Page
سام
NEW 1929
GRAHAM PAIGE SEDAN and TOURING MODELS
Touring from $2,300-Seda from $2,550.
Sale Distributors for Hong Kong & South, China:
KOTEGATE & CO. Pedder Building, 3rd floor. Telephones C. 93 and C. 741.
China" Mail
No. 27,179 HONG KONG,
BLISHED
1845
WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1929.
MOTOR TAXATION | ABUSES ON RIVER DENYING HANDWRITING? MOTOR TAXATION
OPPOSED
STEAMERS
SUBMISSIONS IN TREASURY CASE
FEAR OF CONSEQUENCES
Napoleon Of Forgery But A Tyro
TRIPLE PERSONALITY
"HASTEN SLOWLY" TRENCHANT REPORT
POSSIBLE EFFECT ON THE COST COERCION IN ENGAGEMENT OF
OF LIVING
INCREASED BUS FARES?
MASTERS
SUGGESTED GUILD ACTION
The following report of the At the meeting of the Legislative Council to-morrow afternoon the River Steamers Commission, 1928, Hon. Mr. J. P. Braga, pursuant to has been issued by the Govern notice, will ask the following ques-ment: tions:-
PRICE $3.00 Per Month.
FIRE BRIGADE
"INEFFICIENCY" OF THE RANK AND FILE
OUTCOME OF CRITICISM
At the meeting of the Legislative Council to-morrow aftercoon, the Hon. Mr. J. P. Braga, pursuant to notice, 'will ask the following ques- tions.
1,000
"Your
Eyes Are Bate With Us"
N, LAZARUS Hong Kong's Only European Optician
Established Over Forty Years). Manager:—RALPH A. COOPER, Registered Optometrist by Canadian Govt. Exam, F.LO. (London) (Personal Attention).
GOLF CANTON REPORTS OF
SUCCESSES
GUINEAS CONTEST
RECORD BY HAGEN
FINISHES BRILLIANT DISPLAY IN
A RAINSTORM
LEADING SCORES
London, Yesterday.
At Moortown, Leeds, a powerful
KWANGSI LOSSES
COMBINED ATTACK LAUNCHED ON EAST RIVER
SURRENDER OF GUNBOATS
Canton, Monday.
The Government Headquarters
1. Has the Captain Superintendent
of Police had his attention drawn field, including several Americans have received a wire from General to the leading article in the and Ryder Cup men, competed in Chian Kung-iai, commander of the "Hong Kong Daily Press" of May the qualifying rounds for the Thou- Cantonese forces on the East River 1, alleging that the standard of sand Guineas golf tournament. The Commission was appointed
front, reporting that early this efficiency among the rank and
Walter Hagen returned a score of taorning a combined attack by the file of the fire-brigade is low be- cause nearly 50 per cent. of the 69. He bunkered at the first hole, land forces, gunboats and 15 aero- force leave the service every year taking five, and went, on to play planes was simultaneously directed by dismissal, resignation or de-perfect golf until he dropped a sgainst General Shu King-tong's
and is that statement se-stroke at the short eighth hole. He troops at Shek-lung.
To-day is the sixteenth day of the hearing of the case brought 1. In view of the weight of public in accordance with the terms of by the Treasury against the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Cor-
poration.
The Court room was again crowded with interested spectators long before the Chief Justice came on the Bench.
Mr. F. C. Jenkin, counsel for the defence, in his final address, reminded the jury that men can and have been known before to have 2. denied their own writing. It might have been that they honestly could not recognise their own handwriting, or that it might be for fear of the grave consequences which might follow.
COUNSEL'S PREFACE
Prefacing his address to the jury, Mr. Jenkin said that the surround- ing circumstances of the case might have had grove results to people whose nanies had cropped up during the proceedings. He would, therefore, again reiterate that he
many
would in no way say or adduce any thing which had no reference to the ease, and that in his address he would carefully avoid mentioning names unless they had beating on the action. He had no ulterior motives, and the views which he was going to impress upon the jury were views which had been largely held by a number of Govern ment officials themselves.
opinion against the recommen- the proclamation contained in the dations of the Committee sp"Government Gazette" of Novem- pointed to advise on the taxaber 9, 1922, to consider: tion of motor-cars is it the in- tention of Government to pro- ! ceed with legislation on the lines of the Committee's recom- mendations?
If so, will the Government delay any legislation until it has had time to receive representations which the recommendations in question are likely to call forth from the Automobile As- sociation, the motoring and oil trades and transport companies operating in Hong Kong and Kowloon, and other intereste affected?
tion about them. They were writ-13. In the consideration of the afore- said recommendations will the ten with freedom and had in them all the individual points of
Government keep in view- genuine ones.
the
expressed
{u} & Very generally
opinion, to which prominence
(a) The status of River Trade eer-.
tificates as Master and Mate Issued by the long Kong Gor erament,
(b) The agreements made between owners and master and master and crew and the notice to be given to terminate these agree-
ments.
of
(c) The system of engagement and and discharge
payment wages of native seamen,
(d) The method of meaturement of River Steamers fot passenger certificates.
(e) The carriage of large numbers of free passengers as commis- sion agenta.
system of embarkation of passengers
and loading of
(1) The
cargo.
(g) The employment of uncertif-
cated pilota.
2. The first meeting was held
was given in a leading article on Wednesday, November 28, 1928, of the South China Morning and at 5 subsequent meetings the Post" of May 2. that "one of evidence
the primary needs of the taken. Colony is decentralisation-de- velopment of suburban residen-
of 18
witnesses was
3. The report presented here..
tial areas particularly and for with was discussed and decided
this cheap transport is essen-upon at a meeting of the Commis- tial";
sion held on March 7, 1929..
(b) the possibility of an increase in 'bus fares affecting the masses on whom the proposed taxation may fall most heavily and who are least capable of bearing it; (e) the further rise in the high
Some Raritles Commenting on the alleged forged signatures, counsel pointed out their; various features, their characteris- ties, and said that for a man to com- bine, all these, that man must have had a triple personality. A forger who had made himself familiar with the signatures simply by process of process of copying them could not a direct have done it. On each signature different peculiarities were to be found -pecularities which could be found on the genuine cheques.
Counsel then went into the vari-
to Mr. (d) reference ous points in Messer's signatures at some length and emphasised the fact that Mr. Messer had said in evidence that with the exception of one case, he had never made an "E" formation. with the words "CL" This "E" formation was to be found in two of the disputed cheques.
Canon Wakefield Comsel said that he would wish the jury to bear in mind that men could and had been known to deny It might their own writing before. have been an honest mistake or it might have been through fear of the grave consequences which might follow. He eited the case of Canon Wakefield. He said that the Canon was seen to have entered an botel with a young lady. He was taxed about this and, knowing that the consequences, if found out, would be very grave, he denied It. A seanch of the hotel's register revealed this entry": "Wakefield and wife." Canon Wakefield alleged that the words "and wife" were not in his writing and suggested that they had been added to his name hy a mali- cious person. An expert of hand- writing, Mr. Michell, was exiled, who said that if the writing was not that of the Canon it must have been written by a very skilful forger.
Denial Not Conclusive
Counsel then asked the jury if it i was conceivable for a man to have ence made that formation to that in all his life he had introduced that peculiarity only that once? It was true that one cheque with that been found, but peculiarity had there might be others.
it
However, Mr. Messer had made that "E" formation on August 27. 1927. a considerable time before the alleged forgery, therefore stood to reason that if there was 1 man who could again reproduce that rarity, that man must be Mr. Messer himself.
Mr. Black's Signature Demonstrating on the blackboard | the various strokes and formation
be found in Mr. Black's signa- tures, counsel.said that if the signa- tures were forged, the farger must have made very careful observation
5.
The Origin of the Inquiry
4. The total number of British River Steamers sailing from Hong Kong for riverine ports on Nov-
2. Is it considered that the wages took three putts at the eleventh, offered to firemen are such as to and holed a five yarder at the four attract suitable recruits to the teenth. He finished in a rainstorm service, and have any complaints with four perfect fours. regarding the wages paid been Golden (America) tore up his brought to the notice of the au- card.
thorities?
3. Besides the guestion of salaries, what other, grounds, if any, exist for dissatisfaction with the con- ditions of service in the Fire Bri- Rade
the Sub-department of Police?
Rainfall to 10 am. 0.06 inch 1929 rainfall..... 9.19 inches
Average
.16.16 inches
Deficit
Leading Scores
W. Hagen (American)
Al. Watrous (American) Leo Diegel (American) Abe Mitchell (British) A. Compton (British) Bert Hodson (Could Leslie Cotton
Ed. Dudley (American) J..Atkinson (Lees Hall) Aubrey
Boomer (Paris). V. Ball (Lancaster)
Tom Barber (Cavendish)
Jurado (Argentine)
Park)
F. Robson (Cooden Beach)
C. Gray (Willingdon
Geu. Duncan (British)
6.97 inches
W. T. Twine (British)
Don't waste water!
AMALGAMATION.
TWO CHICAGO CONCERNS UNITE
ENORMOUS CAPITAL
Chicago, Yesterday, The directors of the National
ember 27, 1928, was 28. Of these, Bank of the Republic and the cost of living in the Colony; were trading to Canton and 14 Chicago Trust Company have ap
and
the indirect blow at the free-trade to West River porta and Macao, proved of an amalgamation of the two concerne, with total resources policy of the Colony, on which whilst 6 were laid up.
his
its development and prosperity 5. During the years 1927 and of $200,000,000.-Reuter's Ameri- were founded, by penalising one 1928 no class of motor-car manufactur-Courts were held
fewer than 7 Marine can Service.
in connection ers in favour of another?
with River Steamers, and, of Does the Government realise that these. two were serious casualties adoption of the recommendations resulting in the sinking of skips. of the Committee would be This compares with two Marine tantamount to increasing the Courts held in connection with taxation on the average car in ocean going steamers during the the Colony by over 200 per cert, same period. thus tending to reduce the
In addition, 8 Summary convle- efficiency and excellence of the tions against owners or masters public service of motor-cars at
were recorded. present conducted by owner-
6. The irregularities, referred drivers
discouraging, and through enormously increased to indicated that the standards of these ships. and more particular- operating costs, private owner-
ly the smaller ships running to ship?
Wuchow and Kong Moon, might: What was the actual quantity of be inferior to those usually ob petrol Imported in Hong Kong taining in British ships and vari
in 1928 and what is the estimatous peculiarities of this trade re-
quired investigation.. -
ed quantity for 1929 and the value thereof?
IDLE LIST
BRITAIN'S MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM
London, Yesterday, The total number of unemployed
"If Mitchell could put it as highly as that when dealing with only two words what would he not have said in this case when many features of both Mr. Messer's and Mr. Black's signatures were to be found in the three disputed cheques," counsel asked. He went
Thus it would be seen that the on to say that a mere denial was not conclusive, and when such a denial hypothesis of forgery was totally Jadoul, was
of Mr. Black's signatures. The registered on May 6 was 1,132,700, algnatures on the three disputed being 31,108 less than in the previ cheques were not identical, and yet,ous week but 28,000 more than a although they differed, they bore all year ago-British Wireless Ser the features to be found in Mr.vice.. Black's genuine signatures.
The Belgian airman, Captain killed near Nivelles,
came from persons who were con- out of the argument, because if the when his machine crushed from a cerned, then the jury would have to signatures were forged, it would be height of 1,200 feet. also consider the expert's point of reasonable to presume that the for- view as well as the general circum- ger had one specimen; and, that be stances of the case.
The Zele Tubize textile factory,
ing so, he could not put out three in Belgium, has been destroyed by fire. The damage is rated at a
If the jury were to couple the signatures, all varied, and yet all two points, they would assuredy find bore the features of Mr. Black's high figure.
Furthermore, these beyond a shadow of a doubt that the signatures. signatures were genuine. There variations were also, to be found might have been a probability that among the bundles of genuine both Mr. Black and Mr.
Messer cheques, were honest in their belief that they had not signed those cheques.
Napoleon and Tyro
Master's and Mate's Certificates
7. The terms of reference will now be dealt with seriatim.
(a) The status of River Trade certificates As Master or
ཤྲཱྀ་
--
Mate...
(1) These are local certificates, and their validity is limited to River Steamers plying in the waters and deltà adjacent to They are issued Hong Kong. subject to local regulations made in 1918. The qualidca- tions for obtaining either of these certificates are much tu- ferior to those requited for a foreign going certificate as 2nd
()
י.
Mate.
Evidence as to the origin of, or necessity for, these certi ficates was not obtainable, but it is apparent that there is no present or prospective. shortage of officers, and, should this eventuality
it is consider arise, ed that the better qualified off- cers with foreign going certi ficates of any grade could more. ably all any deficiency,
(iii) It is noted that there are no corresponding river trade certi- fleates for engineers
(iv) We recommend the abolition of River Trade Certificates without prejudice however to the present holders, of whom only 3 are likely to seek em- ployment.
ther or not the signatures were One striking feature to be found those of Mr. Black-and it must be in one of the disputed cheques was remembered that he had once pro- also to be found in a cheque signed duced that particular feature and by Mr. Black about eight months in a cheque writter eight months before the forgery or could the signatures be the work of a highly The jury would do well to bear skilful forger? If it was the lat-(b) with genuine ones, the first impres-in mind that once a cheque was sion one would gather was that the issued by the Treasury, it ultimately ter, then the forger was not only Signaturee were those of Mr. Messer found its way to the Bank, and that he produced an obsolete fer- skilful, but he also lacked essentials and Mr. Black. The glaring facts there it would lie. That genuine ture. "Can that
To look at the signatures on those before the forgery. cheques, and then compare them
could not square thesis of forgery.
Agreements. With Owners The agreements made between
owners and master and the master and crew and the notice to be given to termin
with the hypo- cheque was written eight months be counsel asked, conceivable," ate these agreements,
fore the disputed cheques, and yet)
If those signatures were forgerica one of the rare features was to be
Mr. Jenkin then dealt at great: the man who did it must have com- found on one of the alleged forged length with Tsang Un-wing's hand- bined in himself the qualities of cheques.
writing, remarking that that was That point was skill and stupidity. In other words, significant, because it tended to not included in the pleadings. he must have been a Napoleon of show that whoever the forger might Properly speaking the Court was
very
only concerned with the signatures,
forgery, possessing the stupidity of have been, he would not be able to but the question of the handwriting get a specimen signature embodying
was so important that he could not that particular feature
This then left two hypotheses for allow that point to be left out. the jury to consider. One was whe
[Case proceeding.]
a tyro.
The striking feature to be found on all the three signatures was that there was not the slightest besita-
(i) Masters are frequently engag⚫ ed on an agreement terminable at 24 hours notice and the Commissioners are of the opinion that such casual oc- cupation does not - always at- tract ས good type of officer
And that the fear of dismafonal frequently restricts any action which a master may consider necessary when the interests of a ship are opposed to those of the owners. It may be noted however that the evidence of
J. Turness (American)
Horton Smith (American)
T. Green (Copt Heath)
D. Freeman (Thorpeness)
S. Brews (S. Africa)
R.
Bailartine (Moortown)
C. Whitcambe (Crewshill)
E. Whitcombe
(Bournemouth)
A. Young (Sonning)
A. Havers (British, unattached)
W. Davies (Wallasey)
T. Cotton (Langley Park)
H. Crapper (Harrogate)
R. Whilcombe (British)
LADIES, CHAMPIONSHIP
Reappearance of Joyce Wethered
After an hour's fighting the enemy retrested in great disorder in the direction of Changmutoh and Waichau, losing 1,500 men captured and disarmed.
The Government troops and aero- planes are now in hot pursuit of the 70, enemy,
Kwangai Casualties
Canton, Yesterday. At 9 o'clock on Monday morning, the Canton gunboats, on arriving at Da Ma-hou, discovered. Kwangsi: boats landing troops at Kou. Hou, 74 near Samshui and immediately
opened fire on them.
74
Two enemy towing motor boats were seriously damaged, and over 20 junks (carrying provisions, fire- wood, and military equipment) were captured
The Kwanggi gunboats "Chin Kang" and "Yain Kang" surrender- ed to Admiral Chan Chak.
The large number
of Kwangsi
troops slain and wounded can not
78 yet be ascertained.
76
76
76
After the engagement, the Gov ernment, gunboats steamed as far
78 as Kwangi without encountering.
80 any more Kwangsi troops.
London, Yesterday. At. St. Andrews to-day it was cloudy for the second round of the masters was not unanimous in Ladies' Golf Championship. condemning this practice.
Miss Enid Wilson beat Miss (ii) The Hon. Attorney General
was consulted with regard to Gardiner (Royal Portrush), 5 and the possibility of introducing (4. legislation to ensure the em- Miss Glenna Collett beat Miss ployment of masters on more Bryant (Ashford Manor), 3 and E. reasonable terms but opinion was unfavourable, main- Miss Joyce Wethered, who kas ly on the grounds of interfer- not appeared in the Championship ence with the freedom of con- since winning in 1925, beat Mrs. tract.
Madil, of Hermitage, 8 and 7. (iii) The - co-operation
H.B.M.
Miss Holline beat Miss Ramsay Consul General, Canton through the medium of the Canton. Con- (Aldmouth), 4 and 3. sular District Regulations 1915 (amended if necessary) wouldMrs. Bell (Littlestone), 6 and 5- be of material assistance in encouraging owners to select enitable masters and we sug gest this channel be further in- vestigated.
Native Seamen
of
(c) The system of engagement and discharge and payment of wages of native seamen, (1) No objection is reen to the continued use of the form of the agreement provided by
Miss Boothby (America) beat
Reuter.
JAPANESE LEAVE
J
PEACEFUL EVACUATION OF SHANTUNG
CHINESE REPORT
Nanking, To-day.
Pursuing the Enemy
There Jeho official
the East River front beyond the port from the
River East front
the beyond
fact that: General Shu. King-tong's troops are being followed up by the Kwang- tung troops in two different direc- tions, namely, Chang Mutou and Waichau.
Fall of Kweilin & Pinglo
Wuchow, Yesterday."
It is rumoured that Kweilin and Hunan troops without any fighting... Pinglo have been captured by:
Samshui Held
Samshui, Yesterday. Samshul is still in possession of
the Kwangtung troops.
The situation is quiet.
Hunan Thrust
Shanghai, Yesterday.
A message from Changaba states that, under the pursuit of Hunan forces, the Kwangsi-ites have re- treated to Tachunkiang, near Kwei- lin.--Reuter.
Fukien Aesistance
Nanking, Yesterday.
It is stated that Chiang Kai- shek has telegraphed to Chang Tseng, the garrison commander in south "Fukien, to advance to Merchant Shipping Act (usual Dr. C. T. Wang, Foreign Minis Kwangtung to assist in the anti-
ter, has received a telegram from Kwangei expedition.
Commissioner for: Foreign Affairs in Shantung re-
include
ly known as the Articles) Lo such terms as may be
upon between the Chinese mutually agreed the Master and the crew. (ii) It
Threat from Yunnan
It it reported from Yunnanfu It is apparent that the Articles porting that the withdrawal of that Lung Yun, with twenty thou- are generally incorrectly kept Tapanese cavalry between Tainan sand men, is advancing towarda and that, owing to the preval- and Chowtaung was completed Kwangsi to participate in the
ence of the system of substitu
tion, the names on the articles yesterday morning. Chinese troops anti-Kwangsi expedition-Reuter. give little Indication of the have taken over the garrison
Vessels for Wuchow of the men actually on dutics. identity
Judging by a notice to mariners board.
Peace and order were well main-issued by the Harbour Master yes- (i) To obviate this and to induce
cident.-Reuter.
KIDNAPPED
The 8.5. "KO-
**Tai
по
for Wuchow Ming" Jeft Bunday evening under escort, this being in the nature of an ex- periment, the apthorities stating that if it proved successful, an- other convey would leave for Wu- chow. soon
the engagement of capable aas- tained throughout the process of terday, the convoy to Wuchow has men it is considered that dis- evacuation, and the transfer was been a success. charges should be insisted on effected smoothly and without in-chow" and the 8.8. in accordance with Ordinance No. 10 of 1899, section 5 -(9). Discharges should be continu- отв and should include s method of identification of the persons to whom they are is sued. This system is in force in India and has been adopted on their own initiative by a number of the more prominent shipping Companies in Hong Kong and we see no reason why it should not be adopted offcially.
SON OF A CANTONESE GENERAL
SHANGHAI OUTRAGE
Shanghai, To-day, Hau Shih-toh, the twenty-year-
The text of the notice is as fol- Howa:
The following has been received from the Naval authorities:-
(iv) It is constlered that the Mas old son of General Hsu Chung-chi,Convoy for Wuchow will leave
ter would have more control who was Commander-in-Chief of First Cliffs at 6:30 am on Thurs
over a more permanent crew
and that various irregularities the Cantonese Army in 1925, wasday, May 16. would thereby be lessened." kidnapped yesterday morning.---
DISARMAMENT
(v) The fact was elicited that the Renter.
crew is generally largely in ex- cess of the number for whom accommodation is provided and we recommend that the crew sigted on should be Umited to. the number for which space is certified, any persons carried "being technical 1*** passengers."
crew other
(vi) The Merchant Shipping Ordin-
PRES. KOOVER AND U.S. PROPOSALS
Washington, Yesterday.
It is understood that President ance requires amendment to Hoover is of opinion that no further permit of the engagement and discharge of, and payment of disarmament action can be takez waged to seamen in the form until the Naval Powers have made
and manner provided by the a more detailed study of the Ameri- Blerchant Shipping Acta.
(Continued on Page 79
can proposals submitted at Geneva. -Reuter's American Service.
Return convoy will leave Wuchow on Monday, May (20. Conditions as for last convoy
given in previous notice."
OCCASIONAL RAIN.
This morning's weather re- port from the Royal Observe tory stated:
Pressure is highest in the Pacific to the east of Japan and relatively low in a trough ex- tending from Indo-China to the Caroline Islands.
Forecast E or varibale: winde, moderate; cloudys ge- casional rain.