The-Hong-Kong-Weekly-Press-1903-08-15 — Page 8

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worth our while to secure his services. And, when we come to consider his undoubted ability as a lawyer, coupled with his long service as Acting Attorney General, none of Us can help admitting that therein he possesses a distinct advantage over his oppou- ent, an advantage which I beg you to consider whether it wou'd not be wise to procure in our own interests sa well as in those of the general community! (ou must remem- ber, gentlemen, that |||in|| discussing the appointment of a representative we have to consider the functions of the Legislative Council. It exists principally, as you are all aware, for the making of laws, and who could be better able than Mr. Pollock, with his legally trained mind, b protect and fight fearlessly for the interest committed by us to his care? Gentlemen, I take it that you desire to secure the services of a representative who will voice your views in the Councils of this Colony. If this be so cau confidently appeal to you to support Mr. Pollock. He is willing to come to you at critical times and ask your advice on all matters that relate to your interests, and urge them with all the power and ability that you so well know he possesses. Do abt be carried away by the ory "Let us have a business man, a ship ping man, to represent us. Let us choose the best man. Use your matured judgment in consider ing this important question and suppo t Mr. Pollock, the candidate who is most likely to serve your interests, and through his influence with the Government secure from time to time the legislation you consider desirable in the interests of the Colony (Applause) Gentle men, I will not detain you longer. I leave the issue of this election confidently in your hands, resting satisfied that you will exercise that sound judgment for which the business men of Hongkong are already acted. (Applause.)

Mr. N. A. SIEBS seconded.

THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND

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[August 15, 1903, Mr. POLLOCK, who was received with that Mr. Hewett cia be supplied with applause, said-Gentlemen-About three days practical legal experience høre P. “I submit atfer I was first informed that there was gentlemn. it is impossible tha; be cɔuld be to be a vacıncy in the Legislative Council for supplied with such legal expərience as would # representative from the Chamber of enable him, very often on the spar of the Commerce owing to the approaching moment as has been seen, to speak on osrtain departure of Mr. Shewan from this Colony, amendments brought forward by the Govern- determined to put my elf forward as ment. I sat for a period of nearly three years in a candidate for the post in view of the fact the Lislative Council as you will have that I was urg d to do so by influential gutleuoticed by my manifesto, and there by men representing your comm reial community, required an actual practical knowledge If it had not been for the fact that I was urget of the drafting of lewa as well as of the by these gentlemen to come forward to contest ||procedure of the Legislative Council I will the seat in the Conueil, I certainly sb uld not not keep you longer in this extremely trying have beon bill eaongh on my own initiative to heat, but will leave this matter in your hands, hare done so. Well, gentlemen, as I said, and simply ask you, without fear, favour, I deterin ned som three days after I bad or affection. to give your votes to whichever of beard that Mr. Shewan was about to love the the two candidates, Mr. Hewett and myself, you Colony, to stan 1-for this seat, and on the very think the more worthy of your suffragns. first day I was met with news of a some- (Applause.) what disquioting, character, becansa

Mr.

HEWETT said-Gentlemen We all was informed that for some weeks past-know what it is to suffer from un mauvais two or three weeks pist, at all events- quart d'heure, and I must confess to my experi genti- men had been canvassing for Mr. Hewett, eucing something of the kind at the present and that it was practically hopeless for me to stand moment i finding myself for the first Ume in for the seat at this ti ne, because, I was told the opposition to my very good friend, Mr. Pollock. majority of your votes had been promised to In coming forward, however, and in offering Mr. Hewett, Well, gentleman, that did not myself as the representative of the Chamber of discourage me, for when I came to review the Commerce ou the Legislativo Council, I do so mitte I was satisfied this thire wara cartain in the belief that I am qualified to sot in this gentlemen amongst you who might at capacity. I would state that my commercial unnatural y Lave expressed themselves as training commenced 26 years ago, and nearly willing to vote for Mr. Hewett under 23 years of those have been passed in the lea i- the impression that he was the only candi-ing business centres between here and Yoku- date likely to come forward, and I felt certain hatua. I think I may claim therefore that I that when you Leard another candidate w shave a very good general knowledge of the coming forward you wou'd carefully reconsidertrade of the Far East. In addition to this my the matter, and you would, as it is your bounden ordinary business has kept me thoroughly in duty to do, weigh carefully the respectiva touch with the home trade and also with our merits of each candidate brought before you. important interests in the Straits and India. I felt or ain that you, 25 gentlemen Having spent altogether some seven years in of business, would not hastily make up your Hongkong, I have during the last two years of winds on a matter of this importance, but that my resideuce here bean enable to pick up the Mr. J. H. Lewis- Mr. Chairman and gentle, you would very aaxionsly go into the question threads of the various inter sta connected with men,--We have listened with much interest to of the respective capabilities of the respectiva the Colony, and I feel therefors that I am Mt. Law's eloquent speech in advocating the candidates. Well now, gentlemen. I humbly justified in offering myself as the rapresenta1ive { election of Mr. Pollock. I quite agree with submit to you that, having regard to the fact of this Chamber on the Legislative Council. As what Mr. Law says with regard to Mr. Pollock's that your representative in the Legislative Mr. Pollock his remarked, it is extremely qualifications as a legal adviser, but I maintain Council is required to sit there in a legislative warm, and we do not wish to stay here a minute that what we want as the representative capacity, I, as I have submitted in my mani- longer than is necessary. But I will only add in the Legislative Council of a commercial body festo, am entitiel to your suffrages. I have that if you do me the honour of electing me I is a commercial man (hear, hear and applause, here an "Express" which was issued to-day-1 shall do all in my power to further your a man who is practically a merchant and who suppos it was meant to be humorous—which interests as far es our relation with the

is in daily and continual touch with merchants.reads-" An ounce of practical experience is Government are concerned. (Applause.) I think we want the very best man, but with all worth a tou of trained legal mind." (Laughter.) will now proceed with the voting. due deference to Mr. Pollock I do not think he Well, gentlemen, what is the practical experi- will be the best man! We know what Mr. ence which you requirs from the gentleman Hewalt can do workingi fog the general com- who is to represent you in a legislative munity. He is able he is willing, and he takes capacity upou the Council?, The practical ex- a hearty interest in his work; and I think that perience which you require from that gentleman if we elect him to represent the Chamber of is practical experience in tho drafting Commerce on the Legislative Council we shall of legislative measures. (A voice: No.) You have a member fearless and able to represзut us want a representative who has knowledge of and advocate our interests. I have much what is the intended purpose of such measures pleasure in proposing Mr. Hewett as our and such amendments and such alterations in representative on the Legislative Council. the law as may e brought forward by the (Applause.)

Government. (Hear, hear, and applause.) Surely, gentlemen, if Mr. Hewett, from his experience in municipal milters, may be said to possess an ounce of practical experience, I think I may fairly claim, owing to the fact that for nearly three years I acted as Attorney-General, to have a hundredweight of such exp rience. (A voice: No.) Mr. Brown says No; he has been a very ouergetic canvesser on behalf of Mr. Hewett, gentlemen, as you are aware. (Laughter, during which Mr. Brown exclaimed: Nothing of the sort.) 1 congratulate him upon his ac ivity, but I think, gentlemen, you will be a le by your The following is the list of members who votes to discount that activity. (Renewed recorded v tes:-Messrs, Ford. Bornemann, P. laughter.) It must be obvious to all of you Brewitt, Wa. Danby, L. S. Dady-Burjor, Fang that in so far as commercial experience is Wa Chan, A. G. Gordon, D. Haskell, Ho required Mr. Hewett is superior to my-Fook, Dr. Jordan, E. Kadoorie, G. 2. Lammert, se.f, but surely, gentlemen, uone of you will contend that in the event of any commercial matter coming up in the Council, I should not be able to obtain such particulars and instructions from your committee as would enable me to intelligently and fully discuss in the Council such commercial matters as require to b discussed. (Applause.) I should certainly. gentlemen, upon such matters consult your committee, and the committee would give me the best and fullest of their advice, and I should make use of that advice in Council to further your interests. (Applause.) On the other hand, gentlemen, what about practical 16gal experience ? How is it possible

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Mr. E. W. MITCHELL Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, The members of this Chamber of Commerce must congratulate themselves on having two such men as Mr. Pollock and Mr. Hewett willing to represent us on the Législative Council. They are both able men, both energetic, and both candidates have the true interests of the Colony at heart. We are here today to select one

of these gentlemen to represent ns. I have no hesitation in saying that I shall give my vote to Mir. Hewett because, like Mr. Lewis, I feel we ought to have a commercial man to represent a commercial body. (Hear, hear) That is the first consideration. Mr. Hewett is not only very well versed in the general commercial questions of the Far East, but he has also a sound and practical knowledge of municipal work. There, gentle- men you have the two combined. To my is the ideal man to be on the Council. We elected him, at the meeting, on the committee of this That commit ce elected him their chairman. Surely that proves that we have every confidence in Mr. Hewett Let us extend that confidence and elect him as our repre- sentative to the Legislative Council. I beg to second Mr. Lewis's motion. (Applause.)

The CHAIRMAN next called on other members to address the meeting. As none offered to speak, he called on the candidates." -

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Ballotting then proceeded and when all the cards had been handed in and the votes e noted the result was announced by the CHAIRMAN as follows:-

Mr. Pollock, 63; Mr. Hewett, 54.

The announcement was greeted with loud applause, and when this had subsided,

The CHAIRMAN said-Gentlemen, the result of this election will be communicated to H. E. the Governor in dng course,

It now ouly remains for the meeting to pass A vote of thanks to the scrutineers.” (Applause.)

Mr. POLLOCK--Ge.tlemep, I am mach obliged to those who supported m, bat I consider myself particularly foluuste in having succeeded in gaining the sat in the Legislative Council in view of the fact that I was opposed to a gentleman possessing such strong qualifications as my friend Mr. Hewatt. (Applause).

The CHAIRMAN stook hands with Mr. Pollock, whom he congratulated upon his election, and thereafter the meeting dispersed.

A. R. Marty, J. R. Michael, H. M: H. Nenazee, Dr. J. W. Noble, H. E. Pollock, K.C., E, С Ray, M. S. Sassoon, G. C. Moxon. A. V. Apear & Co., Aruold Karberg & Co, W 8. Bailey & Co., Banker & Co., Benjamin, Kelly & Potts, F. Blackhead & Co., Bradley & Co., Butterfield & Swire, Caldbeck, Macgregor & Co, Carlowits & Co, Cawasjee Palanjee & Co., 8. J. David & Co., Deacon & Hastings, Dennys & Bowley Gilman & Co., Grossmann & Co., Hötz's Co., Hughes & Hough, J. D. Humpbrays & Son, W. G. Humphreys & Co, J DHutchinson & Co., Jardine Matheson & Co., Jobson

& Co. Johnson, Stokes & Master - Kr Lai Hing llong, Doughs, La

& Co. & Co.,

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