To the Editor of the "North-China Daily News" sir, This letter presents the previews ly unexpressed opinion of a large number of unrepresented foreign residents in Shanghai.
We see from recent issue of the local press that the possibility of votes being given to the Chinese ratepayers has arisen, At the same time, would it not be as well first ler the care of the number of foreigners, resident in the Settlements, who' are thought sufficiently responsible to serve on juries at the summons of their respective Consulates, but the same time are not eligible to be given a voice in the administration the Settlement merely owing to the fact that they do not pay their rates direct to the Council?
would appear that this city has far outgrown the antiquated scheme under which votes are at prevent allocated, and if Chinero fare in the future to be allowed 1 vote, it would undoubtedly he more satisfactory if all the male foreign moves residents over the age of 21, who fare registered at their respective Consulates, were given the oppor~ tunity to have a voice in the administration of the Foreign(?) Set feme before the franchise is exe tended to include the Chinese.
The greater number of the mem= bers of the Defense Forces do rot own er rent their houses, for cbvious reasons, and although compe tent to net in the defence of the Settlement, apparently are not cone sidered worthy of having any say in administration.
Most of the younger generation here were mixed up in the late pleasantness ju France and elsewhere, and the others are equally Impecunious, so that the likelihood of their obtaining the vote under the present system, during the next decade, is very remote.
It'seems to realived that the time has passed when this city can be run by vested interests, and by giving, voluntarily, to the younger generation, that which is so insistently demanded by the Chinese, would be a graceful act worthy of the City Father We are ete.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.