February 6, 1909.]
pects of British commerce in the Far East need not be enlarged upon. 'Diplomatic conventions can do something towards solving it; but its complete solution depends more upon the advent of a world-wide spirit of fair play. For that we have still to pray.
a ticket from Kowloon to Canton.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
of course
received some two years ago when I paid a visit to the rail head. I was still under that impression when at last year's annual meeting, after a year's absence in Englaud and speaking with the greater freedom of an ordinary member, I made a remark Railway matters" call for more detailed which was held unduly to disparage the pro- comment. The day when it will be possible gress made, to take a ticket from Kowloon to Calais seems still provokingly remote.
I desire now to make what amends I can by strides towards the realisation of this dream expressed by an expert witness, a highly quali- Of giant giving equal publicity to an opinion recently I wish we could hear more.
As a begin- fied railway engineer, that, judged on the lines ning I wish we could even see good reason to believe that it will soon be possible to take progress may be regarded as not unsatisfactory, which have been adopted by the management, I wish This does not disprove the contention that the there were good grounds for hoping that the Chinese, by themselves, cannot yet succesfully
hinese section of the line thither will be com- pleted as soon as the British section. I wish we
undertake serious railway enterprise, because could ascertain that the acquisition of the re-engineers of various nationalities. The tun- they ате employing foreign quisite land
was being pushed forward neling difficulties which lie in wait, some- vigorously. Unfortunately we know that it is where about the not. For some reason there is delay.
seventieth mile, and the Money heavy bridge work entailed be the crossing of for the purpose has been handed over in various the North River, will test the efficiency of their instalments to the official responsible, but still the business hangs fire.
staff methods in due time, but in the meantime The difficulties of the point I want to make is that, in expert acquiring land for the Yueh Han Railway have opinion, the work done, as far as it goes for been overcome, with comparative ease. What
the 45 miles of track at present laid-some is it that makes the difficulties on the Chinese ballasted, some not-some bridges permanent, section of the Kowloon line so much more for others temporary-and for 35 miles of embank midable? No wonder if in this Colony we ask the question with some impatience.
ment reported as being nearly complete beyond mendation. -the work done does receive guarded com- But that is no reason why we should refrain from criticising, on general lines, the directors' policy, if we consider it susceptible of improvement. Hence the comment in the report.
As regards the reference in the report to the work of construction on the Kwang- tang section of the Canton-Hankow railway a word of explanation is necessary. The rapid progress recently made was noted with satis- faction. The particulars are public pro perty. Forty-four miles of track are open to traffic. Two trains run daily over the whole distance. Each way the journey takes three hours. This does not exactly indicate the top speed of the train. In the 44 miles are 12 stoppages. Additional trains run regularly to a halfway station some 20 odd miles out from Canton. Already the stimulating effect is ap parent. It is not only that villagers throng the train. That fact is patent to any casual observer. A fact not so readily realised is that there is also the beginning of a local freight traffic cattle and vegetables coming into Can- ton from the country; fish going out to inland villages. As a local line the success of the undertaking is already assured. Precisely because of that there is danger. There is danger lest the management should see no further than that. The directors are drawn chiefly from the local gentry and merchants. It is probable that few of them have travelled widely. It may be that some of them have never travelled at
The
it deals I have little to add; not because there is Concerning the remaining subjects with which little to say, but because there is so much. subsidiary coin problem we have always with us and shall have as long as the solution indicated in the report is delayed. The solution involves the greater problem presented by the state of bound to mend the state of hina's currency hina's curren y. If things at their worst are may be optimistically regarded. It is in a state popularity of the idea of issuing unsecured notes of indescribable chaos. With the increasing in unlimited quantities all the forces of confu- sion seem now to be at work. Scores of differ- eat sorts of taels, dozens of doubtful kinds of dollars, an infinite variety of subsidiary coins, brass cash, copper cash, cash on strings or by the cartload; dollar notes, notes representing sub-coin, myriads of notes representing cash pieces, native orders, chops, and heaven knows what else-all mixed up with the exchange pro- blems that arise between every town and village throughout the Empire, combine to create a gigantic conundrum.” Native press telegrams state that the new T'ael coin which was to have made all these crookednesses straight has already reached melting point. It is melting into thin air-vanishing in the glistening vision of a gold standard This resuscitated dream repre- sents a great idea, to be worked towards gradually, the first step an undoubted Imperial dollar. But even that would leave untouched much of the general welter. So must we.
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report touches. A final word of explanation is These are all the subjects upon which the needful concerning the many interesting sub- jects upon which it does hot touch. The num. ber of these is perhaps the most remarkable thing about it. There are no exciting exour- sions into high Chinese politics. At this distance from the capital we labour under disadvantages in making them. Even in Peking safe news. there is apparently some difficulty in obtaining And there is manifestly far greater difficulty in forming views which are not liable to be upset. Again occurs the commonplace doubt, prevalent after the Boxer rising, as to whether any foreigner has ever yet succeeded in understanding the workings of the Chinese mind. To this doubt is mainly due the circumstance that the events which three months ago startled the world led to no "pronouncements" from here, The death of the late Emperor and of the Em- press Dowager-the peaceful transference of the reins of power-the subsequent fall of Yuan and his exit from the Peking stage of all these dramatic incidents no word was said. If any. thing required to be said it was clearly the more difficult business of our colleagues in the North business down South. Our task has been light to say it. We have kept strictly to our own because with very few exceptions such incidents as have arisen to threaten good relations with the Canton authorities, have been successfully dealt with through the ordinary official channels and comment from us was thus rendered needless. How light our task has been is made manifest by the modest proportions of the report, the adoption of which, together with the accounts, I now formally move,
all. It is therefore open to doubt whether they realise to the full the possibilities opening out ofthe little station yard at Wongsha. Failure to realise those possibilities now will result in cur- tailing them hereafter. If the railway is ever to be operated as part of a great trunk line and a large local traffic is to run simultaneously, a double track in the immediate vicinity of Canton will become a necessity, and there will be pressing need for more room at the terminus. It will be well for the future of the enterprise if these things are realised and
I do not propose to launch out on the subject acted upon promptly. The price of both land of opium. To deal adequately with that would and labour will rise as the influence of increased perhaps require a historical survey reaching facilities of communication makes itself felt. back through misty centuries to the time when The directors should look ahead. They have the
Chinese junks traded as far west as the Persian history of the short-sightedness of any number of Gulf. I confine myself to raising a point which other pioneer directors, similarly situated in
seems somehow to have received scant attention. other countries, to guide them. The criticism It is this. How can the apologists of China thus elaborated is made in no carping spirit. It
reconcile her claim to be protected from the is made in a friendly spirit. It is not made be-
Indian export with the fact that China herself cause this Association has in former years exports the drug? One would have thought committed itself to the opinion that the Chi- that the first thing for China to have done nese would be wise to entrust the building of would have been to desist from the practice she the whole line from Hankow to Canton to a so loudly complains of in others. It may be foreign contractor. We may hold to that said that the amount is small, but in a matter opinion and yet, realising the uselessness of of conscience there can te no dimensions. putting it forward at the present time, accept If, as is said, it is iniquitous that the Indian the position that the people of Kwangtung China, is it not equally wrong of the Chinese Government should debauch the Chinese in prefer to build their own railways and wish them success. But our interest in the progress Straits and in Indo-China, by conniving at the Government to debauch its subjects in the of the line justifies criticism of the methods employed in its construction. When the Hong- export thither of the home-grown article? May kong Government lent the money for its re-
we not reasonably ask as a preliminary that demption the understanding was that the line China should practice what she preaches? But was to be built, the project was not to be hung in all matters relating to opium the Conference up or merely played with. For some time it holds the field. The China Association may as looked as if the Chinese were merely playing to until the results of the Shanghai symposium well hold its breath. No words will be listened with it. That was the impression which I
are made known.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-Mr. Chairman, I have very much pleasure in seconding the adoption of the report and accounts. From the report which is in our hands it is evident that you and your fellow members of the committee have during the past year, had some very delicate and difficult subjects to handle, and I think, Sir, that you and your committee deserve the thanks, not merely of members of this Associa- the firm and tactful manner with which you tion, but also of the community generally for have dealt with these questions (applause).
The motion was put and carried amaminously, It was proposed by Mr. Forbes and seconded by Mr. Shellim that the retiring Committee unanimously. This being all the business the should elected. This motion was also carried
meeting then adjourned.
ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH, KOWLOON.
The annual meeting of seatholders · and subscribers of the above Church convened in accordance with the Trust Deed was held in the Vestry on Thursday last at 5,30 p.m., Right Rev. Dr. Lander, the Bishop of Victoria, presiding.
The accounts for year 1908 as presented by Rev. A. J. Stevens and audited by Sir C. Paul Chater, C.M.G. were unanimously accepted. The receipts totalled $2,435.10 (principal items being seat rents $380.00; offertories $929.79, donations including Chaplain's fees remitted $1,019.30) and the expenditure to $2,389.38, leaving a balance of $45.72.
The Auditor's honorary service was thankfully referred to by the Chairman, and the thanks of the meeting were accorded to Sir C. Paul Chater for his interest and assistance, the Auditor elected for ensuing year being Mr. E. Hayward.
The retiring Vestry-Engineer Captain J. Fielder, Messrs. G. M. Eves and R. Packham --were re-elected, and Messrs. H. T. Richardson,
B. L. Frost and T. Hunter elected as Vestry for 1909.
The Chairman, after thanking the outgoing Vestry for their past services, requested those elected to use their individual influence with cial needs of the church in order that satisfac- the residents of Kowloon to support the finan
the services of a Chaplain in succession to the tory arrangements might be made to engage Rev. A. J. Stevens to whom on the motion of the Bishop the members present expressed their sympathy in the difficulties he has experi enced during his Chaplaincy and their dordial
wishes for his future welfare.
Lesberil for her honorary services as Organist since the departure of Miss Rooks.
A vote of thanks was accorded to Miss
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