March 21; 1904.]
not see
that
So we may conceive certa in shareholders speaking, so indeed they do speak. It is difficult to deny the reasonableness of their remarks. On the other hand the Directors point out the wisdom of steady dividends rather than very large oues in years of unusual prosperity, which might raise excessive expectatious for the future. We mentioned above the possibility of compromise. We do Directors in this Colony need fear the request for equitable dividends. Such a system cuts both ways. If it is understood to be ruling, the investors cannot complain. As it is, they charge the Directors, in many cases, with caprice or with undue caution ir years of prosperity. Nothing can do more to promote the best interests of a company than a good understanding between the Directors and the main body of the share- holdera.
it
THE OPIUM FARM DIFFICULTY.
our
(Daily Press, 16th March.) With reference to the article which we reproduce in another column from Chinese contemporary the Chung Ngoi San Po about the Opium Farmer and the sale of opium-pills and wine, we must confess that appears to us that the Opium Farmer is entitled to the privilege which the Amend- ing Ordinance proposes to confer upon him. He is paying a sum of $2,200,000 a year to the Government for a monopoly of the sale of opium in the Colony, and under existing conditions he does not get a monopoly. There is evidently a very large demand for opium-pills and wine in the Colony, and the Opium Farmer is to that extent deprived of income which should rightly be his. It appears to be no secret that the Opium Farmer is losing somewhat heavily on his contract, for the substantial increase in the price of prepared opium which has followed the rise in the value of raw opium has, we understand, led to a remarkable falling-off in the consumption, and the trade in opium- pills as an alternative has largely benefited. Naturally the Opium Farmer looks to the Government to protect his interests in the matter, and it is hard to dispute the reason- ableness of his claim. If the sale of opium- pills were altogether prohibited we might find reasons to join in the protest of our Chinese contemporary; but we understand that the Ordinance simply intends to give the right of sale to the Opium Farmer, As the opium-pill is admittedly a substitute for opium-smoking, we cannot see that the monopoly of its sale can reasonably be withheld from the Farmer. consideration of the Bill by the Legisla- tive Council has been postponed at the instance of the Attorney-General to allow consideration of some Chinese objections and recommendations. While it is scarcely to be expected that the Govern ment will abandon the Bill it is quite possi- ble that the. Attorney-General may see his way to incorporate provisions which will to some extent meet the objections of the protesters and ensure the continu- ance of a sale of these rills and wine at a figure which shall not be prohibitive.
The
The Japanese Acting Consul at Manila reports to the Tokyo Government that the Administrative Council there has passed a resolution in favour of lowering the rate of Customs duty on imported matches to just half the scale now in force. It is said that the Japanese authorities had, at the instance of the Kobe Chamber of Commerce, approached the U.S. Government in November last with a view to the tariff rate on Japanese matches being decreased. ·
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
HONGKONG JOTTING ';
"wet weariness
17
(Daily Press 14th March.) As the rains gradually come on aud the Peak retires from our sight in its wrapping of mist, we begin to grow conscious in Hongkong of the ending of our Season, so far as there is a definite season here. The Amateur Dramatic Club has concluded its work for some time to come, and nearly all the dances are doue.
Public func- suppose, the arrival of Sir Matthew Nathan, tions are temporarily suspended-until, I which will not apparently be much longer deferred. As for sport, as my fellow-writer on Saturday has pointed out, it is dying slowly; life again. Very soon now we shall have only dying, that is to say, until autumn brings it to
and business affairs to Russians are both determined that the cor- contemplate; and, 2.8 the Japanese and respondents shall not tell us too much. even war news will not apparently provide us with too much excitement to distract us. Now in the dead season at home newspapers would get up a discussion on "Sea Serpents" or "What to do with our daughters." We canno' rise (or sink) to that bere apparently. But why should we not have baried treasures? If the P. W. D. wants any road particularly needed for traffic blocked in the old familiar way, is there disos in its decomposed granite? The game no paper that is willing to bury a few $50 seems to create a lot of interest at home, and it is just as wet there as here, to judge by recent accounts.
servants.
The number of petty house-thefts by "boys" that have been reported to the police within the last week, not to mention those cases that if that were needed for some drastic measures have not been reported, provide a new reason being taken in the direction of registration of unprotected against the peculations of our house In Hongkong Wa are utterly servants. They do these things better in China where the "boys" come from. In the interior if a "boy" is taken into service by an European or a Chinese even, his family stand security for his good behaviour, and in the event of collectively are held responsible. his misbehaviour the parents or the clan Government, in considering this matter, never Will our grasp the difference between East and West?
All the week rain has threatened, but we have had precious little of it.
Rain is very badly wanted, for. in certain districts of the Colony, houses for some days past have been there is a good deal of truth in the report I absolutely without a supply of water. I trust mentioned last week that His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government has been taking measures which will accelerate the provision of additional water-storage; for as things are at present the Colony is exposed to a serious epidemic of typhoid. Wheu one sees the number of coolies who at all hours of the day are catching water in the nullahs, some of it evidently for drinking purposes, one can only the present time than it actually is, wonder that typhoid is not more prevalent at
217
It is an open secret that long before the Transvaal Legislature had actually acceded to demand of the Rand mining magnates for the agencies had already been established for the pur- importation of Chinese coolies to the Transvaal, pose of securing the necessary" yellow" labour for some time past and now the agents are in these parts. Those agencies have been active only awaiting definite orders from the Wit watersand authorities to begin the shipment of coolies. Contrary to a belief held in some quarters, the It is expected that most of the emigrants will pass through Hongkong. Chinese Government is offering no objections to the engagement of Chinese coolies for the work, and the coolies themselves are said to be very willing to enter upon the enterprise,
In the matter of the breeding of dogs in Hongkong, one is always coming across people impossiblility to keep puppies from following who deplore the fact that it is almost an strangers, if the puppies are allowed to go out pretend to be a dog-fancier tells me that on among the crowd. A gentleman who does not several consecutive nights he home by a homeless puppy which he was forced was followed to take in latterly from humane reasons, with the result that the canine visitor will not leave the house, Instances of this kind are not unfrequent. Dog-owners in Hongkong are too dogs. They ought to be alive to the fact that apt to be careless in the registration of their if a stray dog is captured by the police there is an extremely small chance of its escaping from the lethal chamber.
The Opium Farmer, through his representative, ly a day passes by without several groups of Mr. Spooner, is kept busy in these days, as scarce- Chinese being summoned to appear before the Police Magistrates for being in possession of more opium than they held licence for; the fullest penalties and, notwithstanding the infliction of ordinance
provided by the have no deterrent effect on others. Apparently for the offence, it seems to what is needed are stringent measures to prevent anybody but those personally approved by the Opium Farmer, and ander his immediate control, from selling either the prepared opium, the opium dross, pills or wine. There is seldom any trouble at Singapore in this direction; there should not be here.
་
Among the Chinese in Hongkong there has been much discussion of late in respect to the new Bill which is presently before the Legislative Council, amending the Prepared Bill is stated to be "to check and ultimately Opium Ordinance, 1891. The object of the prevent the sale of opium in the Colony by unauthorised persons,' the present operative Ordinance having been found insufficient to prevent the sale of opium in the shape of pills and wine. A prominent Chinese tells me that the stopping of the sale of pills will have a bad effect. These pills, it appears, are used for the cure of the opium habit. They contain only a very small percentage of the drug-so small as to be almost imperceptible when, analysed. If their sale is made so expensive as to be prohibitive to the coolie class, my informant I have had something to say before on the sub-states, it will simply mean an increase of crime, ject of Hongkong's beggars, of which there are
for if the opium slaves cannot get their narcotic not a few, and 1 am glad to notice that several by fair means they will not hesitate to obtain it very objectionable types have disappeared from by foul. the streets, no doubt " moved on" by our Police. But while Queen's Road, especially, in the Central district, is kept pretty clear of these by them-notably Pottinger Street, Wyndham pests, there are several side streets still infested Street and their off-shoots, where groups. of filthy, neglected-looking urchins of both sexes, lark in corners making a rash at each foreign passer-by, and holding ont grimy hands for Cumsha It is fatal to one's comfort to give them anything, for they immediately accept such an act as the giver's adoption of them as permanent pensioners, and lay in wait for him every time he passes up those streets, and persist in annoying him, by following him until he has to adopt drastic measures, but only to find. the nuisance repeated the very next tim he passes. The House of Detention is about the proper place for these creatures of the gutter, who, for the most part, are thieves and pick pockets in embryo.
(Daily Press, 21st March.)
I think it will be the impression of most people in Hongkong that the controversy on under our late Governor has gone far enough. the subject of the administration of the Colony Sir Henry Blake has certainly administered a knock-out blow in his latter to the Investors' Review, the paper to which Mr. Robert Shewan in full. Mr Shewan courted the blow, it must sent his letter which the Times refused to print be admitted, and cannot complain of the “brutal frankness" of his opponent. Surely the affair can be allowed to rest now? No good can be done by protracting the discussion in various There were many points which were open to papers whose readers are not interested in it criticism in Sir Henry Blake's administration ; butneither Mr. Ireland nor Mr. Showan adopted the right method of criticising, and both per- mitted themselves to make misstatements which seriously weakened their cases.