March 16, 1901.]
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CHINA ÖVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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94
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concerned it is almost a blank. The troubles in Chinese trading community. An influential Preferential Tariff, and with the Amoy North China, which will render memorable the petition in favour of such registration was bor and the British Minister at Tokyo closing year of the past century in the history presented by Chinese merchants and traders subject of the discriminating duty- of foreign relations with the Celestial Empire, here to the Registrar-General in 1882 and the toa in Formosa, with a view to divertin osused a practical suspension of the diplomatic reasons for that action obtain still. It will no trade from its accustomed channel, through intercourse with the Chinese Government, which doubt be one of the duties of the Committes to Amoy and Hongkong to Japanese porta. At. has fled to Hsianfu, the distant capital of Shensi. ascertain the views of the Chinese on the our last annual meeting Mr. Herbert Smith Upon the dreadful massacres and outrages on question at the present time. A proposal for was elected to fill the vacancy in the Legislat Europeans, which culminated in the historic the creation of a monopoly for the collection of Council caused by Mr. Whitehead's absence Blege and heroio defence of the Legations at ashes in the harbour which was submitted to leave, but he resigned in the course of two months Peking, I need not enlarge; the details of that the Committee by the Government seemed to when the chamber elected Mr. J. Thorburn, who anxious time are too well known, too fresh in them a rather retrogade step, and calculated to still represents us, pending, the return of Mr. your recollection, to require recapitulation. aggravate the evils it was hoped it would abolish, Whitehead. There have been few changes Nothing more monstrous than the attack on the and I believe that the Government have recog- the committee since its election. Mr. Herbert Legations in Peking is recorded in modern his nized the cogency of the arguments of the Smith was replaced by Mr. D. R. Law and M tory. It is a matter for thankfulness that the Chamber on this subject and abandoned the idea. H. M. Bevis by Sir Thomas Jackson on movement against foreigners inaugurated in the An opinion was also asked by Government as to return from England. You will have North did not spread through the central and the desirability of improving the lights at the a new Committee to-day. Several of the pre- southern provinces, where the viceroys have dis- approaches to the harbour by the substitutiɔn sent members do not seek re-election, amongst played coolness and discretion, and have saved of the Cape D'Aguilar for the Green Island whom I may mention, Mr. D. R. Law and my the situation. But although we may congratu- light, and that of Green Island for the one self, as I am leaving the colony next week. late ourselves that the anti-fo eign movement displayed on Cape Collinson. The Committee In regard to the Secretaryship, I have only to was confined to the northern provincos and was strongly approved the project, but went some tell you that the work of the Chamber has bee not a national uprising, still the condition of the what further and suggested that both lights carried through with the same care and energ southern provinces leaves much to be desired, should be of an occulting or flash description that we have become accustomed to from. M and no room for doubt exists that the country instead of merely fixed lights, which have on Wilcox for some years, and I do not think that in the Canton Delta is a very hotbed of piracy occasions been mistaken for ship's lights. It is I can say anything higher in his praise than and blackmailing, which, in spite of certain understood that tlie question has been referred that. You will observe from the report fallacious reasoning to the contrary, cannot but home for expert opinion, but the fact remains that we have lost five members by resignation act prejudicially upon trade, and which it that nothing has yet been done, which forms during the past year, three of whom, have should be the object of the Canton Government another example of how a useful measure can left or are leaving the colony, and we have to put a stop to without further delay. It is be needlessly delayed. A suggestion hav gained three members, so the roll is being fairly satisfactory to reflect that the suggestion puting been offered by Mr. Marshall for the maintained Our financial position has con- forward by certain Powers for the withdrawal better control of the Chinese masters and tinued to improve, and since the report of the Allied Troops from Peking in August engineers of steam-launches by adopting a drawn up a further sum of one thousand dollars last was not carried out, and that the powers system of continuous record certificates, the has been added to the reserve fund, which now have presented a united front in their question was brought to the notice of the reaches the respectable figure of $14,000, determination to insist upon the punish- Government, who appointed a Committee (Hear, hear, and applause.) In taking my les ment of the guilty officials. Protracted October last to investigate it Messrs. Marshall of this Chamber of Commerce, while congra and weary negotiations have now apparently and Law represented the Chamber thereon, the tulating the members upon its vitality, I may resulted in the reluctant acceptance by result being that a record is now kept in the venture to express the opinion that, so long as the Chinese Government of the terms for- Harbour Office setting forth the dates of each it does not travel out of its own sphere of watch- mulated by the foreign ministers, and it is engagement and discharge of each certificated ing over and protecting commercial interests, understod that the Emperor and Court intend natire master or engineer, together with the it will continue to be a valuable body for the shortly to return to Peking, where it is to be reason for discharge and all complain's and Government of Hongkong to consult, and alse hoped they will in future be free from the charges against him, together with any punish-be capable of exercising much influence for evil influence which has poisoned their councils ments inflicted by the Harbour Master or good on behalf of all foreign commercial inter- during recent years.” When it comes to actual Marine Magistrate. This measure was urgent'y esta in China. It has become apparent that all settlement, there is reason to hope that the needed to establish a check on discharged and Governments recognise more clearly every year terms will include the arrangement of all out worthless men from obtaining immediate what an important factor commerce is in the standing questions, claims and grievances, the employment after being dismissed for neglect, affairs of nations, and while doing so are more removal of illegal duties on imports, the aboli- dishonesty, or incompetency. Quarantine inclined to listen to the opinions and views of tion of injurious monopolies, and cessation from restrictions have again subjected the ship those engaged in it. I do not recollect, gentle- the continual harrassment of trade by squeezing ping trade to a very sorious loss, which men, any other point requiring remark from mandarins. Foremost among these we look to loss, owing to the annual recrudesc nce of the me now, but, before proposing the adoption of and must press for the abolition of lekin and plague, appears likely to prove a permanent im- the report and accounts, the Committee will be the various exactions levied on foreign post of a most oppressive character. The glad to hear any questions or observations which goods after leaving the Treaty Port. What establishment in this Port of a Fumigating and members may desire to make. (Applause). we have specially to contend for is the Disinfecting Bureau has been made the occasion imposition of one duty on landing which of an effort to secure some relaxation from the will frank the goods to any portion of the Government of the Straits Settlements of the inferior: Another change required, and restrictions imposed on the Chinese passenger Mr. SHLWAN-Gentlemen, it gives me very we trust the Foreign Ministers will insist traffic with the ports of that colony. In re great pleasure cordially to second the adoption upon this, is the abolition of the dual system of ferring to the Fourth Congress of the Cham- of the report of the committee. I am glad to customs which has for so many years had a bers of Commerce of the Empire, held in see from the report, that you have resisted what baneful effect upon the riverine trade. The London in June last, at which a great variety I may call some attempts at grandmotherly Imperial Maritime Customs should be entrusted of interesting questions of immense impor- legislation which would I think have been de with the collection of all customs duties, and a
tance to the trade of the British Empire were trimental to trade and hurtful the busi proportion of the revenue received, in the ratio discussed, our cordial thanks for his effectual ness of this colony. On the other hand I of their individual trade, should be paid advocacy are due to Sir Thomas Jackson, am rather sorry to see that you appear to hayo over to the various provincial governments to who most efficiently represented this Chamber, agreed with the objections of the Postmaster compensate them for the change. All t is is a and took charge of all the resolutions proposed General to the imperial penny postal rate. matter of arrangement and if carried out would by the Chambor, Mr. Whitehead being unable objections which, in spite of his pathetic result in a gain to both the Imperial and Pro- to reach London in time to fulfil the part over the loss of some $19,000, seem to me to be vincial Exchequers by saving a vast amount which he had been good enough to undertake. rather small-minded. Your representative of leakage and wasteful collection, while it (Hoar, hear, and applause) In connection with the Congress of Chambers of Cong would at the same time, by regulating the the subjects that were discussed at the Congress, London was Sir Thomas Jackson, and it taxation on the merchandize, lead to a large | it is gratifying to learn that the much voxed without saying that that part of the work. development of trade in both imports and ex- question of the reduction of cable ratos has don. (Hear, hear.) The
The amendment ports. You will observe that during the year a made some substantial progress, the companies, Bankruptcy Ordinance will no doubt good many subjects of local importance have yielding to the pressure of public opinion, hav-very valuable, but I was rather amused come up and have been dealt with by the Coming decided to gradually reduce the tariff from read it and saw its use of the term “. * mittes. Among these may be mentioned the 48. 9d. to 2s. 6d. per word, subject to the I wondered if the committee had
Amendment of the Bankruptcy Ordinance; standard traffic being maintained. This is a opinion as myself when I attended which was recommended and adopted. Also step in the right direction, however influenced,' sitting of the Commission the registration of the partners in Chinese and it will probably result in any temporary me the honour to nominate me firms, which your Committee advocated con- loss being fully made good by an increased registration of Chinese firms, currently with the result that the Governor traffic. Other subjects of interest dealt with that the word "partner has appointed a committee to consider the ad- in the report hardly require a lengthy re- stood, but I found to my surpri visability of introducing a Bill into the Legis ference. The contract between the British Im- profession, I suppose to lative Council for the purpose. Mr. Robert périal Government and the Canadian Pacific their services, have not yet Shewan has been appointed a member of this Railway Company for carrying
carrying the Canadian as to what constitutes committee, as representative of the Chamber, Mails has, after negotiations, been renewed for 1t is ordinarily, and it is intendid to thoroughly thresh out five years. (Hear, hear). Further correspondence puts money in the subject. There can be no doubt that the has been carried on with the Government with the profits in return measure is › required for the prevention of regard to the Eastern Mail subsidy ith what that this does not frand, and its introduction will, I trust, be result we have yet to learn, also with the pussling. Only greeted with satisfaction by the bulk of the Colonial Office with reference to the Canadian which they cannot define
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After a pause, the CHAIEMAY aid. There being no observations, I beg to propose the adoption of the report and accounts.
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