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[November 4, 1905.
HOME-SICKNESS.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
countries, special privileges are reserved for institutions which make advances for purposes of agricultural development. It is to the interest of the nation at large in such cases to do so; and in an undeveloped
(Daily Press, 31st October.) and admittedly fertile country like the One Dr. BEHEIM is quoted by the Japan Philippines, the heart of the Government Chronicle as having written that " no will assuredly be in any proper scheme, Anglo-Indian-man or woman-considered private or official, directed to the exploita- India to be a permanent home; but all tion of these natural resources. We have hope to return to Europe some day for joten heard of the extraordinarily high good." Our Kobe contemporary thinks rates of interest ruling in the neighbouring that it is very much the same in China and islands; and it appears that it is a common Japan. We fancy Dr. BEREIM's remark is practice of certain moneyl nders to insist
an exaggeration, and we feel certain it is upon the privilege of purchasing the bor-not true of Hongkong or Shanghai. As rower's crops at a price fixed in advance, for Japan, we used to hear of numerous the said price being always less remunera instances in which the country and people tive to the seller than to the enterprising had appealed s strongly to the temporary speculator. This evil system is well known resident ns to evoke expressions of au is some parts of Australia, where there are intention to "settle down there. The whole communities of agriculturists and number of "old residents" "who have no farmers practically bonded slaves of these intention of leaving Japan, although they autocratic middle-men. This is a handicap have the means with which to do so, appears which the Government would, no doubt, to be considerable. With regard to China, gladly 800 removed if possible. We the case of Shanghai affords a notable are told that though there are semi- example contrary to the opinions quoted. public institutions in the Philippines, The social life there is so happy, the making loans on mortgage, the demand climate so healthy, that a new sort of for agricultural advances is consider patriotism seems to be born in the resident ably greater than the supply. It is there; and the establishment of a claim stated in the Cablenews that "of the four to the title of a pukka "Shanghailander large banking establishments in the Philip seems to be as much a matter for self- pines, two, the Hongkong and Shanghai gratulation as the song says "Englishman" Banking Corporation and the Chartered gives. In Hongkong, where the climate is Bank of India, Australia and China, are supposed to be more trying, there are many prevented by their articles of association who regard it as their permanent home. from making advances on real estate, There is a saying that everyb dy wants to although both institutions have occasionally, go Home, and that when their wish is on special permission from their head granted they hear the East a-calling," offices, made small advances on real estate and wish to be back. Dr. BEHEIM quotes security as special favours to patrons of the it.
"And yet," he says, "with all the bank. According to the latest reports re-outery about climate and social discomforts, ceived by this office, the total outstanding
-on the first occasion when fogs, ice and ioans secured by agricultural property, of sleet in England are responsible for some the Banco Espanol-Filipino and the Inter- bodily indisposition, the Anglo-Indian national Banking Corporation in the Philippines will probably not exceed P750,000." This appears to be a trivial sum to cover the operations of two banks, and the thought arises that it may more faithfully indicate after all the extent of the demand" said to exist for facilities to develop agriculture. As in China, so in the Philippines, primitive methods of cultiva tion are clung to. The farmer everywhere ts proverbially conservative. lately, comparatively speaking, that the It is only British farmer has begun to take any interest in agricultura chemistry and the mechanical improvements that have been offered to him by America. The Filipino farmer, like the Chinese, appears to think that the methods and formula of his ancestors are good enough for him. How ever, the purpose of the Government advances may appeal to him when he learns that they are actually obtainable. Insular Government must see to it, when the scheme is adopted, that no attention is paid to the embarrassing features already mentioned; but conduct their institution on strictly business lines. Like Nature, they have les concern with the well-being of the individual than with that of the race. By helping the thrifty and foreclosing on the thriftless, the greatest good of the com- munity must ensue.
AGRICULTURAL BANKS FOR
THE PHILIPPINES.
(Daily Press, 30th ('ctober.) A special telegram to the Manila Cable- news on Oct. 21 said: "There is every reason to believe that agricultural banks in the Philippines will be favoured by Con- gress at its next session. The insulat bureau is preparing documents to submir to the legislature, urging the establishment of an institution for the lending of money to farmers throughout the archipelago." If this anticipation he realised, it will cause gratification to many who have the well. being of the Philippines at heart, for private institutions with like aims are often been talked of, but appear to be for some not well-understood reason hard to materialize. The establishment of some such institution was mooted, it is said, long before the Americans invaded the islands; and one obstacle then, as probably now, is said to have been the uncertain title by which most of the land was held. There is still the question whether a purely government institution, with government funds and government administrators, will be found the best practicable measure for the Philippines. One fear is that it would only encourage the already evident tendency of the native to depend upon the Governmeut as a complacent sort of universal provider. The national indolence would, it is thought, prevent clients from recognising that such assistance must involve enterprise and industry. The vul- gar view of a government advance would be that i was the end, rather than the means to an end. Much embarrassment of the government would follow, the argument continues, because the department would he expected to be indulgent in collecting its dues, and a popular outcry would be sure to accompany any attempts to enforce the penalty of foreclosure-a policy certain to be needed in many cases-and there would be a Filipino variety of the Irish Land League with moonlighters and evictions and more work for the constabulary. Apart from such extreme forebodings, there would certainly be embarrassments due to the necessary rejection of some applications for loans, as accusations of injustice and partiality would be inevitable in the case of government administration. One objer.¦ tion, said to have been raised when the scheme for similar operations in Egypt was afoot, seems rather feeble. It is said of the Filipinos, as it was said of the Fellaheen, that they are thriftless and improvident, and would be sure to waste the money advanced to them, instead of using it to develop their farms. They (the Fili pinos) would squander it in gambling attempts to increase it. Such a tempt ation undoubtedly exists in the case of almost any persons taking loans for agricul tural purposes, but it has never been found in practice to militate against the success of such a scheme. In the case of a private bank it is a possibility that would not be considered, other conditions being in order; and it is not to be supposed that any amount of popular clamour, based on such misunderstandings as made Irish small farmers shoot their landlords, could make the government consent to the laxity of administration that would spell the ruin of the scheme. Officials all over the provinces are reported to have declared that some scheme, official or private, for advancing capital to agriculturists is most urgently needed. No one is going to dispute the general principle that credit is essential: it is, perhaps, more important to the farmer than to the man of commerce. In many
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abroad" wishes to be back in his bungalow, surrounded by tropical heat and tropical splendour." So it is," says our contem.
porary,
He
"with the Far Eastern cherishes a great longing to go home to his native country, not for a mere brief holiday, but to spend his days in the enjoyment of the pleasures that he so vividly remembers in his youth. When the time comes, however, he finds that everything is sleet and snow more attractive on Christmas changed, that fogs are not enjoyable, and cards than in stern reality." He finds also that being an unnoticed unit in a mob is an unwelcome change to the status of a sahib or a taipau. Probably even the original. singer of "Home, sweet home" might have changed his tune when he found his first departure had disappeated much returning that the vacancy caused by
as does a wound in the bark of a growing The
tree. The returning prodigal usually feels "out of it," and has practically to create for himself a new niche in the
in the Third Court (Singapore) to a grubber Why don't you work" asked the magistrate in the dustbins, who was routing for rats. Old and ill," remarked the weary one. Asked what he wanted with rats, the grubber and to
on
society to which he formerly belonged. ROBINSON CRUSOR on his island drew up a parallel statement of the advantages and disadvantages of his detention there; and
were
could draw up a list of compensations for wo to copy his example here, we
our "exile" that would more than balance the sentimental value of the scenes we are
places to live and die in than Hongkong, supposed to yearn for. There are worse
even in the country (whichever it be) that send to China. When they reached tue Celestial residents on the China coast are doing
we call Home. As a matter of fact, that is what a very considerable proportion of the country they, or rather their skins were trans- formed into the soles of shoes. the magistrate, that is how bubonic plagus is
Yes," affirmed and it is probably incorrect to suppose that a majority of them are dwelling on the spread. Defendant was cautioned and dis- charged.
prospect of returning to Europe for good."
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