130
to readjustment. H. M. Government seem; moreover, to have admitted the principle. But if we conscientiously agree to fulfil the Treaty on our side, we are entitled to require that the Chinese shall fulfil it on theirs. Might not the opportunity be taken to insist once more that they shall effectively observe, inter alia, Art. 28 of the Treaty of Tientsin? It may be objected, of course, that this would be to attack sources of revenue of which the Authorities stand more than ever in need. The objection might be met in so far as the Provincial Governments are concerned by recognising the fact that Inland dues are a Provincial perquisite and that the stipulated 24 per cent, commutation belongs therefore to the Provincial Exchequer. The Association has long maintained that" the absorption into the Imperial Customs Revenue of the revenue derived from Transit Passes is largely responsible for the hostility which has been shown to them by the local officials. It may be rejoined, of course, that this would still be a financial juggle; and that the Imperial resources would be diminished pro tanto if the principle were effectively recognised by provid ing that the Transit Dues shall in future be paid to the Provincial Governments to whom they belong.
Two reflections however suggest themselves: (1) That the Imperial revenue would be measurably recouped by the expansion that might be anticipated if trade were relieved from embarrassing imposts. (2) That an aggravation of inland taxation-as one method of meeting foreign exactions-may be anticipat ed unless countervailing precautions be taken.
A parallel line of thought suggests the question why the import tariff only should be restored to an effective 5 per cent. The export duty on silk is as much below parity as the That on tea is import duty on shirtings. extravagantly in excess, having been purposely left untouched at a time (before the genesis of the trade in India and Ceylon) when China had a monopoly, and it was thought no harm could ensue from high taxation. Both are subjected, moreover, to heavy inland taxation, and on the recognised principle that a country pays for its imports with its exports, a rectification of the burdens on produce with a view to promot- ing export trade would seem as desirable as readjustment of the import dues.
a
The questions indicated may be far-reaching, but they come within the four corners of the present treaty; nor is the list exhaustivo.
The contention clearly is that all the rectifica- tion should not be on one side; but that the opportunity should be taken to insist on ciprocal corrections:
(Signed) R. S. GUNDRY. 159, Cannon Street,
London, 2nd June, 1901.
re-
Foreign Office, June 25th, 1961. Sir, I am directed by the Marquis of Lansdowne to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th instant, respecting the pro- posal to raise the Chinese Customs Tariff to an effective 5 per cent. and stating that the Committee of the China League desire to place on record their agreement with the views expressed by the Shanghai and Hongkong Committees of the China Association on the subject.
The telegrams and memorandum enclosed in your letter had already been received in this Department from the China Association, and had engaged His Lordship's attention.
I am to point out that the assumption that it is proposed to agree to the increase of the Chinese Tariff to an effective 5 per cent. without obtaining any concessions in return is erroneous, and that the matter is now under consideration by the representatives of the Powers at Peking.
I am to add that before any addition beyond the treaty rate of five per cent, is agreed to, care will be taken to ascertain the views of those interested in the China Trade.
I am, Sir,
Your most obedient, humble Servant,
(Signed) FRANCIS BERTIE.
A. R. BURKILL, Esq.,
Honorary Secretary, China League.
China League, July 4th, 1901. My Lord, I have the honour to acknowledge your Lordship's letter under date 25th June.
¦
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[August 10, 1901.
The Committee of the China League are ↑ skill. Miss Forde's voice, if well trained, gives much gratified to learn that there is no intention promise of a successful future in operatic work, of agreeing to an increse in the Chinese whilst Miss Moore should, with her marked Import Tariff to an effective 5 per cent. ability, take a prominent place in Australian without obtaining concessions in return. Also, dramatic_circles. The company will repent to receive your Lordship's assurance that their performance nightly, and it deserves to be before any addition beyond the Treaty rate of well patronised by those partial to a variety 5 per cent, is agreed to, care will be taken to performance. ascertain the views of those interested in the China trade. My Committee aro satisfied that these assurances will be as welcome to the Chambers of Commerce (to whom I an com- municating them) and to commercial community generally, as they are to the China Leagne.
I have now merely to emphasise, on behalf of the League, the following points in con- nection with an increased import duty :-
The right to an effective five per cent. import tariff is conferred on the Imperial Government by treaty; the full enjoyment of that right entails upon that Government the obligation of fulfilling as fully and as honestly the rights to which British traders are entitled under the
samo treaties.
The League claims briefly that all treaty provisions shall have full effect given to them, not only those favouring the Imperial Govern- ment, but also those on which foreigners rely in their commercial intercourse with natives.
Of first importance is the right conferred on British traders by the Tientsin treaty to convey imports from a port to an inland market, and native produce from the interior to a port for foreign export under transit passes and on payment of two and a half per cent. transit daty, free from all further charge whatever.
Your Lordship must be as fully conversant as the League is, with other rights which remain unfulfilled by the Imperial Government, or which have been nullified in practice.
If the concessions which your Lordship mentions as being under the consideration of the representatives of the Powers in Peking result in making operative the undoubted rights of British traders under our treaties with China, the increase in the import duty will be cheerfully accepted by those interested in the China trade.
I have the honour to be, my Lord,
Your obedient, humble Servant,
(Signed) A. R. BURKILL,
Hon. Secretary.
The Most Hon.
The MARQUIS of LansdoWNE, K.G.,
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
"
THE THEATRE.
11
The Australian Vaudeville and Specialty Company continues to attract a large number of people to the City Hall, the lower part of the house being filled night after night. On Wednesday another complete change of pro- gramme was given, and the same bill was repeated on Thursday. It was evidently much appreciated by an enthusiastic audience, who continually demanded encores. At times the calls were rather too numerous and must have been very trying to the performers, who, in spite of the heat, gladly did their best to comply. Special mention must be made of Professor Davis's clever performance illustrating "how modern ghosts are raised,” which was really a bewildering spectacle. It is a variation of the "cabinet" trick, but is considerably elaborated and very effective. The lastest programme is a good and attractive one, but nevertheless for to- night the management announce another change of bill, when new songs, new dances and new sketches, in fact everything new, will be introduced to the public.
CORRESPONDENCE.
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
THE SENSITIVE PLANT.
K
03-
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS."
7th August. 818,-Whose business is it to look after the places along the roads, both on the lower levels and in the Peak District? It should be the duty of the Afforestation Department, I imagine, but it is clear that no one pays any attention to the waste places or endeavours to keep down the rank vegetation so prolific of mosquitoes and flies. All along the sides of the paths and roads several intrusive and pernicious weeds have sprung up which threaten, if not promptly checked, to overrun the colony. Among these the sen. sitive plant-an imported nuisance-is pecially to be remarked. It grows and spreads itself with amazing rapidity, and takes a most tenacious hold of the soil. It is, in many The Australian Vaudeville and Specialty places, choking the turf, and is of a decidedly Company gave another very successful per- blighting and mischievous habit, being also formance on the 3rd inst., before a large thorny. A weed that bears a rather ugly blue audience, the bottom portion of the house being flower is also much in evidence wherever there filled to overflowing. The programme was an
is any moisture. Several other plants-im. entire chango of that which had been given at ported weeds from other places-require to be But who will do it P the previous performances, and the entertain-rooted vigorously up. ment went off with a capital swing. The In the absence of Mr. Ford, who will undertake o,ening chorus of selections from The this work? The Afforestation Department is Geisha was remarkably well rendered and was loudly applauded. The Carnival Miss Jessie Forde rendered very artistically, and, with the excellent artistic singing of Miss Beatrice Warde, kept the performance from deteriorating entirely to the level of comic songs. In her song
"One heart divine" Miss Warde was heard to much advantage, and was recalled. The other portions of the first part of the programme were made up mostly of comic and coon songs with which the company gave much pleasure to the audience. Mr. W. F. Cullen sang several baritone songs, and was recalled; we have half a dozen amateurs who would give the "eminent baritone" points in singing. Mr. Sam Rowley has a wonderful voice, which was thrown away on the nonsense he sang, though he was very funny and was encored. The Sisters Linwood gave a very pleasing dance, and were followed by Miss B. Warde in her careful rendering of "If all the stars wore wine.” One of the best numbers of the programme was the clever operatic sketch by Miss Annis Moore and Miss Jessie Fords of "Oh my daughter" from The Gaiety Girl. Miss Moore's representation of the parson was remarkably good, and Miss Forde made a pretty daughter. These two young artistes have grown much since they were before an Eastern audience with Pollard's Lilli- putians, but they have lost none of their former
sadly undermanned, but a body of coolies, under & gardener's supervision, could carry out such a task. Will not His Excellency the Governor- who is, I believe, a sworn foo to anopheles- give the necessary orders for these weeds to be exterminated, together with the too present convolvulus, the removal of dead branches, decaying vegetation, and other unsightly and unwholesome matter?-Yours, etc.,
AN ENEMY TO WEEDS. P.S.-I think a little attention might also be given to the very useful gas-pipe rails which are provided in some-though unfortunately not all of the dangerous places on the Peak roads, These should be frequently tarred or painted. Owing to long neglect, one of these railings (near the Mount Austin Barracks) is simply falling to pieces from rust corrosion.
BROKERAGE IN HONGKONG.
44
TO THE EDITOR OF THE 'DAILY PRESS.'
8th August. SIM,-There is an interesting leading article in the North-China Daily News of 80th July' on the commission charged by sharebrokers there, but the writer of that article evidently has not studied the Hongkong scale or he would not have written as follows pama
There is no place under the sun where such high brokerage obtains as in Shanghai;
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