lessening the burdens of the nation, and though he has not succeeded immediately in this project, some progress has been made in this direction. No doubt the com- parative failure was due to the general waut of confidence in Russian statesmen. The Emperor is known to be a friend of peace, but the bureaucratic government of St. Petersburg are by no means so persuaded of its blessings. If Russia can get all she wants without appealing to the sword well and
good, but if not, then no Mus- covite Minister would long counsel the maintenance of the peace. No doubt the CZAR has become aware of this fact among many ocher disillusions since his accession to the supreme authority. He has learnt, at some cost no doubt to his pride and his inclinations, that however re- solved he himself may be to maintain the peace of the world, the acts of Russian officials may at anytime involve him in a long and costly war. Moreover, there is the
(Daily Press, 8th August.) The Bill to amend the Protection of ever present shadow of Nihilism resting Women and Girls Ordinance, 1897, which across his path. It may not have been so comes on for second reading at to-morrow's conspicuous or so threatening as it was in his meeting of the Legislative Council, will father's reign, but the forces of anarchy and probably not have any very appreciable revolution are not dead; they merely slum- effect in diminishing the prevalence of con- ber, and may at any moment suddenly bringtagious disease in the colony, but it may be about disastrous convulsion. The Em-expected to work a great improvement in perr NICHOLAS is wide enough awake to suppressing outrages on public decency, in be aware of this fact; he is not likely to be getting rid of the very undesirable class of living in a fool's palace; he must be, like men who live on the earnings of women of bis father and grandfather, sleeplessly on ill fame, and also, as the name of the Bill guard. It is said he has had many bitter implies, in increasing the protection to disappointments. What these may be we women and girls against being drawn into cannot positively say, but there can be lit-or retained in a life of prostitution against <tle doubt that he regrets the failure of an their will. It is much to be regretted that immediate heir to the throne, both his chil- the home Government declines to sanction dien being daughters. The death of his any really effective steps being taken to brother the Grand Duke GEORGE, the Heir prevent the spread of contagious disease. Apparent, was also no doubt a blow to him. The strength of the garrison and fleet is The prezent Heir Apparent, the Grand greatly reduced by this cause, and earnest Duke MICHAEL is only twenty-one years of representations
have been made age, and it would seem very undesirable secure the re-enactment of measures which to that the CZAR should abdicate in favour of while they were in force proved effective 80 young and inexperienced a successor. in lessening disease, but the success which NICHOLAS II. is himself but young, being has attended these representating is very only thirty-oue, but he has travelled round limited, the present Bill simply providing the world, has gathered some useful experi-a penalty for permitting a woman suffer ence and has now reigned nearly five years. But if the young monarch finds the burden of empire too heavy there is no reason why he should not, if he so elects, shift that burden on to other shoulders. If the Grand Duke NICHAEL is not afraid to accept the responsibility, no one dau prevent the transfer except, perhaps, the Russian Minisf try, and it may well suit them to get rid o A.CZAR with such pacific leaniugs and such A regard for truth as NicHolos II. The sdevious ways of Muscovite
statecraft can
ing from contagious disease to remain in a brothel. This, in the absence of any provision for the systematic detection of disease, is not likely to have any very great effect.
LANDLORDS AND THEIR RESPON- SIBILITY FOR DISORDERLY HOUSES
(Daily Press, 10th August.)
In the consideration of the Women and gislative Council on Tuesday a discussion Girls Protection Amendment Bill by the Le
their premises to be used as houses of illfate, arose as to the liability of owners who allow
and ultimately the decision on this import- ant point was postponed. The Bill (as drafted provides that after the use of3nny premises as a brothel has been discontinu Ordinance (ie., by order of a 3 Mi under the provisions of section 4 of
if such premises are found to be trate) the owner of such premises shall, in use as a brothel, be liable the payment of a fine not exceeding $500. summary conviction before a Magistrate The interpretation clause provides that the word "owner"is to have the ame meán- ing as in Ordinance 9 of 1887. Referrin to the last named Ordinance we and the definition is as follows—“ Owne “premises means the person for
being receiving the rent or s "for the use of premises whet
own account or as agent for for
any other person, or who
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In other respects, however, the Bill will prove of material value.
ceive the same if such place Section 4 provides that brothels may be “ tenant, This definition closed on the complaint of the Captain Ordinance 11 of 1890 except Superintendent of Police or the Registrar" of premises" was substituted General, and it will no longer be necessary, as in the present state of the law, to prove to the magistrate that the place is a
owner of a brothel.” The the liability of the owner discussed in 1890 in connection
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