808
April 1, 1907.]
usual retorn.
1
!
i
(+
203
we have to be very
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. had the slightest suspicion that anything | through their foolhardiness, have with equal about premature or fals: alarms, just as was wrong. There WAR 110 alteration in values of any one thing on the machine, attempted to stop supplies in full late.
apparent want of care and knowledge of thair delicate they grumbled when the warning came too market; railways ran as usual, changes flow. From what appears on the surface, that the thought of the previous complaints Dr. DOBERCE was particular to say opened and closed, and ev. rvone seemed judging from the telegrams to hand, there' of unnecessary warnings justified in believing that as was to-day, so
"did not influence would likewise he to-morrow, yet in four | has
was no reason whatever for the panic which the present case." This appears on page and twenty hours all this was changed; and in
heen seriously affecting busin-83 49 of the Official Report; on page 58 we New York, but the this be it remarked without the arrival of wich have been felt all over the world, the signal white he and Mr. From were waves from find him giving as a reason for not hoisting one piece of advice that a single article of ¦ It was not brought about by any dis. engaged in consultation and observation— commerce had altered its marketable value, aster in the physical or commercial world; ; having discovered the storm's approach ut had become a drug, or was in any likelihood nothing had gone wrong with any summer. 7.44 a.m.-That of suffering from short supply. No failures rial concern, and money ady red on com. ! careful." The implication of this laudable above what might be anticipated in the mercial enterprises was still bringing in its remark is quite clear from Sir HENRY ordinary daily routine of comnmnerce were noted, and the financial baroneter stood wilfuluess some-one seems to have elled in remembered seeing complaints made about Whether from malice or mere BERKELEY's succeeling comment, that "he persistently at set fair. So far as we can
someone suddenly thought himself loan, and the example was followed fr an
unthinkingly some sufficiently well & cured! the unnecessary hoisting of signals." Dr. that he would screw down a valve and cut
DOBERCK is an expert meteorologist, but sheer inability to foresee the result off a stream of supply which had been State itself appears to have been thoughtless | same
The
we admire him less as a witness, and the irrigating a section of the country, and
remark may apply to Mr. Fraa. certain other people unaware of the reason
at first by demanding burriedly some deposits | Perhaps we hid better bere explain why we without sufficiently timely notice, but in the why the first man bad acted so, and without absence of an indefinable panicky feeling had been attempts," said Mr. Frod, “to are thus criticising their testimony. There taking time to enquire, at once followed, abroad this would have made little difference. | influence public opinion against the Hong- and commenced to screw down their own On the whole the affair points to the want kong Observatory." That may refer either sluices. Why they should have done so
of some better constructel edifice of finan- no-one seemed to know, or have any clearer cial common sense than at present exista in ¦ Like Observatory work
to the Press or to the priests who under- idea of what they were doing than a flock the United States,
at Manila and of sheep in a field, who because they have of enormous wealth by a few individuals may reply is that public opinion was already How far the handling | Shanghai. If it refers to the Press, the seen one of their number run breathless | be an advantage or the contrary to a nation formed, and it across a precipice, will immediately follow in
was merely echoed, not headlong confusion. Meanwhile the effects economy; but there can he 'no doubt what the priests, it certainly bears.out the general may still remain a moot point in political influenced, by the papers. It it refers to of shutting of the life-giving supply ever that the concentration of wealth in belief, contradicated by Messrs. Find and are seriously felt in the irrigated districts, hands fitted neither by person il knowledg. DoBERCK both, that the relations between and thence even spread through the world at large. But do these act any more
nor by the acquirel experience of long the Hongkong weather experts and their establishel and time-tried institutions, must reverend colleagues were anything but sensibly? The natural way we might always have a deterrent affect on the cone conlial. In either case, as impartial readers suppose would be for those affected to puttinued prosperity of a nation. their heads together, and try to ecowímise
will readily observe, it was an injudicions remark. Capt in- SOMMERVILLE, one of the jury, spoke to Dr. DOBERCK About
We do not like that term, as at the time of our first comment. we carefully abstained from anything in the nature of an attack on expressly repudiated any such implication; in fividuals. We did more; we
and
the diminished supply: hat this we find is
|
far from being the measure adopted. ID THE HONGKONG OBSERVATORY. what he called "attacks made in the Press."
|
¦
(Daily Press, 26th March.)
|
we hope Dr. DOBERCK did not include the Daily Press in his reference to "attacks of the character." We have not hitherto attacked anybody in this connection; but it is clear that the present comments constitute an attack which, as we say, the experts have drawn upon themselves by their attitude towards th• enquiry.
exact science.
now
AB
thus. We find, as we expec oil, that meteor- The position-our position—now stands ology, to quote Dr. DOBERCK, is not an mon, the experts disagreeing. It is not for We find, as is not uncom- us, therefore to express an opinion to which side is right, That would
prepared
appear an impertinence.
We aro the Committee that the earliest possible
accept the decision of warning was given, since we are not expert enough, or sufficiently well informed, to that it was not. So far, so good.
That is the decision of the Committee of Enqu ry. What the public demanded, through our medium, was an enquiry. They have got it; whether they be satisfied or dissatisfied with the result of it, we are in no way to praise or blame.
case of a shipwreck where the captain does not utterly lose his head at the first shock, his first effort is to introduce some common sense, and show the too frequently panic- The official report of the proceedings stricken passengers how much lies in their before the Committee of Enquiry appointed own hands, and how, by co-operating, the in connection with the typhoon of Sept. 18th risk to life and property may be reduced to will confirm for some people the impression a minimum, or practically avert d, hut this that ouly the whitewashing of officials was is just the thing which in a financial ship- aimed at. It will be remembered that His wreck we never find done. Here on the Excellency the GOVERNOR was indiscreet contrary each is more intent on ruining his enough to publicly and prematurely express neighbour than on helping himself, and a hig disbelief in the need for an enquiry, nud slight stoppage which a little prudence his hope that it would result in the vindic - would have averted, is turned into a sense- tion of the officials concerned. We are less panic, unless some deus er machina quite certain that His Excellency never from the State comes on the scene with some intended to prejudice the summittee, but heroic measure, All this seems
to have his remark seems to have had some effect. come to pass with little or no variation in the We do not allude to the finding of the latest New York Panic. First the irriga- Committee, which the conflict of experts tion reservoirs, it may be noted, have got quite prepares us to ai ept, but to several into too few bands, and those too timid and features of aud the general line taken by ignorant to understand the wider principles t'e enquire The object of all such in- of political economy. When oue of these quisitions should be to discover the truth, from whatever cause restricts the supply the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, or opens his valve too wide, the others with but we think we ser indications that this the simple gregarious habits of a flock of ¦ single purpose was occasionally obscure sheep rush wildly to follow the example set, by other and less impersonal considerations. without a moment's cousi 'eration whether The Committee nowhere betrayed any bias they themselves may not be the first victims. of which we can rightly complain, but An equal want of resource is displayed by certain members showed which way their the tillers of the soil affected, who, as often sympathy inclined, in a way which the ideal as not by their own want of necord, judge would never do. For example, the intensify the evil to their own eventual suggestion that some delay in hoisting Reviewing the official report as we think detriment. Then the Stats with the best į typhoon warnings might be due to previous a Court of Appeal might review a judgment, intentions, but not always with the greatest
about complaints
UNNECESSATY alarms wisdom, has to step in like the deus
we may first call attention to the Com- emanited from one of the_enquirers, I mittee's remark that the evidence was cou- machina, to try and save the wreck, which; That is a plausible suggestion such as any flicting. That there was sufficient evidence with a little common sense should never clover counsel for the defence would think of one kiud to conflict with another, by the have occurred. Most of these financial; of. It at once evokes our sympathy, for it way, is in itself sufficient justificat on for disasters have, it is worth noticing, been presents to us a picture of harasse 1 officials the attacks in the Press. Looking at the brought about by those in charge of the ¦ afraid of a constantly grumbling community. Lruited quantity and scope of the evidences, reservoirs of capital, who in their individual Whatever they do is sure to be wrong. The ! however, we are also justified in making our
} desire for gain above their neighbours bave weither expert's lot is not a happy one readers to take into consideration the weight opened their sluices too wide, and then, like Decidedly we, as a jury, must fe more of evidence. unskilful workmen alarmed by the imminent kindly to the accused when we think of in favour of the verdict, so to speak, well If they think it preponderates danger brought about to their own position that. The public certainly had grumbled' and good.
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