May 27, 1896.]
FAMINE IN KWANGSI.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAIYLY PRESS,'
SIR, During my recent visit to Kwangsi I advised H.M.'s Acting Consul in Canton that great distress for want of food prevailed in the province, which bordered on famine. It was a common thing in the country to 8 2 children of both sexes offered for sale in order to obtain money to buy food. Since then I am informed from most reliable sources that a famine has developed in all its most terrible form and that children are being killed and eaten. It is hard to believe such an awful state of things, but from what I have seen myself three months ago, when domestic animals of every kind, rats, mice, &c., were eagerly bought up, I am satisfied that the information is only too true. With a view to send some relief I
have consulted Mr. D. Norowjee and he has agreed to bake ship biscuit at cost price for any one who will send him an order for this chari-
table purpose, and as I propose to proceed again up the West River about the 10th June I shall only be too pleased to take the biscuits with me and distribute where the most distress is
apparent. I consider that biscuit is the very easily carried and does not turn stale. It will usstain a man for several days and allow him to walk into outlying districts where food can be obtained and prevent the risk of his breaking down and dying on the way. All orders for
best article of food that could be sent; it is
biscuit to be sent direct to Mr. Norow jee's Bakery and I shall gladly acknowledge receipt
of all contributions of biscuit or other bread stuffs, tinned meats, &c. ́ ́
Thanking you for inserting this letter. Yours truly,
JOHN ANDREW. Hongkong, 22nd May, 1896.
·CELEBRATION OF THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY AT AMOY.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
pany, was ended, one could not help being proud to be one of those who can claim allegiance to Her Majesty, whose reign has been remark- able above all others; and her representative, in the person of our Consul, worthily keeps up England's prestige in Amoy.
[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.] Although Amoy is a port of importance on the China coast, yet to the stranger it gives the impression of being somewhat quieter than some of the other coast ports in which British capital has been sunk with such success. But beneath the seeming quietness of this little port there is much activity, which must increase by bounds now that Japan has set her seal upon Formosa.
On the evening of the 20th inst. the good people of Amoy threw business cares away and joined the genial Consul, Mr. C. T. Gardiner, in celebrating Her Majesty's birthday by a social evening concert. Mr: Gardiner and Mr. King welcomed each guest, and the visitors were con- siderably surprised at the artistic way in which Mr. Sullivan-the community's right-hand man in the matter of keeping order had ar- ranged the flags and other devices, and one would have been aesthetic indeed who criticised his efforts.
4
THE RICE EXPORT TRADE IN THE PHILIPPINES.
RESTRICTIVE DUTIES."
The following memorial has been addressed by the Manila Chamber of Commerce to the
The programme was divided into two parts and the first item, the Gypso Rondo," by Haydn, was rendered by Mrs. Law, who showed a technique and touch which the audienec warmly appreciated and an encore was demanded. In the song
The stone outside Dan Murphy's door," the Hibernian instincts of our friend Mr. Sullivan showed themselves to great advantage and the audience could not refrain from bois- terously joining in the chorus. One must not forget the charming way in which Miss Mc- Gregor sang the "Rowan Tree" and "The Lost Chord." both of which suited the compass of her vice admirably. Amongst other good things Mr. Clayton's song "I attempt from Love's sickness to fly" appealed to every heart in the company. Parcel's music has a plaintive way of appealing to one, which was accentuated by Mr. Clayton's rendering of this beautiful song.
Secretary of State for the Colonies at Madrid:
•
Sir-The Chamber of Commerce of this capital, in accordance with articles 2 and 4 of the Royal decree of the 19th November, 1886, which established in the colonies official Chambers of Commerce, Industry, and Naviga- tion, respectfully represent to your Ex cellency
*
That by article 6 of the Royal decreo of the 5th July, 1895, there was imposed upon the export of rice a duty of $2 per 100 kilogrammes. As soon as telegraphic notice of this decree was received the Committee of the Chamber sought an interview with the Intendant-General of Customs. when the subject was extensively discussed, and duty on rice would greatly disturb the producers the unanimous opinion was that the said export and consequently canse considerable prejudice to the country. This opinion was shared by the Intendant-General of Customs, who, with his customary zeal, stated that he would, with all possible activity, endeavour to secure the suppression of the said duty.
Mr. Boyd must be thanked for his two songs and to say that the audience appreciated them would be unnecessary. The songs of the Misses Saunders must not be hastily passed over. "In the Chimney Corner was very finely sung by Miss C. Saunders, who put a naiveté into it which con- siderably improved the old tune. The last item, a glee, in which the artistes of the even- ing joined, was ably given and when the National Anthem, sung by the whole com-
|
The Chamber has heard nothing further as to the result of these efforts.
According to the general principles of political economy products should not be charged with export duty, but should be placed upon foreign markets under the most advan- tageous conditions possible. Rice, being charged' with the duty in question, could not be ex- ported to any market, and from this it would necessarily result that its production could never be incroased to those respectable proportions which the prosperity and well-being of this country demand in so far as this important branch of agriculture is concerned.
451
product of this country; but it appears im- possible that any profit could be made out of foreign rice imported into the Philippines with that object, because before it could be despatched from these islands for Caba its price would be increased by the import duty, freight, insurance, landing and transport, charges, which would have to be paid in Manila and which would reach considerable amount, making such a trade very precarious and exposed to loss or very meagre returns.
It is true that for a long time rice has not been produced in sufficient quantity to satisfy internal requirements and it has had to be im ported from abroad, but the establishment of rice cleaning mills at various points where the production is greatest, which has stimulated the production in greater quantity and of better quality, has resulted in immense advantage to the producers, who formerly had difficulty in selling their paddy at reasonable prices and were obliged to clean it by primitive and laborious means in order to place their rice on the market. The installation of ma chinery avoids this labour and its ulterior consequences, the owners of the machinery buy. ing the paddy at acceptable prices, and from this results more animation, the extension of the area under cultivation, and greater produc- tion. But, while this profitable development was in progress, before the activity of the producers had been carried to its highest pitch, and before the new industry of rice cleaning by modern machinery had re- couped itself for the initial expenses inenrred in its establishment, appeared the order im- posing a duty of $2 per hundred kilogrammes on rice exported, which has dashed the hopes of those engaged in the industry, who see that the duty will close the ports to the export of rice, a business which should follow the installation of the machinery referred to, which, as will be seen, should promote progress in two directions, one commercial and the other industrial.
£
The trade in home grown rice would be easier and safer, and, even if it be supposed that in certain cases trade might take place in rice from other countries, rice which had to be imported and exported would yield import and tonnage dues. Nevertheless, the frand practised upon the country of destination by representing foreign rice as the product of this country, contrary to law and to justice, should not be tolerated; but the way to avoid it, without burdening trade with duties and restrictions, is to allow the free export of rice, so that the rice cleaners and growers may receive a powerful stimulus to increase their labours and thus augment the home production, there- by irremediably diminishing the importation of grain and by this means making the country no longer tributary to other countries in this branch of production.
Your Excellency will recognise the disap- pointment and the injury which this Customs decree has occasioned as well to the paddy growers as to the rice cleaners, the effects of which will extend throughout the whole country and directly affect the funds of the State.
The exaction of the export duty referred to is no doubt due to a laudable zeal to provide against a trade in foreign rice not in conformity with the spirit of our national customs laws, namely, sending foreign rice to Cuba as the
The fact that rice mills have been established
is an evident proof that they intend to deal in the inland provinces at a distance from Manila
deal with imported rice they would have to be with home grown rice, for if they intended to
located in this erty.
In view of the abore reasons the Chamber of Commerce requests your Excellency that you will move the Government of His Majesty
to
suppress the Customs duty of $2 per-hun- dred kilogrammes on rice exported, established by the Royal decree of the 5th July, 1895.
Manila, 24th April, 1896.
COMMERCIAL WAR BY SPAIN ON AMERICA.
The Manila Comercio suggests that in view of the leaning shown by the United States to. wards the Cuban rebels Spain should make commercial war upon America and that the Philippines should participate in it by abstain- ing from the purchase and use of American oil and American flour.
The article opens with a eulogistic reference to the placing of merchant steamers at the dis- posal of the Government for use as armed cruisers, and then proceeds-But side by side with this must be noted the spontaneity with which at many places in the Peninsula and colonies important Spanish houses engaged in the im- port trade have cut off their mercantile rela- tions with the United States and counter- manded orders already given, notwithstanding the loss they might thereby sustain. In adopt- ing this course they have no official instigation, nor has a war of tariffs been declared, which the Government will only do with caution and in conformity with the national dignity and inter- national law, keeping it in reserve for an op- portune moment. But commerce, in its liberty of action, has not emulated the prudent conduct of the Government, but has declared war against the United States. We also, in this the most distant of the Spanish possessions, feel this patriotic impulse and we reject North American products if they come direct from North American ports consigned to Spanish houses. But the trade in these lines, as -in the case of many other goods of foreign production, is generally carried on with the free port of Hongkong, by Anglo-Chinese stores and firms, and our mercantile protests will have little effect on Yankee trade. Let us follow our brothers in Europe and Americs and not rest satisfied until we have proscribed from our stores petroleum from New York and flour from California. this cannot be accomplished directly at least we may demonstrate," although to the pre- judice of our neutral neighbours at Hongkong, that we look with disfavour upon goods bearing American marks of origin. Oil and floor are the principal articles of American production im- ported. Rather ought we to give the preference to Russian oil, which is the cheaper, rejecting American marks, which are only in favour on
If
: