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June 24, 1907.1
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. moreover, it will be found that the Chinese | following his bad example. There has to be
is
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do not endorse our definitions. They note a difference between " bribes and cum shaws that we overlook, and the word squeeze is a foreign term often applied to transactions to which the Chinese would never dream of applying its vernacular equivalent. It is odd that a Christian nation, whose religion is all for giving, should exhibit such a general scepticism. not shared by the Oriental, with regard to the idea of “ something for nothing." Except in the advertisements of wily traders, the phrase "something for nothing" is not to be found in the lexicon of Christendom. Even the British law is shy of any transfer of property without 'consideration" or "value received." The Chinese, Japanese, and other Orientals do seem 10 recognise that there
may be such a thing as an out-and-out gift sometimes. It almost looks as if, by their attitude towards "cumshaws" and perquisites, they recognise the uneven distribution of wealth, and acquiesce in these methods of adjustment. For generations it has been a fundamental principle with Chinese and Japanese that the rich should pay more than the poor for the same thing. In practice, although he is unaware of it, the foreigner operates reversely. The rich purchaser saves by taking a quantity; the poor buying at retail pay much per cent more for their necessaries. In the Far East, therefore, your servant buying things for you, at the favourable rates to which his station entitles him, adds his commission to bring the price nearer what you would have to pay if you went shopping yourself. The shopkeeper, ultimately recognising that the goods are destined for one whom he regards as wealthy, perhaps arranges with your servant for a division of the spoil. The foreigner calls that " squeeze, "but the Chinese do not. The foreigner is not being charged more than as a wealthy foreigner he ought to pay. This spirit, also, has given rise to the "cumshaw," which finds scriptural sanction, by the way, in the reference to not muzzling the ox.
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CUBICLES.
00
(Daily Press, June 22nd.) Perhaps because it is unthinkable, no one seems to have thought of one simple solution of the cubicle question. Yesterday's con- versations based our report ef the Legislative Council mostly took a ton of satisfaction that the unofficial representative had shown such unmistakable signs of their determination to "stand no official nonsense. We have published only one letter out of those submitted, selecting it for its brevity. Others merely said similar things at greater length. It is certainly gratifying to find that our chosen or elected representatives are not of the "dumb, driven cattle class," and we fear that the Hon. Mr. MAY's promise of sympathetic consideration will by many people be discounted as a result of the official attempts to postpone discussion. As a matter of tactics, it might
have been wiser for His EXCELLENCY to stretch a point, and let strict rules go. At the previous meeting he accepted the tacit indulgence of the Council, and spoke out of order, and the lesson he draws from the result is that "it just shows one ought never to break any rule." That is a hasty conclusion, and not to be too seriously maintained. All rulez require their exceptions, and after all, what harm has been done in the present case. much further forward as a result of Mr. MAY's breach, and still further as a result of those unofficial speakers who insisted on
We are so
409
That is the simple solution, that has not a lull during the three months during bee n thought of perhaps because it is which the Counil stands adjourned, and thisunt binkable. breaking of the ice will make it easier for those who will have to re-open the subject.
We began by hinting at a simple solu tion of the cubicle question which we fear will be considered "unthinkable. Unlike the Hon. Mr. POLLOCK, we
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are somewhat appalled by the prospect of having to spend eight million dollars on the scheme for admitting more light and air to Chinese tenements in the City. That is a large sum, and an penditure which, in the present depressed condition of business, ratepayers will hardly face with equanimity. If we they could
"
(4
ex-
be assured that the scheme of removing every third block of houses is likely to to be, as its suggesters believe, a thorough scheme; if we could feel certain that it would undoubtedly have the effect of materially reducing plague and other communicable disease, then it would be the right thing to say hang the expense." Eight millions or eighteen-what matter, so such a blessing he secured. But is it certain can we be so sure?
If the answer be yes," we at once reply: "then let every third block of houses be remov ed; and haug the extra expense. It would he worth it all." The answer how. ever is not, or ought not to be, a categorical affirmative. Light and air are good things, healthy things-no one disputes that; unless perhaps the Chinese themselves. But what is the good of taking pains to uprost your thistles if your neighbour lets his run riot? From Canton, to say nothing of Macao or elsewhere, the plague thistle flourishes according to the favour of the seasons, and its seeds come blowing into Hongkong. It will be retorted that if they find no dark cubicles they will fail to find lodgement; but that is too easy. It could just as easily be asserted that by making Chinese tene- ments more open, the bacilli would find readier ingress. Those who have followed the movement for erecting model dwellings for workmen as a municipal enterprise at Home have learned that a hygienic pigsty does not change swinish habits, nor era- dicate disease. This is language more offensive than we would deliberately choose, but plain speech is needed to reveal the issue. The Chinese are the chief sufferers, and it is the Chinese themselves who must be got to make the right effort. It is a mistake to penalize Hongkong landlords to no purpose. An official orator drew a would-be pathetic comparison between local tenements and local stables, but this reference to the fortunate dumb four footed animals" rather impels us to ex- claim "hoity-toity," or some similar expres- sivism. If the Chinese coolie and his family shared the "naked and unashamed" innocency of the horses, the cubicle question would not have arisen; but there is an immoral microbe to guard against as well as a plaguey one, and cubicles are necessary evils. The places to be compared with our typical tenements are not horse repositories but the houses of the masses at Canton, where the plague comes from. But some times Hongkong epidemics are said to be worse thau Canton epidencies. So much the better for our argument; the Canton tenements and streets are worse, from the sanitarian's point of view, so it seems it really does not matter much what is done. These are points, not too coherently col- lected, for consideration. By abolishing the cubicle ordinance, would we not gavj $8,000.000, get rid of the present filthy rag substitutes, and have then only to see that the cubicles get regularly cleaned?
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OUR IMPERIAL OUTPOSTS.
(Daily Press, 22nd June.) "Imperial Outposts" is the title of one of Mr. JOHN MURRAY's newest publications, The author of the book is Colonel A. M. and probably of one of the most important. MURRAY, and Lord ROBERTS in a preface says it is up-to-date and of peculiar value. With such a distinguished commendation there is no need for us to "review "it, but attention we can give it. its malter deserves and demands what Hongkong by two such Service men naturally References to
first attract our notice, and it is a little has to say is a parrot-like repetition in the disconcerting to find that all Lord ROBERTS
manner of the opium tract:
"The chapter on Hongkong recalls the recol- lection of a which was probably the least justifiable war ever war-the Opium War of 1810— waged by Great Britain. Whatever opinion may be held regarding the policy of that war, every right-minded person will join the author of Imperial Outpost' in his outspoken condem- nation of the Indian opium traffic with China. That traffic i iniquitous and indefensible, and the sooner it can be suppressed the better for British credit."
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Thus Lord ROBERTS, who is not too old yet to remember that all the "right-minded persons"-they invariably claim that Boer war as he describes the "Opium War." mouopoly- -were not long ago describing the
Colonel MURRAY does see other things at Hongkong besides its opium hongs.
He
would rather that Great Britain had held
C
W
or
pre-
left
more
Manila than either Hongkong or Singapore, because it commands both. Given the possession of sufficient naval force, an American admiral can strike right or left, compelling his opponents to fight where it best suits his own purposes. Even without battleships, he says, the present China squadron represents a numerical ponderance of naval strength, but he hopes the station will not be for long without one battleships. Then he comes to the title- deeds of the biggest port in the world,'
origin. and says they are unfortunately of bad ever been waged by a
"No more unjustifiable war has Cupidity was its cause, aud cupidity of a civilized nation.
demoralizing nature. The war can only be to force an illicit traffic in à contraband and described as a successful piratical attempt
Truly the late Sir H. POTTINGER cannot noxious drug On an unwilling people." have foreseen what violent language would one day be based on his despatches, which if he had known more of the facts that were might have been more carefully compiled later unfolded. Hongkong harbour, the as in the quotation, is " author goes on, after having eased his mind perhaps the most powerfully fortified.” beautiful of the world"; and is "most He is lavish of super- latives, whether praising or daming, and "it is satisfactory to know that the forts are armed with the best guns obtainable, and are min ned by a superb force of British artillerymen. matter,"
The land defence is another and the military authorities are nothered to know how to hold an eleven mile frontier with the limited force avail. able. Sir MATTHEW NATHAN, it appears, offered the curious contention that frontier which is capable of attack is equally capable of defeuce," but that was probably spoon-fed to a globle-trotter, for
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a
our late Governor was not devoid of
ling a leg" sometimes. a quiet humour, and could enjoy “pul- and Whampoa Dock Company, we read, The Hongkong
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