Ofiicer is considered in reference to the fees payable by patients at the Pasteur Institute. It is decid-d that a fee of Tls. 50 be charged and that the Health Oficer be authorised to recommend exemption from payment in cases where he considers such exemption to be advisable.
Fire Department—Recent Cuses of Arson.—The following letter from the Fire Insurance As-ociation is read, and, in connection therewith it is decided to lay the matter before the Taotai through the usual channel and request him to amend his proclamation.
Fire Insurance Association of Shanghai, Shanghai, 28th March, 1899.
Srm,—The attention of my Committee has been exiled to a proclamation issued by Tsai TTeotai on the 30th day of the Ist moon of the 2th year of Kwangsu (11th instant). and which is no doubt the proclamation promulgated xt the request of the Municipal Council with a view to the prevention of incendiary fires. My Committee observe that according to this document the Taotai pro-joses that in cases where fice breaks out on chinese insured premises, the amount of the claim to be paid by the Insurance Companies is to be divided into three equal part+, one of which to be given to the Fire Brigade as contribution to their expenses, another to the neighbours who may have suffered through the fire as compensation for their loss, and the third to the insured himself, I am desired to request you to point out to the Taotai that according to the insurance contract where no fraud is suspected the policy holder is entitled to receive the amount of his just claim without any deduction whatever, and that the Companies have no power to agree to a division of the money that may appear to be payable in the manner referred to, The effect of the proclamation has already been to discourage Chinese from effecting insurance as they are led to apprehend that in the event of a legitimate claim arising, they may be deprived of their just rights. The action of the Taotai is directly calculated to discourage insurance, which is recognised asa public benefit throughout the civilised world, and my Committee are satisfied that the intention of the Council in approaching the Taotai in the public interest as they were good enough to do, was not to discourage insurance, but to suppress incendiarism. My Committee will be grateful if the Council will take steps to have the misapprehension on the part of the Taotai corrected at the earliest possible date.
Lremuin, Sir, Your obedient servant, The Secrerary, Gro. D. Scorr, Secretary.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.