January 31, 1903.
section, that China is no worse off than was Japan, when she adopted a gold standard,-- in the relation between exports and imports. Furthermore, he says, in 1898 the trule of Japan was divided amongst the gold and silver-using countries, as follows: - Gold 60 per cent, silver 40 per cent., while the present trade of China is practically alto. gether with gold countries, there being only a small fraction of 1 per ecut, with silver- using countries. In this calculation Hong- kong is considered under the head of a gold-using country “for the simple reason that merchandise' passing into or out of China through Hongkong is all ultimately expressed in terms of gold." This is in its tura a further very strong argument in favour of China adopting å gold standard, for Japan, while still à silver-using country, was able to do 49 per cent.. of her business in her own standard of currency, while China. is unable to do any business at all in silver. Mr. LITTLE goes on to point out that Japan is only one of a long list of countries which bave had to abrindon a silver e sinage either as a single standard or in a bimetallic system.
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ČHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
HONGKONG BENEVOLENT
ASSOCIATION,
ANNUAL MERTING.
The CHAIRMAN said--Ladies and gentlemen, I felt it a very great, honour to be asked to take the chair at your a nual meeting, and I have v ry great pleasure in being here this morning, because I feel sure that yoar Society is doing a most excellent work in the Colony and is desery. ing of the best thanks of the community for supplying so admirably a special net in this Colony. It is easy to given sum of money to every applicant, but what you do is a much ' more arduous task. You sifi out the cases and enquire caref 11 into them and you separate the deserving cas s from those of the idle, denken loafers and beachcombers who are always to he found in large numbers in an Eastern scupart like Hongkong.
Into Mr. LITTLE'S discussion on the advantages of a gold standard in China we need not hore go, for the matter has been amply treated of late. We may turn to the suggestions which Me. Larruk offers as to the possibility of bringing about reform in China's currency,
He proposes; (1) That the various Associations and Chambers of Commerce in China shill at once approach their respective Governments, laying the state facts and others before them, and asking for immediate action : and (2) that strong representations should. be made to the Chinese Government, so that they also may be prepared to put the scheme into immediate operation. Certain represcutations to the latter effect, we have reason to believe, have already been made, but they have not been in any way official With regard to the first proposal, Mr. LITTLE seems to us to have hit the right nail upon the head. We have already intimated that, in common with a very
8
the hair last year that it is all very well to have a subscription dancs now and again, but of · fcourse you cannot have tha: always. That is. an exceptional sonres of income aut it The annual meeting of the above. Association
is necessary that we should remember that the was held on the 27th inst. in the City Hall,dinary and regular sources of income are His Honour Sir W. Moigh Goodman, Chief
saliferiptions and donations, and therefore 1 cannot help feeling that if the peɔple of Hong. Justice, presided.
kong really did realise what excellent work was being done by this Society, even if to a limited extent the list of subscribers and dondes would · be fousiderably increased, I am sure that we are all rory much indebt d to the Rey, “Mr. France and to the other gentlemen of the Reference Committee, bṣcanso a great deal of Trouble falls upon them in making enquiries into deserving cases; and I am sure they have enquired with the greatest eire into all the Cafes which were referred to them with most beneficial results, for after all chari'y given without discrimination is almist. nsefoga. shall be glad now if soma hon, member will more the adoption of the report and passing of the accounts as set forth in the balance sheet. said--Although fewer eses have beng rolieved De J. M. ATKINSON in makiug the motion
during the past your, it will have bou seen that more has fren done by the Society in the educating of orphan children; nino such have been maintained and ednented at the *pausa of the Society during the past
Well, I think 19 cases | Year,
arq a very spall amber to receive relief from a Society of this sort in a whole year, ad I do not think myself-
and accounts, which were as follows:
Sir WILATAM then read the annual report
THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HONG- ¦
KOŃG BINEVOLENT 8 CL, TY.
+
I
The CHAIRMAN --1 at it must n 1 he thought There
relieved. (E8E8
Mr. were only 19 France has relieved a very large number of coses besides. There is a sum always in hard afl. his disposal to assist urgent nece sitous cases
The ladies of the Committee of the Hongkong Benevolent Society have much pleasure in be mitting their annual report and statement of devounts, and in doing so desire to thank all those who are assisted them in carrying on the work of the Society. Fwing the y ar 19 cases were brought under the consideration of the Comunitte," and assistance was given in 10 instancés, Ovar in other cases were given relief by the Rov, J. H. Prates, the seamen's chaplain, who must kindly investigates cases on behalf of the Horiety, and gives Colp to those
is only these 19 cases that have been bough deserving it. Employment was found in the Colony for some of the applicants, and pasages afore th› Society. There are a graat number paid for atheis to various places, where they of other cases which Mr. Francs has assisted) had friends or promiss of employment
Tud employment has been found for a god. Soviety is paying for the unintenance ty people, which is the best kind of charity hat can possibly be given; and others have had passages obtained for them and so
Phoso 15 cases are what you might call the pegulation cases which have had to be in- pestigated by the Committee,
and duration of 4 orphan children. A good deal of clothing has also been givm away to these requiring it. Should subzerihers. wish for mare particulars, Die Hon, Secretary will pleased to give fa ther details. The steamship companies for the kind way in which they have res, and d to appeals for reduced passages; also to the local Press_for their kindness in inserting advisements fice of charge. A very successful subscription
thanks of the Committee are due to the varions
oft.
Dr. ATKINSON-I was just going to rẻ. mark that I thing members shoul I know that they have the privilege of recommending cases for relief to the Committee. I beg to more that the report be adopted and the accounts be passed.
The Rov. J. II. FRANCE in seconding the motion said From my personal experience I cou
considerable section of the local community, danes in aid of the Society was held in Januwy; 'testify to the very good work that is being done
it
L
we cannot accept the decision of the com- mittee of the Hongkong Chamber, of Commerce as final. Mr. Tarrie, speaking confessedly as an outsider, opines than would have been far better for Hongkong, instead of publishing fo the world its impotence, to have called, the attention. by formal resolution, of the Hongkong and Home Governments to the existing financial crisis due to a constantly decreasing silver currency, and at the same time urged them to take the question into immediate au serious con- sideration. Their action in such a case, he says with reason, would necessarily have had duc weight. The question is whether it is now too late for Hongkong to attempt to exert its proper influence, as one of the most important ports in the whole world, in a matter of such vital concern to the future history of the Colony itself and of the trade between Great Britain and China., This question cannot remain undecided for long.
Hon. Dr. Francis W. Clark, the Medical Officer of Health, is leaving Hongkong for home on the 19th March. He will be en- tertained to dinner on the 17th of the sam month by the staff of the Sanitary Departm›nt.
H.M.S. Cressy came in from Mirs Bay on the 24th inst. On the 23rd inst. the Fren h cruiser Kersaint left for Canton, the German lagship Fürst Bismarck and the cruiser Hertha où the 24th inst. for Amoy, and on the 25th inst. the gunboat Tiger for Canton.
mate
and resulted in a substantial amonf being added to the Society's fauds. During the year by the Society, and to my mind the most important Mrs. Si-bs, Mex, Dickson and Mrs. Forbes left and best part of that work is the work of ednost- the Colony, and Mrs. Moorhead, Mrs. Turner,ing and helping in the education of orphau (eur, hear.) I must say that a Mrs. Gompertz and Mrs. Oshorne joined the children. Committee. Two members of the Reference great many of the cases that I have had to do Committee, the Rov. R. F. Cobhold and the with personally have been cases where perhaps a little help has enabled a man in some cases to Rev. G. J. Williams, have left the Colony, and their places have becʼn taken by the Rev. F. T. Johuson and the Rev. C. H.`Hickling. The following ladies retire in rotation from the Committee, but are eligible for re-election: Lady Goodman, Mrs. Master, Mrs. Robertson. Mrs. Harling, Ms. Turner and Mrs. Moorhead
The balance-sheet show d the following it me to the credit of the Society during the year: To balauce from 1901, $1,030.45; subscriptions and donations, $1,514; dance account, $1.831.53 interest on fixed deposit and current account, 86 08; total, 34,439.06. And an expen iture of: By donations and relief of cases, $1,740.00 | printing and sundries, $51.00; total, $1.79! leaving a balance in bard of $2.648.66, made up follows: Fixed deposit, $2,000.00 cirrent $508.06; cash in hand, $50.00.
as
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a fresh start, in some cases to get away to a place where he can get a situation, and in other cases just to tide orer a few days until a man can get a ship. I can assure you that a great many cases more thin those that have appeared in the Society's report havo applied to me, and in quite a number I have not been able to help them. I have not felt really that they were altogether doserving cases to help; but in so far as my experiones has gone I can testify that a very excellent work is being done by the Society, and I hive great pleußuro in seconding the motion.
Proceeding, Sir WILLIAM said These, ladies and gentlemen, are the report and accounts. The balance-sheet, I think, is a very satisfactory one. I am glad to see that the bilance in hand at the commencement of the present year amounts to $2,618.06, which is a sum of $1,60) better than that with which 1992 was started; but I should like to point out that had it upt been for the $1,80 odd accrning from the sub, scription duuce the position of the Society would live b ́en some 8200 worza than it was at the beginning of 1902; that is to say, that although you have got more now than at the beginning of the year 1902 you received $1,800 odd from the results of a particular dance. Now Sir Thomas Jackson, I notice, said frora |
The motion was unanimously agrood to. Mrs MASTER proposed a vole of thanks to Sir William Goodman for presiding.
Mrs. POATE seconded, and the motion was heartily carried.
The following Committee was afterwards elected:-Mrs. Master. Mrs. Robertson, Miss Anderson, Mrs. Turner, Mrs. Atkinson, Mrs. May. Mrs. Siebs, Miss Hunter, Mrs. John Hastings, Mrs. Gompertz, Mrs. Hickling and Lady Goodman.
On the motion of Lady GOODMAN, seconded by Mrs. MASTER, a cordial vote of thanks was awarded to the Rev. Mr. Frauce and the Reference Committee,
This ended the proceedings.
The British battleship Albio. left on the 26th inst. for Mirs Day, aut the Russian cruiser Razboynik arrived from Foochow.