The Silver Bowl: 1886 July 29

1886 July 29 Strait Times Weekly Issue

Mr. W.R. Scott at North Street, St. Pancras.

On Wednesday evening, (June 16) a public meeting was held at the British schoolrooms, Kentish town road, for the purpose of hearing an address from Mr. W. Ramsay Scott[1], of W.R. Scott and merchants, Singapore, with a view of his coming forward as the Radical and Home-rule candidate for the borough. It was announced that Mr. J.W. Booth[2] would take the chair at 8 o’clock, but that gentleman not appearing, Mister H. M. Atchley[3] informed the meeting, amidst great uproar, that he would preside. A number of Mr. Bolton’s[4] friends who were present voted Mr. Howell Williams to the chair. A great deal of confusion then ensued on the platform. Mister Atchley subsequently gave way amidst the cheers of the Boltonians. Mr. Scott, who had great difficulty in getting a hearing, said he was a follower and admirer of the Premier, who he would loyally support. He would not go into the Chamberlain cave. (Great uproar, and cries of “We’re satisfied with Bolton.”) Mr. Scott said he would not put himself forward if they were satisfied with their present member. A letter was then read from the Irish National League of Great Britain, stating that the meeting that evening had not received the sanction of the league. They had no desire to anticipate the selection of the Liberal Association, but whatever candidates so selected would receive the strong support of the league. The letter was signed T.P. O’Connor, president. (Applause.) Mister Kelly having propose the Mr. Ramsay Scott, as a follower of Mister Gladstone, was a fit and proper person to represent them in Parliament, Mr. Barnard moved an amendment deprecating the course taken by so many of the Liberal Association in putting forward the claims of Mr. Scott, and thus splitting the Liberal vote, the effect of which would be to allow Mr. Cochrane Bailey, the Conservative candidate, to be returned. The amendment and resolution, having been put, only six hands were held up for the latter, and amidst loud and continued cheering the chairman announced the amendment carried. Mr. Scott declared his intention not to split the Liberal vote, and the meeting terminated.

Hampstead and Highgate express, 19^th June.

[1] William Ramsay SCOTT (1838-1908), husband of Blanche Emily DARE, and a brother-in-law of Sir Thomas JACKSON.

· In 1871, his wife Blanche Emily DARE, was still in Yokohama, where she gave birth to their son.

· March 28 1874: "The Queen has been graciously pleased to make the following appointments: ...Thomas Scott, Robert Little, William Ramsay Scott, Esq. to be Members of the Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements.

· In 1886, he came in a distant 2^nd in the local election at Hamstead. In 1887, he was a representative of the Liberal Association of Hamstead. As an indication of his politics, see: Leaseholds: Press Reports, and Comments Upon Mr. Platt's Evidence Before the Town Holdings Committee. 1887. The law in England should be as in Ireland—- “That no rent shall be allowed or made payable in respect of improvements made by the tenant or his predecessor in title, and for which, in the opinion of the Court, the tenant or his predecessor in title shall not have been paid or otherwise compensated by the landlord or his predecessor in title.” The Irish Land Acts have established the principle that tenants are entitled to compensation for improvement to, and the right to sell at the end of a lease, the house built by or paid for by the owner of the house, or occupying tenant. For the national welfare, we want to be contented. To secure this end, the essential point is, to establish upon an equitable basis the respective rights and mutual obligations of men. The claim for dilapidations when a house is going to be pulled down is iniquitous —yet it is the law. It was contested, and decided against the tenant, upon appeal, by three Queen’s Bench judges in a recent case of Inderwick v. Leach. He suggested the formation of a Leaseholder’s Defence Association, and advised people to make the leaseholds question a test one at the next election. They must agitate, and he claimed the merit of having set the thing rolling. (Applause)

Mr. W. Ramsay Scott said there was no question of greater interest than that of land in all its forms and phases. He perfectly agreed with Mr. Platt that the question should be made a test one. He should be glad to give Mr. Platt any assistance he could in forming a Leaseholders’ Protection Association.

[2] J.W. BOOTH

[3] H.M. ACHLEY

[4] BOLTON – possibly his brother-in-law Charles James BOLTON, a sea captain born in Singapore. Not much is known about him yet.