Workers' living quarters | discussed at Dairy Farm
Arbitration session
The Dairy Form Arbitration Tribunal, at the fifth
.}
ta.live at Pokfulumā
day session yesterday, hoard statements on liv. | mry for men working at Pokfulum ing quartors provided by the Dairy Farm Com- pony for its staff at Pokfúlum. The workers' representatives' told the Tribunal that the quarters provided were insanitary, over- crowded and unsatisfactory.
The Arbitrator, Professor R. Robertson, said the Tri- bunal had considered the advisability of going out to the Farm to see the accommodations for thomsolvos.
}
Sitting with Professor Itobert-¡ number of 582 workers who had Son were six assessors, three of free aunters provided for thent, whom were nominated by the represented 47′ per cent of the Dairy Form Company and three total of 1.237. It was not the by the workers.
number who had dependants liv- ing with them.
The Company's nominees were Mossen, J. R. Jones, H, R. Cleland and D. Black, while the workers' nominees were Messrs, Lau [n- kwan, Tong Wal and Chan Man- hon.
Mr. J. D. Thomson and Mr. G. Ming, General Manager and See- letary respectively of the Dairy Farm Company, represented the
Cormany.
the Thiry Farm Workers Union. Mr. Woo Kau and hir. Yeung Yan, were the spokesmen for the workers.
The proceedings yesterday opened with further representa- tions inade by Mr. J. D.Thornson, General Manager of the alry Farm Company
on the workers household budget.
The Arbitrator suggested at the outset that It would be botter Mr. Thomzon would make his re-
Continuing · `his question Mr. Jories, asked whether, in regard to other workers who must live ́at Pokfulum, the Company Πανα them assistance in finiling suitable Recommodation.
Family purposes
"If no quarters are given to them;"İkey” have to find their own.sccommodation,"
replied. Mr. Thomson.
BIL
*
THE CHINA MAIL, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1050.
Mr. Frank Grover.
Tragic death of Mr. V.G. MacDonald recalled at inquest
The circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Mr. V. G. MacDonald; Assistant United King- vidom Trade Commissioner, in Hong Kong Hor-
bout almost two years ago were recalled yostor- day at an inquest into his death at the Kowloon Magistracy with Mr. James Wicks sitting as Coroner,
Mr. Frank Groves Mr. MacDonald, who was returning from a cruise to
leaving Colony
1
Ping Chau Island aboard his yacht, the "Felix Valens," with his wife and a friend,Mr. Pierre "Are the quiriers provided for
Mr. Frank Groves, Vice-Pro-
De Jong, on June 27, 1948, was drowned off workers, buchelor quarters or are they adopted for reasonable fami-sident and General Manager, Green Island when he fell overboard while at- ly_purposes?" asked Mr. Jones. India and Far East, of from the best accommodation at Kong tomorrow accompanied
Mr Thomson replied that apart American Express, leaves Hongtempting to fit an outboard motor to his craft.
"His body was never recover [him and told him to take off his the Farm, the other might be by Mrs. Groves by the Pre-ed.
clothes but he got no response. termed bachelor" quarters, How-
Decensed, he said, seemed to be with all the usual amenities at 30 workers accommodated
"Are these quarters equipped ever, he added, there were at least aident Polk, and will inspect
At De Jong, accountant, in stunned." He said that he held the Company's offices in the evidence, said that at 11.30 a.m. him while trying to swim on his In workers' quarters, such as, say, quarters quarters in town, who had de Philippines, Malaya and India on June 27, 148, he and Mr. and back,
en route to New York viu Mr MacDonald left Causeway provided by the Hong Kong Pendants living with them. Electric
"What proportion
these Europe. of Company for
Bay aboard the Felix Valens for a staff?" asked Mr. Chan.
quarters are bachelor quarters and Mr. Groves will continue to cruise to Ping Chau Island where Mr. Thomson replied the quar-how many are married quarters"
be in charge of the Indian and they anchored off shore unt ters provided were workers' quarAs I have replied,, 195 of the rican Express Company, but will started to return to Hong Kong.
[Mr. Thomson was further asked
Far Eastern offices of the Amo- shortly after 8 pm when they
Kong. He expects to be visiting in New York instead of Hong
the Colony at the
end of the year together with the President
are to be found
their
ters, but he could not say whe-
of the Company..
Mr. Groves has been associated with India and the Far East last 24 years for the
and his headquarters have been in Hong Kong since 1937, except for three and a half years internment in Manila.
board motor broke down and was carried aboard for repairs. A-tiller was replaced and alter repairs to the motor, the iller was taken out
While Mr. De Jong was taking eller along the side of the craft toward thie bow, Me. Mbc- Donald was trying to rent the motor, in its place. When he was at the how with his back toward Mr. MacDonald, he heard a splash and turned around, and saw de ceased in the water. The outboard motor also went overboard.:
Witness Bald Urat by this time he had swallowed a large amount of water himself and that-he and the yacht began to drift noticed a strong tide and windy
farther apart. le continued that deceased slipped from. his hands. Deccosed disappeared.
After swimming around spot for sometime, he struck off picked up by a passing sampun toward Green Island and was before he reached the island.
Coroner, witness salt that he met In reply to, a question by the Mr. MacDonald only two dinys before the accident.
MI. Leung Wing, Chairman of ther they were the same as thors workers have dependants living | henceforth make his headquarters when near Green Island the he, finally, could not hold him and |
provided by the Hong Kong Elec- these could be classified as marri
with them, and I assume that tric Company,
"You have just said that 1,000,-
ed cu
quarters," he answered. "And what do these quarters 000 people are receiving ration rice.
Have you enquired how consist of?" asked Mr. Junes. many Dairy Farm
workers are
Mr. Thomson-replied that of receiving such rice?
those at the form, of which there Mr. Thomson said he has not were five separate blocks, each made enquiries on this point, but had a room plus kitchen serom odded he did not see why they madation, with outside offices. should not be drawing ration rke.
"Would you say that these Mr. Tonk Wal, another of the uarters are adequate for a faint- workers
toy of one wife and one child, as assessors, referred presentations In the form of the enquiry made by a depart-provided for in the workers' bud statements and comments rather ment superintendent of the Dairy get of $332.357" asked Mr. Jones.
by cross-examination.
be said that for Farm Company, regarding reus Mr. Thonison said that refer-nald by certain Dairy Farm wor- the 195 workers I have mention Ting to the survey of June 1948, kers. Does the rental of $15 loed, who have dependants living the pattern of household expendi- 50 a month apply to a bedspace with them, they can be said to be ture on page 59, the budget figure or
sultablo as married quarters. The submitted by Mr. Leung Wing of
"Four for bed-spaces and -four. others may be called
bachelor $333.35 comes
within category for cableles," repliest Mr. Thom-quarters," replied Mr. Thomson. three of that pattern, and the
And is that the reason why "And the eight workers who these quarters are given without forward to their return, if only Donald appeared to be tresiding West of Green Island at 6.30 p.m., ask Mr. were questioned. What category | any deduction from the workers' 1 for a short visit, at the end off water and that the next thing he sold that he was hailed by-the}
than
Pangs
ì
Lon
cubicle? n
of workers were they drawn from? "They were dairy workers."
"It can only
salary"
is $200 and $348. "would like to Leung what category of wor kers's concerned in this dle-
"It's a very old custom, this pule-whether they are in the
"Are they living at the Farm practice of providing free quar¬ main skilled workers, semi-or in the city?"
old custom dating ters, a very aklited, or unskilled. I wish to "One at Poktulum, one in Kow-buck to the time when early mar make the point that the budget loon, and others in the city inning work was the order of the to which I have referred is not related to the types of workers In the dispute, the majority of whom are in the unskilled cate. gory, and this will be substan. tiated later on by wage sheets and other information."
Rice 'ration
cluding East Point."
"Have you asked workers who live in the city?
"Eust Foint is in town."
"The Dairy Form Company has more than 1,000 workers. Why
replied Mr. Thomson.
all the questions he wanted to
Mr. Jones then sold these were
ask.
Cow-sheds
Mr, Lau lu-kwan then resum-
was enquiry made of only eighted his questions. persons. And can the average of| hir. Thomson has described the "Mr. Leung has said ration rice $20.00 a month be said to repre- best accommodation., How about is not it for human consump-sent a reasonable avarage tion and that only three per cent paid by all the worker rental the worst? What are they like?"
of workers in the Dairy Farm Mr. Thomson replied he had Company are in possession rice submitted these Ugures which re- ration cards,
presented only Fome of the
Always Groves won the Colony Cham plonship in 1937, the Hong Kong Golf Club Championship in 1040 and that of Shek O Country Club in 1938. He was an un- official Justice of the Fence.
Mr. and Mrs. Groves will be missed by their many friends in the Colony, who wish them a very pleasant journey and look
Д keen golfer, Mr.
the year.
!
Bombings, blockade cause chaos in S'hai
(Continued From Pago: 1)
!raa
Just before they left, Nationa- it, planes dropped leaflets over the city announcing ~~a-/'great raid" during the Chinese New Mr. Thomson replied that in Year holidays. They do not know soma cases one or two cow this bas
materialised," but sheds not in use. were being Shanghal, they think.. will be'un- used as quarters.
able to withstand many moro raids.
What is the number, of these best accommodation' available?
"With a view to finding out, the workers. exact position I have Interviewed Here Mr. Yeung Yan, one of the Rice Controller who told me the Dairy Farm workers' repre- Mr. Thomsen said he would that more than 3,000,000 persons sentatives interrupted and told the have to make a survey first, and are at present drawing rice under Tribunal that workers at Windsor he would not like to commit him- ration cards, and that further House paid rent ranging from $70self at this stage. 160,000
persons are registered un-to $50 a month. der a scheme of rice rationing,
Mr. Thomson
then touched upon the item for rent in the
workers' budget.
acouрy
. . '.
Overcrowding
Mr. Laa Iu-kwan, continuing his questions, asked whether proa
Limit reached The people there,alter nine months of precipitate decline,; Mr. Chan Iu-kwan asked whe- have reached the limit; and are ther those cow-sheds were being scorching for succour qu used as...living quarters-because there was a shortage of accom. mudation at Pokful
Catholic properties have been-commandeered by the-Com-
they said, and the Aurora-
Mr. Thomson said there were inversity will be taken over by
"Mr. Leong Wing has told the vision of free quarters solved the Tribunal that only 10 per cent workers problems of accommodat no quarters and it was just a of the workers concerned in
tion entirely. this disputa
and whether the question of making the best of provided by the Company. May and equipped
quarters quarters provided were adequate what was available.
with necessary Mr Tong Wal asked if it was a the arrived at hla
fact that these quarters were conclusion? According to the amenities.
"Mr. Thenison replied that he without light and water, to which analysis forms -submitted by
admit there over Mr. Thomson replied this was the the Dairy Farm workers undor
crowding th. Pokrulum, but ease with some of but where the recent Registration of
Per.
overcrowding there was no worse i waler was not laid on t sons Ordinance 1949, under
within very easy access which
than elsewhere in the Colony) authentic information
The Arbitrator
"And are these then said he
quarters fit for must be furnished regarding:
would make it quito clear as to workers to live in?" asked Mr. stall quarters, a total of $1 out -DL.1,280-workers are occupying people. provided
the
only too in to have "They are only too glad them,
It seems to me," replied Mr. Thomson
-According to young
summer.
mar.
The Communists
encouraged
|
Mac-
Police search
The Felix Valens was also towed to 'Green 'Island by a junk Donald. whore, wilneas rejoined Mrs, Mác-|
Witness sald that. Mr. Donald said to him as he was taking the tiller to the bow:"Be careful that you don't fall in Sub-Inspector G. N. Davitt, who Witness said that Mr. Mac-12 about 500 yards to the North
was on board Police Lauch ¦ No. ;
did was to throw him a rope but yacht and the incident was re- that, deceased was not able to grab. hold of it. Deceased was about 30 feet from the yacht.
Diyed in
Meanwhile, he called out to Mrs. MacDonald who was in the cabin at the time, and asked her to help work the boat around. Then he said, he put out a puddle in an attempt to reach Mr. Mac Donald,"
ported to him,
Inspector Davitt said that he searched the area for about three quarters of an hour' but found no trace of the body..
He returned to the scene aboard the launch after discharging Mrs. MacDonald and Mr. De Jong at Blake Pler and towed the yachti to the Kellet Island Yacht Club,
He said that he continued to Mr. De Jong said-that at one search the area' until 9 p.m. but stage deceased could have grab- | still found no trace of Mr. Mac- bed the paddle had he awamra Donald's body. He added that the few paces but he made no at. body was never found. tempt to do so.
At the time of Mr. MacDonald's death, he was 41 years old and had come to Hong Kong from England only Ave months pre- viously:
Witness continued that serising something wrong, he dived into the water and swam up, to him He grabbed hold of him, shook
Reminders
t
Today
orphans of the Salesian Institute, run by Catholle fathers, to turn against the priests Students of the Catholic-run, College do Steel Francois Kavier have dismissed RK Rotary Club luncheon, Roof three of their teachers because of Garden, HK Hotel, 12.30 p.m. "Treegularities, angle ucap tional p programmes
Tbo
arrivals said this series of British Council sponsored Icclure happenings points to a stiffening
on English Social History of "attitude towards missionaries, unt they expect to proper Catholic and Protestant proper tles will be taken over for
וי
In
Towards The Welfare of the
State" by Mr. G. B. Endacott Council Library, 6.30 p.m International Affairs Study Group, talk on "Some Aspects of International Co-operation in the Far East" by Dr. E. 3. Kirby; PRO - Lecturo Robm, 6:30 p.m.
?
each of these 195 were given to farm workers! The core roi's the Na: HQLF Sergeants Mess, Queen's
they
quarters provided by the Com Thomson, he said, 582 employees pany
other;drastic "jand taxˇlgrdúc "However, the total as shown of the Dulry Farm Company were on the salary sheets is 1,237 only.
provided with living quarters. Of "Mr. Tong then asked to what April, and they expect the Con and it would appear that certain these 180 st the farm and 30 else category of workers were the munists to take advantage of the dully workers have been included where have dependants! living quarters with kitchens allotted to inability of some missions to
to meet to seize their, holdings. by mistake.
with them. However, wat mar which Mr.Thomson replied they
unhappi- "If we deduct this difference of dependants 40 from the total shown as be-workers nur
Hur living
with
hilat i "Any conditions attiched to ing in occupation of quarters pro- not
tionalist known
blockade The and the Beginning of air raids Road, East, Whist Drive, S vided by the Company, this re-
of mpiadinint "No Mr. J... Jones then questioned
are given
Church duces the total under that head- Mr.
antiual stration have contributed to it... St. Andrew's statemention Thomton on
entirely This
This
Year New Chloess lag to 582, which represents 47
there must be a certain have been the blockest in the "But there and living
at Church Hall, 8.30 must quarters, it per cent of the total of 1,237. "You mentioned that eight mer class
of workers who get this bet
Kowloon Union Church Women's These forms, aro.on file in the were questioned and from their ter accommodaton, what I mean city's historyale
guild meeting, 10 am. once and are open to inspection answers: it was ascertained that to that only foremen are given The arrivals had no idea how
The situation.
will evolve, but love Chinese YMCA, free film shows, by members in this dispute.... the average. rental paid was $20.00 these
replied that phasised, has been virtually dis- Nine Dragons Services Club,
Bridge's Street, 3. p.t
"Another point in connection with quarters to which I would payment for rent of all the work-re are given the batter, sinisipated by the series of disasters Whist Drive, 8 p.m.
The libération has beert exposed the perso
beginning to perceiva ple-are
of enslavement."
Free quarters“
like to refer, is that these quar- ters are provided entirely, free to
rent
a month. You do not mean to day. that that represents the
quarters receive the same rates of
the workers. Those occupring free :
"not."!
dt:
That
Fot.
Masked Mr. Tong the Communists, :thers, e='[R
not
andy foremen and sub-foremen average
arcomumodation ~ butvalso a large
the aver
:average I just eight of them" means it cannot be taken as a general; average; But I take On the question of dependants it that, bst-statement was, trade living with workers Me Thomson in answer to Mr Leig's categori sail that 105 familles living in cal statement that the lowest reat quarters at Fokfulum ihaver de bold by a Dairy Farms worker is pondents living with them, while 384 month.
replied Mr. Thom of those accommodated in free. "That is so,
cliewhero 30 familles son. E quartera have dependants.
Registration forms Moner than kakid how th statement abdut quarters was compiled to which Mr. Thom mon replied the figures were ex
As regards rent paid by wor kers. not living in free quarters, Mr Thomson said following the last neving he had a department al superintendent question car- tain.members of the staff. In; all! cight men ware.questions.
and's they gave
Tontul figures paidi by them as ranging from-$15 to $53
a" month, which
ich gave an averner
TOMORROW
Dragons Services Club,
of cowboys and their as a myth, and thing pean) Coming Events "What to the larger number the fofemen and sub-foremen, or the ordinary cowboys??" asked Mr. Tong, found on this
"The cowboys,” replied Mr. Thomson,
been edequately cons into, at least Nine
at this aftérrison's honring. It fas of course a bearing off the on- HK jquires buts an19:50 Aminoesbeiting; There are other more important Nullah water e
matters which th
the Tribund h his Mr. Leung Wing, mukud (if if to take late recount
Jsince we have WAE fact that the workers at
to tako down Pokfulum, had to nullah water,
other..matterson
well, we uch this character
those
which Mr. Thomson explied connot city Lavater from the main was
מאפה
yatacask the FAI
Ex
Macdonnell
Film 5how, 8 p.m.
Art Club; Monthly hibition, St John's Cathedral **** Hall, 10 ** a.m. to 6 pm.
(admission-froe)........ Toc meeting.""60
Road, B
8.30.pm European" YMCA ) Debating and Discussion Group meeting. Open Forum, 843 pm.
Connell gjensored lecture
Procedure
Couns
muyarlamadacont
la no city Water 13 Want "But it thro tracted from the forme. which und the workers have to
use nule whether he will just on toy by Me. C. B. were returned by the Company's Inh water, what woun Mr. Thoma what Mr. Thomson says and take se, cil. Abrary, 3,30 p.minimal amploysos under the
41AME-SİDRİ," without--Katoning to | European_YMCA...Woman's Sec- Profesor Robertson Intervened tis," asked Mr. Leung.
Hop, Whist Drive, 10, n.m.} {** wore fled with the and
пос Professor Robertson explained Commissioner of Registration
since Mr7/Thomson had ox-that he cannot bean argoments,UES THURSDAY:
water dvall but only to take note of what is Kowloon notary Club Luncticon,
| fact and what is not"fact, Ques- tions have been all-to-Mer Thom someone from
share son as to the type of water, avail- Chad recently.
en was then quas they were not compiled by the past; questio
statoriont
the Assessors on the
Tu-kwan,
(one of
tha
„Henordina
tër alusõessors, questioned. Mr. vided by lie
the nguros, ho i had en
the numbers mam?". dependants living ingev
that the 47 ho
by the workers sind!
quarters pro-
sable
hat Alosable at the Farm When the WayHalamMayasiitute, 5.80
workers representatives conslide
the
{!!I hops that:wberi: We
is afkids and an answer
Peninsula Hotel, 13.30 p.m..
Council weekly”film show,
YMCA Guest Night,
Club
Hearing was adjourned untit | 9.30 this inorning.
Seven Chinese were fined $15 by Mr. A.DiScholes at Central yesterday when they pledded
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