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leading shipowners would support -
that they considered would in ran prove detrimental to British but 80 far we have been left ithout any statement of the shipowners' views as regards differential freights. Bit THOMAS SUTHERLAND when he referred to the transfer of trade from London to Continental ports had an excellent op portunity of dealing with the subject, and we regret that he did not avail himself of it. He says that anything approaching to well-informed criticism, or honest criticism, without an animus behind it, this Company would welcome, and endeavour to cover any deficiency that might possibly be shown to exist." The criticism on the policy of favouritism shown by British honest shipowners to the foreigner is and without animus. We all hope that the Brand O. may go on earning its handsome dividend of ten per cent,, but at the same time we would like to see it earned with fair play accorded to the British merchant in competition with his foreign rivals.
II.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
7
the
somewhat
experiences
January
even the Canal dues and stevedores expenses out of earnings. What the merch really wants is not a policy of cut-throat rates, which on the whole does him more harm than good, but steady rates on a reasonable basis. As an instance illustra-here and tive of this it may be mentioned that when which the author seems the rates to New York by the direct do better to avoid. steamers were reduced recently to meet when one trips in mat outside competition the tea rate to London represents totally opposite feelings was reduced from 40s. to 358., and both in tertained at one and the same time, as in
following passage." She seemed quite Hongkong and Shanghai representations ened at first, but after a time I allayed were made by tea merchants requesting that her fears and forgot all about it. We both no further reduction might be made, the tried to cheer one another, but it wa reason of course being that tea which had most dismal failure. And when we said been shipped at the rates prevailing at the good night neither of us could speak, commencement of the season would be de- anguish has no expression, only
silence." If the author succeeded in preciated in value to the extent of any the young lady's fears so far as subsequent decline in the rates of freight about it how can the attemp and the loss would fall on the merchants other be described as a most dismal interested. The same argument applies why should such acute ang in all lines of trade and as a general rule possible explanation of a slip like it may be said that steadiness in freight ever, may be found in the fact book has been printed in Germany rates is as important to the merchant as steadiness of exchange, fluctuations in either Mr. Halcombe may not have had introducing an element of uncertainty that tunity of revising the proofs.
lady referred to in the above assage was more than counterbalances any temporary Chinese damsel whose acquaintance Mr advantage which may be derived. The policy Halcombe had made through mutual friends. of the shipowners, as regards the homeward She was wealthy and well educated but, as trade from China, has therefore been to not unfrequently happens to young women secure uniformity as regards the rates in China, was spirited away, her aunt being to London and Northern Continental ports suspected by Mr. Halcombe of being and to maintain them at the figures concerned in the crime. Mr. Halcombe made strenuous efforts to find his young friend agreed upon. In this they have been and engaged the services of a Chinese private successful, for the time being at all events. detective for the purpose. In his search with As regards the outward trade, it is not so easy to obtain information at this end as to the policy pursued and the reasons for it, exasperating as it may be to see goods shipped at cheaper rates from Continental than from British ports, it may be taken for granted that British shipowners are anxious to see uniformity established in out- ward rates as in homeward rates, and that they are working for that object, notwithstand ing that they do not see their way to make the rates from England conform to all the fluctuations of rates from Continental ports. That the object in view may be speedily attained must be the earnest wish of all interested in British trade, for there can be no doubt that the more advantageous terms enjoyed by shippers at Continental ports has promoted the growth of Continental trade at the expense of British trade, and it also seems a natural consequence that as the export trade of the Continental ports is promoted the same ports should also attract an increased proportion of the trade in goods shipped from the Far East and elsewhere.
as
the detective he had rather, an exciting adven
ture, but the young lady was not found. Mr. Halcombe afterwards thought he had got a clue to her whereabouts at Soochow, to which city he journeyed in search of her, professedly in great distress of mind, but able nevertheless to take very exact notes of the principal features of the city and the customs of the inhabitanta, the description being written without any trace of emotion. As a matter of art, in love tales the lover's descriptions ought to be tinctured with his own feelings, the guide book style not being appropriate; and apparently Mr. Halcombe intends the tale of Seou Jae to be taken as a genuine love tale,
In the chapter headed An adventure with smugglers" Mr. Halcombe describes how at considerable personal risk he discovered a smug- glers' place of concealment and effected a seisure that secured him promotion in the service. In this connection the author brings a serious in- dictment against the captains and officers of coasting steamers, many of whom, he says, find it pays to invest in smuggling enterprises, the compradore and tallymen being responsible for the outlay and delivery and arranging all operations.
With reference to the remarks made in this column on Friday last on Sir THOMAS SUTHERLAND'S speech at the annual meet- ing of the P. & O. Company concerning the transfer of trade from London to Con- tinental ports, we learn that it is not the fact, as represented by us, that British ship- owners favour continental shippers on the homeward voyage. A great deal has been said about the advantages offered to Con- tinental shippers on the outward voyage, and we believe with justice, and, as will be remembered, the committee which a short time ago conducted an inquiry here into this matter, in response to Mr. CHAMBERLAIN'S circular with respect to the displacement of British by foreign goods, found as a fact that the cheaper rates of freight prevailing from Continental ports was one of the causes of such displacement. As regards the homeward trade, however, the facts are as follows. Since early in June Inst the rates from Hongkong and China to London and the Continent by the British and Con- tinental lines have been arranged on the same basis, the only difference being that the rates by non-Conference lines have been net cash while the rates by Conference lines have been subject to a deferred rebate of ten per cent. Within the last few days this has been altered and the London and Continental lines (with one exception amongst the latter) charge the same to Lon- don and the Continent subject to a deferred rebate of ten per cent. It certainly was true formerly that the rates by the Continental lines to the Northern Continental ports were lower than the rates to London, but in these days, it is urged, Great Britain cannot
Mr. HALCOMBE was formerly a member of the expect to obtain the whole of the carrying staff of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs, trade of the world. The Continental lines and having been stationed at varions ports, and were determined to get some foothold and being possessed of an observant eye, reflective with that end in view were prepared to quote mind, and facile pen. he is able to give us rates at ruinously low figures. The same interesting descriptions of his wanderings and thing obtains in Great Britain and elsewhere suggestive comments on the more notable that transpired during his re- when a new line outs into some old-estab- events
sidence in different localities. After some lished business, and in America we are con-
Turning to stantly hearing of the cut-throat policy of years spent in Australia and Africa Mr. from the chief of the
Halcombe arrived at Shanghai in the year rival railway lines. At present 'we are as- 1887, and before he joined the Customs. description of the "boy 3"
that the Continental lines are as
he was for a short time on the staff of thepeal to residents in Chins ious to maintain rates homewards as North-China Daily News. He was afterwards At the month's anyone else. During the greater part of the successively stationed at Chefoo, Amoy, sented to you, generally
1 to in Sir. THOMAS SUTHER- Tamsui, and Hoihow, and he gives descrip- boy, purporting to be an acou peri LANI
rates to London from the tions of all these places, as well as of your expenditure, whic
Sooohow, Canton, and Hongkong, ^^and | judg Straits aver from 58. to 88, per ton of 40
narrates his personal experiences. Included cubic feet; and if a Continental steamer in the volume are also one or two Chinese chose to copt less, which is doubtful, legends, well told, and a few miscellaneous it is not ensy to see who could have articles on Chinese topics. Several, of the prevented it, nor how the owners could pay | chapters have previously appear
REVIEWS.
Sometimes the whole crew, from captain to cook's boy, are 'in the swim, especially on German steamers, where the officers usually receive very small salaries, signing on at home, and not receiving the usual China Coast stipend. Lon-Under the circumstances, they can hardly
blamed for trying dollars.
The Mystic Flowery Land, A Personal Narra-
tive. By CHARLES J. H. HALCOMBE. don: Luzac & Co. 1896.
|
make out
ten
cases In nine captains and chief officers of are paid to not saves an
smuggle pidgin' that goes on aboard. they have to do is say nothing, be a and short-sighted at times, hospita the Haikwan man,” and merely dollar note which is laid their pillow or
differ
uggl
at its total, you Then you turn fire into him
indiguation, and ho
turbed y oice
magazines fan
with
You become painfully
llowing
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