Article Six of the Chinese Ratepayers' Association, which caused the deadlock in regard to the assumption of duties by the five gentlemen who were elected by the Chinese Ratepayers' Association, as Chinese Advisory Committee to the Council, was cancelled by an overwhelming majority at a meeting of Chinese ratepayers which was held in the Town Hall on Monday afternoon.
Article Six provides that "all matters vitally affecting the interests of Chinese residents in the Settlement as also any proposals or applications required to be made in connexion with the local administration shall first be dealt with by the Directorate."
More than 512 Chinese Ratepayers, including one lady, attended Monday meeting which was presided over by Dr. C. T. Wang, who in a brief introductory address, reported on all the correspondence exchanged between the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and the Council in regard to the Chinese Advisory Committee. He then called upon Mr. David Z. T. Yui to speak.
Mr. Yui explained how Article Six had come to be included in the Regulations. The draft had been under consideration for quite a long time, he said, but the Municipal Council did not interpret the article as did the Chinese Ratepayers' Association: they thought it would hinder the working of the Advisory Committee. "The article was included," said Mr. Yui in part, "'to get the opinion of the Chinese ratepayers. The Business Committee was to assist the Advisory Committee, and not to hind-ey or direct its actions. It was the intention of those who drew up the article to assist the ratepayers in putting into right form and order petitions or other matters which the ratepayers wanted brought before the Municipal Council. On the other hand, it was intended to strengthen the hands of the Advisory Committee so that everything would be carried out harmoniously. The duty of the Business Committee is to unify, organize, and systematize the working of the Association. With their assistance, the Advisory Committee could always feel that they had the ratepayers -behind them in their deliberations and decisions. If our hands are tied by the Business Committee, it would he of little use for us to serve. We must act freely, independently."
ANnumber of people rose and stated their reasons in favour of the cancellation of the article in question, while one or two were in favour of the cancellation of the Business -Committee altogether. One of the speakers advocated the retention of the article with certain reservations. He said that
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.