FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1929.
K.R.A. AFFAIRS NEW MEMBERS OF COUNCIL CONGRATULATED
""PARISH PUMP" AFFAIRS
THE CHINA MAIL,
TRAMWAY CO.,
Bus Service Begun
would have been incorporated in the Ordinance a clause, which would have afforded them some measure of protection just as clause 27 of the Tramway Ordinance affords the
the company.
I do not think there is any thing further requiring special comment and I how beg to pro- pose
Mr. A. H. Ferguson sald:- In rising to second the adoption
hold on the imagination, will hold its own for short trips and for feeding air routes and the rail-
(Continued from pags 1.) ways will be left with the heavy long distance transport. The lay
"That the report of the direc- Shareholders will, I feel sure, out of a railway and location of
'tors and statement of accounta for the year 1928 be adopted as the termini is governed now by a want to know why this important Government and the publle protec
presented and that a final divi- The annual meeting of the different set of conditions from and advantageous route which may tion and redress in the event of in-
dend for the year of 80 centa Kowloon Residents' Association those which obtained thirty years be termed the "Queen's-road con-efficient or insufficient service by
Footing in Kowloon
per share is hereby sanctioned." was held yesterday in St Andrew's ago. Up to thirty-three years cession" was not granted to this
When this has been seconded I Although I am dealing with the Church Hall. Mr. E. Cock, ugo the motor car was limited to company. In reply to that I can' M.B.E. (President) was in the a walking pace and led by a man only say that we applied to the chair, supported by Mr. B. Wong with a red flag; thirty years ago Government four years ago for au- year 1928 shareholders will be shall be pleased to answer to the Tape (Vice-President), Mr. E. no man had flown in a heavier thority to provide either a motor glad to know that the company best of my ability any questions Abraham (Hon. Treasurer) and than air machine and scientists bus or a trolley bus service along has obtained-at reasonable cost which shareholders may wish to
"Paving Burden" Mr. C. M. Manners, O.B.E., (Hon, could almost prove by analogy the route in question and that Gov-a footing in Kowloon by the ask.
and otherwise that large aero-ernment replied (in March 1925) purchase of the Kai Tack Motor Secretary).
operate with the approval of Addressing the meeting Mr. planes, like the ostrich, would to the effect that Queen's-road was Bus Co. which we commenced to Cock said:-In the past twelve never fly. So the judgments of too narrow and that "the present the Government-as from - Jan- | of the report and accounts I wish to months the Committee has work thirty years ago, pinning their tramway supplemented by jinriki-uary 1 this year. Thus we have call attention to one or two points had exactly two months' experi- to which Insufficient attention ap ed along the lines of its predeces faith on railways, were right in shas appears to be sufficient."
their time. But their time has! sors and we have endeavoured by passed and the sooner we see this
We applied again in August 1927 ence of working this small under- pears to have been paid. The first is Constitutional methods to bring to and act upon it the better for us.
but received only a formal acknow taking and shareholders will be the question of road maintenance. It pleased to hear that-so far is not sufficiently realised to what a the notice of controlling powers
Congratulations
the expenses have been less and great extent tramways relieve local any matters which we think re-
I have strayed quite consider- Feeling that it was only Queen'a-the. receipts have been greater road costs. Tramways are oporated quire redress or any suggestions ably from the "parish pump." I road West that was regarded as than we estimated. The fleet com- under an archaic Act of 1870 which which can be made for improve-read in some of the newspapers too narrow we applied on Febru- prises 16 vehicles-fortunately requires that damage which at that
Speaking generally no action is that the K.R.A. are not represen-ary 24, 1928 to operate a service all of one make, and a very good time was caused by the hoofs of i
tative. This is no new thought between Blake Pier and Taikos make-but this number will be horses which pulled the trams should taken by any individual member It has been given me both public-vin Queen's-road Central, Queen'e increased very shortly, indeed be made good by the tramway opera- without the approval of the Comly and privately during my year road East and Caroline-road but four new chassis for our Kai Tack tors. In Great Britain and Hong mittee. Now, once a policy has of office. We are, we have always this too was turned down. service are due to arrive here Kong this ancient and indefensible been decided upon and approval
In June last however our appli- from England today and we have clause still obtains and the paving given of action it would appear to been, just a body of men each
run buses been authorised by the Police-as of the two tramway tracks in addi. be plain sailing, but a perusal of with our small stake in the Colony cation for powers to
our own tram soon as these new buses are avail- tion to the paving of the clear-way the correspondence regarding the collected together of all national-anywhere along
was Banctioned.
We can able to extend our present ser between, and also margins of 18 Nath-road will show that it is what we think is for the public therefore if it is thought desirable vice in Kowloon by operating on inches on either side of the two cutting down of the trees in itics living in Kowloon to forward t at times very difficult to direct good and I'venture to say that run buses to and from Talkoo, route No. 9 which is during rush tracks must be carried out and main- our enquiries straight to the con-selves we have a claim on public
even if we only represent our-but not via Queen's-road. hours along Nathan-road between tained by the tramway proprietors cerned department since we may
An order was placed for six 25-Star Ferry and Mong Kok Police in spite of the fact that the wear not be aware to which depart-support. We have not sought to enter buses as soon as we were Station. Hitherto the activities
be in the Councils of the Empire the case quoted, we arrive too the retiring presidents in 1924 run them and these were put on have been confined to routes which possibly competing) vehicles In ment we should write and, us but we do wish Kowloon to be and certain we should be permitted to of the Kai Tack Motor Bus Co. and tear is caused by other (and
ment.
Jate.
I
| ledgment."
The
This,
has
America this anomaly has been rec- tified in a number of cases and re- llef from what is known
as the "paving burden" has been obtained
Road Surface Expenditure in many towns.
In this connection my attention was recently drawn to a letter which appeared in the London "Observer" of January 18 last on the Tram v. Bus controversy and in that letter was stated that it cost the London County Council no less than £250 per tram per annum to maintain the surface of the streets in which their raths are laid, as compared with only about £100 license duty paid by the bus.
L
In Hong Kong, therefore, since the license daty is only about $24 per bus, I do think that in view of the royalty this Tramway Co. pays annually to the Government and the further large contribution it in- directly makes in relieving the Colony of considerable road surface expenditure, it should have been con- sidered and consulted before any other company, when the desirability of motor buses along Queen's-road became apparent to the Government. The argument that the competition which we see to-day between the Hotel Co. and the Tramway Co. is'
Hear, hear), fair competition is not tenable.
"Sense of Equality"
any part of and 1928 made reference to re-the road on November 5. At the did not include
outset they operated along the Nathan-road. Fruitless Correspondence presentatives for Kowloon.
The Accounts Since 1924 we have made little must confess that I thought they tram track between Western Mar-
With regard, now, to the ac- progress in the matter of improv- were rather progressive at the ket and Happy Valley but, latar, ing the Star Ferry approach and, time and I take the opportunity of the Captain Superintendent of counts of the year. A new item from
our experience regarding congratulating them on their fore- Police gave us permission to de-appears for the first-time in the
sheet presented. the trees, we were afraid that if sight and, I am now speaking on viate somewhat from the tram balance we pursued the ordinary channels behalf of the K.R.A. I most track and from November 10 the assets include the item "Motor we might become involved in a heartily congratulate the Hon. buses have been maintaining a ser-Bus Account $66,851.55.” fruitless correspondence with the Mr. Braga and the Hon. Dr. Tso vice between Wing Lok wharf and of course, relates to the six buses Public Works Department and so on their being made members of Happy Valley vin Connaught-road, on the Happy Valley-Connaught Murray-road, and thence along the road route to which I have already we asked if we could be given the Legislative Council.
tram track and Warchaf-road. made reference and includes in particulars of the proposed lay Support Promised
Praya East Reclamation total, the depreciated value of out before we went on to matters For those of us who may form
Recently we have been authoris-the vehicles, their stores, equip connected with it. The Director of the new Committee I have the Public
Works kindly gave the authority to promise them every ed to operate buses along the new ment, etc., the working balance Sub-Committee an interview and assistance in our power, both are 75 feet road on the Praya East Re- and sundry items.
The year, inclusive of Interest showed us Scheme K-Presum-members of our Association and, clamation and a further order for
placed and Investment income shown in WAB accordingly ably the eleventh. This is an ex-while we hope to preserve our buses cellent, though rather expensive separate entity, we shall keep last November. Compared with Profit and Loss Account, lay out and we were at a loss to them fully informed of our acti- Queen's-road our bus route is lean yielded a total revenue of $1,955, know why it included the cutting vities. Our full Committee con- but having regard to the short 914.34 and this is $75,526.94 more away of a considerable amount of nists of eighteen members besides time we have been running and the than in 1927.
At the same time, it will be ground on the north side of Salis those holding office-our average general circumstances the Direc bury-road when, on the face of it, attendance once a month during tors are able to report that whilst understood working expenses also it would be easier and cheaper to the year has been 70 per cent.; earnings go far are not large the tend to increase. We have had work on the south side. It came if the year has not been so fruit-results are not considered unsatis in operation more cars and work- ed a larger mileage, than in any out that the land on the southful as we have wished, we have factory.
previous year and necessarily side was
under the control and aimed at the stars even if we have Before leaving this section of more or less at the disposal of only hit the trees.
my speech it may not be out of employed more labour, and, in the Railway. So the Railway And I thank you kindly for the place to say that on the occasion keeping with the requirements of authorities can say, apparently, confidence and help you have of the visit of the Japanese Fleet the continued efficiency of your without any regard to public re-given me.
last year as our contribution to-undertaking, a very full repairs and renewals programme has quirements or desires that a Mr. Cock proposed the adopwards the entertainment of the
been maintained. hoarding Jay be put up and a tion of the accounts and report. Colony's guests-we
The balance of these several gave 26,000 Mr. Wylie seconded and the free rides on the tramcars to the increases to both sides of account garage erected, and otherwise
motion was carried unanimously. Japanese sailors. their land is inviolate.
is on the credit side but you will
To be absolutely fair it seems to Land Control
Election of Officers.
The Company's Case
observe in the depreciation item The Chairman proposed that
me the Tramway Co. should be I propose to deal briefly with the that for various reasons it has allowed a considerable reduction in Now, if this is so it is wrong. Mr. Manners should be. elected subject of unfair and unnecessary been considered expedient this the terms of their street surface It is wrong because it causes un-
President. Mr. Wong Tape necessary expense and it is wrong seconded and the proposal was competition to-day on general lines year to charge a figure that ex- because it along the obviously proper lines. Mow Fung was elected vice-pre-
stops development carried unanimously. Mr. F. Crather than, with other less inter-cecds last year's by over $17,000. maintenance, and in the sense of esting matters in connection with After allowing $49,176.69 for Gov-quality it appears only right that The case is made worse when one sident, Mr. Abraham Hon. Tree-your company. I say unfair com-ernment royalty, the net result in the matter of payment of royalty considers that many more people use the Star Ferry approach than surer and Mr. C. E. M. Terry Hon. petition because this company has, for 1928-namely, a profit of the bus companies and the trame
Secretary.
during its quarter of a century of $970,940.85 as shown in the re- should be brought more into line. they use the Railway. The fact The following were elected to operation, fully carried out its port of the directors-amounts, derstand why the Hong Kong Hotels, obtrudes itself that the Railway
Improvements have therefore, to $11,897.43 less than serve on the General Committee: obligations, stands in the way of the best de-Messrs. C. M. Manners, F. C. been and are being constantly in 1927.
Final Dividend." velopment of Kowloon. It appro- Mow Fung, E. Abraham, C. E. M. made in the care and track and priates quite one half of the Terry, E. Cock, B. W. Tape, B. general service; in fact, during the Including the balance brought glad to have your assurance, Sir, waterfront of the toe of the Wylie, F. J. Easterbrook, W. J. past ten years alone the amount forward the sum now available that the Tramway Co. is in no way Peninsula, it has over one and a Stokes, F. W. Stapleton, R. of capital spent in extending the for appropriation, after deduct to blame. It is only reasonable half million square feet of valu-Pestonji, H. F. Un, J. M. Alves, requirements of public service in ing $390,000 for interim dividend that the Hotel Co., for their patrons able land lying idle, it practically J. H. Hunt, O.B.E., W. J. Brown, this way is no less a sum than already paid and $68,000 written at Repulse Bay, thould arrange prohibits access to the most Lai In-to, E. C. Tregilus, W. $2,500,000. We not only carry off against the item Goodwill and transport to and from town, or be southernly aide and it has piers Goldenberg, the Rev. J. H John-passengers at much less than the Construction Expenses, is $765,- tween their two hotels on the Island about three times as extensive as ston and Captain C. B. Riggs.
but I can see no more justification fares specified in the Ordinance 789.17. the public piors and which are
but carry them for such a long The Board recommends the pay. In the Hotel Co. operating buses in scarcely used at all. I can only
distance at B five-centis fare ment of a final dividend of 80 open and deliberate competition that по bus company could cents per share, which will absorb with the Tramway Co. (and. more a parallel route) remain $520,000 and carrying forward especially along solvent. We maintain (which the balance of $245,789.17 to next than in the Tramway Co. building an where it is because some day it
CHILDREN
otherwise the Government would year.
hotel and competing with the Hotel may be possible to get into the
This, making a total dividend Co. train at Kowloon and get off at Originally charged in connection have to maintain) large partions of
(Continued on Page 8.) Paris. This will be good if it with an armed robbery at a matahed the main roadway between Shau-of $1.40 per share, is the same as doesn't come too late. If it does at Kang Hau, Shatin, on December klwan and Kennedy Town and in the for the previous year, come will it matter very much to 9, 1928, two Chinese who were dis last two years alone wo have paid the traveller whether he embarks charged at the last Criminal about $100,000 in royalty to the at Kowloon Point or Hunghom? Sessions, where they stood trial to Government. To those who may Meantime, China is developing gether with two other men who were think that competition in publie roads and making more and more convicted and sentenced, were re-utility eqncorns such as gas, elec use of motor transport.
arrested and yesterday taken before iricity and transportation is good 1 Via Kowloon Point Mr. T. S. Whyte-Smith at the Kowwould say that this is not the viaw
loon Magistracy.
of the ruling authorities in England What a magnificent motor vehicle terminus, the existing men, was one of harbouring two
The new charge' against the two to day.
Then and Now
CRIMINALS JAILED
touch lightly on the question in the time at my disposal. I have been told that the Railway is HARBOURING TWO KIDNAPPED possibly
achleve and
Railway Station would make, and children who were kidnapped during To those who honestly think that
what an excellent solution to the the robbery. traffic problem we are considering,
the doom of the tramway is immin- After evidence had been heard, in ent let me commend a fresh perusal with a future far exceeding any-which the story of the robbery and of Mr. Bernard's speech is this zoom thing that the Railway ever had. This in connection with and kidnapping of the children was re- at the annual general meeting In travel. What of the air? Where counted, his Worship convicted both 1926. What he told you then re- will one land in an air liner and accused and passed sentence of 12garding the unquestionable super-
how proceed to the city?
Is
Surely via Kowloon Point.
be travelling to Paris by air long
It a bold prophecy that we shall
months' hard labour each.
U.S. BILLS
before we can do so by railway? NAVY SUPPLY PASSES BOTH
Let us try to imagine the traffle
some years hence. There will un- doubtedly be rallway traffic, motor
HOUSES
Washington, Yeesterday,
car and air. The first needs a The Navy Supply Bill has been track, the motor vehicle a track of passed in its final form by the
fority of tramwaya over motor buses
for mass transportation in large
towns, is just as true and unassail-
11 do not prop
able to-day and I do not propose to labour this.
One point in connection with the
Hong Kong situation which should
be borne in mind is that for the
first eight years of this comps existence no dividendnras
but the company-conddant
a cheaper nature and one Senate and the House of Represen Kong's fature devel which can be deviated easily tatives
while the air track, will The House of Representativees undaunted and
he governed by weather con passed the Senate bill known as the
ditiona
Different Conditions
The Appropriatiation, Penalty
It is likely that air will be the Bill, providing more stri cheapest, it already, is the quick alities for Infti
eat travel for passengers and
Prohibition. LARGE
light valuables. It is likely that go to Trees Co the motor car, which has such
American Barvica.
It has been difficult for me to un-
obtained the Ltd., should have Queen's-road franchise, and I am
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