The refusal yesterday of the majority of the shopkeepers in Honan and Fokien Roads to pay their rates (that is among those applied to) is none the less regrettable for being anticipated. We ask them once again to consider the position very carefully before persisting in contumacy. The Council, as may be seen from this week's Municipal Gazette, has voluntarily promised to bring before the Ratepayers' meeting in March—only two months to wait—a scheme for an Advisory Chinese Committee. It would be a really representative Committee, not the imperfect assembly of nominees of but one section of the Chinese, such as that asked for in Mr, Chu Pao-san's and Mr. Ch'én Tsze-ming's letter. In any ease the Council cannot constitutionally grant that Committee without the ratepayers being consulted and their consent given. Is it reasonable, then, to refuse to pay rates and thereby risk disorder in which many would suffer. Let the shopkeepers ask themselves: Has the Council ever treated them unfairly? Have they any real complaint against the management of the town! It is true they are not represented in its government, but this the Council is preparing to amend as soon as it can. On the other hand, have they considered what will happen to them if they obey the wild and inflammatory poster circulated on Thursday? They are bound to suffer and bound to be defeated. For the Council cannot allow its authority to be thus defied, or all good government and order and the welfare and security of every man is endangered.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.