Editor of the Nowrn-Cinna Dany News"
Sim—Re the letters appearing in your esteemed paper this morning. from two of my fellow nationals regarding the election of British members to the Shanghai Municipal Council, T fully agree with what they: say, especially "Maxtonrre" and 1 do of' agree with your remarks in your editorial, ie, "it is not a question of the should ha 1y."" Tt has apparently never occu red to you why this matter was n tied domestically. If it then you should live up to of paper "Impartial Net Though it may be a bitter pill to swallow, the reason "is as_ follows; Shanghai is supposed to be the sth largest city in the world but in respect of the British community it is really a very small city. Jobs are very hard to get, and one must be very careful what one says in public places such as at the BRA, meeting or the Annual Ratepayers Meeting. How many societies which have been formed for the set purpose of upholding the rights of the "little people" and which have been launch ed amid scenes of the greatest enthusiasm "suddenly gone "Phut."! The reason? Because the leaders have been quietly but firmly told to "go ety of else—," and as T have already said, "Jobs are very hard to get the Atth largest city in the World. To ut it bluntly, the small man is afraid to. open his mouth and. speak his mind, and until the day comes when he will be able to do so with safety he will remain apathetic (not lazy) and. will become more so, and the Municipal election will continue to be the farce it is, and will continue to be the "cut and dried affair" fixed up over the morning "gin and bit" at the "world's longest bar'
If an independent, other than a member of the "Vested " interests group" offers himself for election, he either received in stony silence else is politely snubbed and ran down by those people against whose interests would be to have such aman among them. Incidently, please don't think Tam referring to the independent who offered himself for election last year. He was certainly not the man for the job.
Those comical "planks" in the election platforms of Shanghai Council lors are absolute rubbish and the Councillors. (would-be and otherwise) Know aswell as we do that they don't mean a thing they say. Ex-"Yes, 1 will see that the public formed og to what is happening," "Yes, 1 will settle the Out-Side Roads question in a jiffy with satisfaction to all concerned," "Yes, I will do this and T will do that," ahd of more. They have said it too often and we don't believe them any more. Year after year this deplorable slate of affairs goes on, and we, the [Shanghai, Mar. 21, s+axormm Barrsue's attention is Invited to the leading article on. page labours under some confusion thought. The system of election Is antiquated. It" has been established Under "the Land "Regulations which cannot be altered except by measures Wich experience Nes shown to be The electorate. therefore has to. do\ its best. with the system Provided. The selection of candidates fan be Influenced in the direction he desires, if he and other members of Me community, through "the appro= Pilate organizations, "Impertinent" Reflections To the Editor of the "NowriChma Dany News"
Ham neither 8 blue-eyed boy ent Interests in the Municipal eerole champion. of independ
tien, "I intend to vote and as 1 be-Neve in "democracy's methods securing representation, shall vote according' to the "ticket" presented
fait." aay venture to make some iver' authority to sct on my" be.
those to whom' f have
quite "impertinent" refections Rotice that' a great point has' been feot the appalling reticence of the "Council. Taso natice—being a ilgentsident of the prea own columns have. been full alivost, in the last three years
fear, to the point of congestion, with copious data concerning Muni: Sipal fairs, Hf you ask me wheth-1 "want to "know every" it tie detail of. the negotiations between the Council and other bodies on auch fubjeets asthe Outside Ready, 7 fay yes: on the principle of the lady's femmand to the man who Informed for "that "he was in" the Secret Servicetell me. some seereia happen, however, io realize that if such indiscretions were communicated {othe Press, there. would. be. mo negotiations "and. no "possible shone agreement. 1 "also" have, heard hat the Council" needs."
Blood" "and "neve mens" Well" what about Mr. Liddell (who 1 understand has been a success) and Mr.
[Killery, whose record shows shal he has already earned the confidence of one of the most important British firms in the world and whose membership of the Council would surely be of use to Shanghai, if only because nis evident access to really leading people at Home is an asset not to bbe despised? I also have heard a lot of talk about the "lack of leadership." the need for "men who are not afraid to take action." Well, here leadership has been shown and action has been taken with clear-cut deci-fon, and we are now treated outcries against being dragoon-(ed, being dictated to or other infringements on the herltary right of the free-born silly ass. Sir, may I mildly remark: what bunk, what stuff and nonsense?" Ask any Trade Unionist whether: he considers he is being dictated to when he is given a "ticket" Of course he does. not. The ticket is given him by men whom he has appointed to produce that article. The Executive Committees of the three British organizations, as you have pointed out, are the men to whom we have given the job of producing the ticket, of expressly perhaps but by implication in the Tight. of all the circumstances as detailed so patiently by you. T wish to take my hat off to one correspondent—Mr. John Barr. He has had the pluck to sign his name. If some of Jyour other correspondents had been fable to imitate him they would have disclosed to us whether they really [possessed votes (which in some cases T venture to doubt) and they possibly would have gone as near as he did to talking horse sense. I only wish T could sign my name for I realize that anonymity weakens my ease, but you know why T cannot. Twill only conclude by saying that I fear there are people who id it easier {0 sit down and write! jot air" to the newspaper than exercise what litre thinking ordinary people, are sinking further and further into a mire of uncertainty ud doubt. Can you blame us for being apathetic and disinterested? If] you cannot vote truthfully and you do not believe in the gentleman who hae "offered"? himself for election, why vote at all. Let the leaders of "he British residents of Shanghai get machinery they possess by studying the arguments" in your leading articles. "They probably also would [subordinate the casting of their vote to the congenial operation of clapping so-called "independent can Sidates on the back.
Wuaxcroo. Shanghai, Mar. 22.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.