To the Editor of the Sin,—Ae it has already been stated that I resigned my seat as 8 Councillor on the 23rd instant, because in my opinion certain Minutes passed by my colleagues were tantamount to a vote of censure on my action as a Couvcillor and as the Council evidently consid advienble not to publish the Minutes, 1 also, while referring to them, will carefully refrain from makioy known, anything that will militate against the publio interest. But I take it that the most vital interest of this community is that their representatives should be sap-ported in carrying out their public daties Pod aot ba pered by any effete system. I may be wrong, bat I hold strongly the view, that the members of the Council are elected to control and direct, pot to be controlled and directed by the employees of the Municipality.
As is well knowe, daring the past summer the Sikh police question was brought into rare than its usual prommence, and it was decided to have thorough inquiry into all the causes of by disaffection, discontent and irritation in this branch. Some members ured this strongly, and it was agreed to und oventeally strongly supported by H, B. M. Consol-General requesting In September a rough draft of proposed reference, to the officer who would be appointed to conduct the inquiry, was circulated, and to that rough draft one member appended a considerable number of questions for embudimont in the reference, covering the various points previously raised which the pablic should be satisfied upon. Up to this point and on to the cabling for, and appointment of, an officer, the Connell ta whole acted. From then on, nothing was heard, bat by some mysterious process well understood by "the initiated the next performance took place in a sectional Committee, vis., the Watch Committee, on the 19th instant.
Hero was a matter of the utmost tarian, and also the Officer appointed to inquire precent. Neither of these is in any way involved, for they were present on request, 'A discussion as to what should should not be inquired ints took place one member's action la bringing to the Coaneil's knowledge various allegations and reports was referred to and comments by s permanent official thereon recorded. Yet the member in question, who happened to be myself, had not even had the courtesy of an invitation t6 be present extended to bim; nevertheless be was given the doubtful honour being named in the Minutes.
The whole proceeding appears to have evidenced less care than shoald be erciced over the preliminaries to a fi tael survey on two bales of piece-goods. What members say or do or report in Jouneil should, if minuted, be minuted without names, and no member's action as member of the Conncil—the raling body—shonld be abject to individual criticism, by the employees of that body.
"If the pablic wish to feel their members are means of commoni and are in touch with them, they will eadorse my views. If otherwise they wish to make their members unconscious poppets of the Secretariat and increase the already insolent powers of that office, lot them veto my action.
Personally, I refuse to be intimidated, in doing what I conceive to be my daty 44 @ representative of this community, dalism or by cabals. I have no doubt that the inquiry will be conducted within the torals of the reference thoroughly and eatisfactoriiy; hut the of preparing that ref ize and unwarranted comments on my own action endorsed in absence by seven members I resented and, resenting, resigned.
Tam, ete, Herbert 1). Huremsox, Shanghai, Dec. 29.
P.8. Since writing the above I have me that in their view indies te no censure, nor did view, yet it appears to mo they have anconscionsls taken part in ction and methods that as minted could only be so construed.
B.D li. importance to Shanchsi, on which vos ably the constitution of the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.