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January 6, 1908.]
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REIORT
DISTRIBUTION.
The annual distribution of prizes at St. Joseph's College took place on January 3rd .. the Governor and Lady Lugard prailing Ther was a large attendance at the hour of starting, when the playing of a stanza of the National Authem announed the arrival of accompain d by Mr. A. J. Brackenbury and His Excellency and Lady Lugard, who were Captain Fleming, A.D.C. Among others present were the R. Rer. Bishop Pezzoni, Mr. J J. Leiria, vice-consul for Portugal, Dr. and Mrs. Bateson-Wright, Mr. Jorg, the Roy, Father Augustin and many Catholic clergy and Convent Sisters. After an opening overture
but I hope before another year has gone round, before priz› day comes this time next year, that I will have proved to yon the deep interest I feel in the education of the Colony, and that [ will have formed a much closer
acquaintance with Joseph's College. I think We may say that the standard, pro- gress and development of A country is very larg ly ganged by the facilities for education which are given to its citizens, and to be behind band. The amount which the I think in that respect Hongkong can claim not
Government gives in assisting the education of the Colony is continuously increasing. In 1906 it formed 26 per cent of the total revenue of the Colony; in the following year it rose to 28 per cent, and in the current year it
Mr. O. Bep'ists, the director of music, will make a considerable increase, as it formed Master Peter Provost read the following per address to their Excellencies Sir Frederick and Colouy.
cent of the total revenue of the Lady Lugard :
St. Joseph's College, I learn, has been founded chi-fly for the non-Chinese portion Hongkong, 3rd January, 198, To their Excellencies Sir Frederick and lately formed a Chiness section which the Inspec- of the Hongkong community, although you have Lady Lugard
for of Schools reports is a very great success. Ladies and gent emen; I think, however, that special interest should be given to that class of school which provides for the non-Chinese community. Though I yield to none in my
Your Excellencies,
In presenting you this address of welcome. we beg to tender you our sincerest thanks for by condescending to preside at this ceremony, the honour yon have conferred on us to-day
and to distribute the prizes to the deserving students
and there was not even enough white labour | ST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE PRIZE the prize to the scholars somewhat as a stranger, to oversee the unskilled labour, In these remarks Mr. KIPLING bas touched the real point of the matter, which, though attention has repeatedly been directed to it, is persistently overlooked by those who make it their business to oppose any introduction of Asiatics as labourers in our Colonies. The form in which the case is put is the assumption that there is a certain definite am unt of work to be performed and certain number of white labourers ready and willing to do it, and that consequently the¡ Asiatics are only taking the bread out of the Europeans' mouths by doing the work at a less wage than the latter can live upon. Something of this kind, it is fair to admit, does occasionally occur in respect to skilled labour but it is only a very limited number of coolies either Indian, Chinese or Japanese who are competent to compete with artisans and other skilled workers. In respect to the bulk of the work which the Asiatic labourer does it is mere rough labour which would not be performed at all by Europeans; but which, while being done by the Asiatic, will afford openings for the white men as over- seers, and when accomplished will be the means of employing large numbers of When we so the highest authority in the land Europeans perinaneully. One of the best taking an act vo interest in the great cause illustrations of this is the Pacific Railway of education, we cannot help being impress
the work in which could not at the time it was made ed with the importance of
which WO aro engaged. In
11:3 num have been completed without the aid of the
rous discourses on education, your worthy Chinese ccolie, but which now is the direct predecessor, Sir Matthew Nathan, em means of employment of thousands of phasized the great necessity there is now- Americans, to say nothing of the num-a-days for men of character and erudition. bers who find employment indirectly
It shall therefore by our constant ambition to through its influence in the development of the country and the vast amount of trade which it has introduced. This is known to be the true bearing of the matter, but unfortunately it is not put before the working men in that light. They are led to believe that they could get the work to do if the Asiatic did not compete with them and accept much lower wages than they could work for. Un- fortunately, however, this is in nearly all cases a simple delusion. It is only becaus cheap labour can be obtained that a certain class of work-much of the rough work that has to be done in opening up new Colonies can be profitably undertaken at all. The white labourer, therefore, so far as that part of the work is concerned is ju precisely the same position whether the coolie were there or not. In either case, he does not get the work; but if it is done by the Asiatic he has the chance of sine employment as overseer, and ultimately benefits by the cities or the country being improved and opened up. It may, of course, be said that this is a view of the subject | Lubber Master Max Sternberg, 'Tom Bowl. of the school of honour which I am proud
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emulate the example of those great men, who their youth laboured zalously to arqaire koowledge, and in after life shed around
deeds. them the lustre of their learning and noble
By thus acting, የፀ shall ourselves worthy subjects of the great and prore uoble Empire, which Your Excellencies have done so much to advance, and which can be maintained only by the self-sacrificing exertions of men of duty aud ability,
We can assure you that your presence here today will stimulate both teachers and pupils to renewed efforts for the coming year, and will a the same time prove a fruitful source of en 'our- agment in the difficulties that must inevitably be encountered. At the close of the year 1:08 we hope to have the pleasure of presenting you a very favourable report of-the work we shall have accomplished, and thus deserv your approbation, which will go far to reward us for our fforts.
May health and happiuers ever attend yourxcellencies, and ma our beloved is- land-home long enjoy the blessings of peace and prosperity during your administation : such is the earnest prayer of
THE PUPILS of St. Joseth's College. anasing cantats called Ye Mariners of Eng Then the pupils of the College presented an
laud," iu which the characters were 'Jack
Sammick '
Master Fernando Tavares, 'Dick Roper Mas- ter tudolpho Baptista, Ned Decker' Master José Rodrigues aud
Peter Petrel Master José Lavares.
The Rer. Brother SYLVESTER read the annual report of the College, which was published in yesterday's issue of the Daily Press, and conclu led by cordially thanking their Excellencies for the honour they had con- ferred on the College by attending to present the prizes. They were also thankful to his Lordship the Bishop for taking part in the
which the statesman may be expected to ing Master Patrick Marray. take, but that it can hardly be expected that the labourers themselves will deal with the question upon so broad a basis. This, no doubt, is the chief difficulty that has to be dealt with; but may it not be hoped that the European workmen will, as time goes on, come to see the matter in its true light? It has been persistently put before them by their leaders in the wrong form, for the simple reason that it suits the demagogues who rise to power the working mens' shoulders, to flatter their
His EXCELLENCY-My Lord Bishop, Rev, prejudices, rather than endeavour really
Fathers, Ladies and Gentlemen: The short to benefit them. As time goes on may it not
time I have been in the Colony, and the pres- be hoped that the working men will be
sure of other work has made it impossible for shrewd enough to find out a few plain facts me to fu fil the intention I had of visiting this for themselves and to realise that it is not scho land sexing it when the carricalam was to their interests to prevent those who can in full swing, and when I could hare sean for do a certain class of work, which they them-myself the methods of work and the saccess class room and оп eelves cannot do, from performing it, and thus opening up the way to employment the play ground, and on the latter I set great Therefore I come before you to-day to which they otherwise could not obtain ?
assume the honour and privilege of presenting
ceremony.
achieved both in the
stress.
earuest desire for the elucation of the Chinese, who form the bulk of our population, still it is inevit .ble that Cainese scholars who, pass through our school will t› a great measure bo los to n later, and disappear in the great China beyond. It is also a fact that the Chinese do not sa directly benefit the Colony, because a large number of them find orployment outside, whereas the non Chinese section is one which is employed largely within the Colony. Per. haps the most stable portion of the popula- tion here is the Portuguese, and I under- stand that St. Joseph's College provides specially for them, and I hope that we shall Set my pupils from this school taking places in the Government service and large merointile benses in the Colony, and holding positions of trust and responsibility In order to oren; y sucessfully sec positions, it is beyond all nere sary that they should make themselves proficient in typewriting and shorthand, in bookkeeping, and in a fluent knowledge of English, and I am glad to see that special attention is devoted to this subjects in this College, and that the Insp ctor of Schools chouses these very subj-c's for special commen- dation in his report. i am glad to notice too, that in the matter of shorthand you are receiv. ing much assistance from several members of the local Pres. One word more as to the
special features of St. Joseph's. notice you have a considerable number of boarders,
and
800
I should like to
that number increased.
have Ladies and gentlemen,
schools, bouse I think a school loy loses one very special interest in schoo's which are board
half at least of the benefits which he might derive from his school life, by being a day boy. It is by being a boarder that he learns amongst his comrades, and learns that code to get slf-reliance, to find his own level
to say is one of the features of the boys of England. I congratulate the beadmaster, Brother Sylvester, and the staff, on the success of the year's work, for the report is one of which they may b justly proud. The grant is being increased this year from $30 to 35, as the school is again reported, for the second year in succession, to be thoroughly -efficient. 1 &m glad to see the average attendance is very mach in excess of last унаг, and congratulate Master Carlos Sequeira for having gained the first priz, in hygiene, and Master Lopes for winning the Belilion prize for geography, and I also congratulate you heartily for the good results obtained at the Oxford Local Examinations down I would like to add one other word; that is, to express my acknowledgements as so many hava dode before me, for the liberal minded, usbigoted and unsectarian way in which the Homan Catholic community of this Colony has aided in the progress of education (applause), a
Before sitting
HIS LORD HIP THE BISHOP thanked their Excellencies very sincerely for the great kind- ness they had shown in condescending to preside at the distribution of prises. He was sure that such interest as His Excellency the Governor
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