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SHIPPING NOTES,
are
Last week there was launched from the Kiangnan Dook and Engineering Works, Shanghai, a steam tug, named the Chutung, which was constructed by Messrs. J. Thornycoft & Co., of Southampton, and sent out in sections, to the order of the Szechuan Steam Navigation Company. The N.-C. Daily News states that the Chutung is specially designed for navigation above Ichang, and is stated to be the result of many years' experience of Captain Plant, who designed her, and will take charge of her when she has completed her trials. Her engines and boiler, which develop 700 i.h.p.,
of the Thornycroft type, similar to those used by the Admiralty and are expected to give her a speed of fifteen knots on the measured mile. This is at least two knots more than the speed of any other Vessel that has steamed through the rapids. She has two propellers, working in hollows in the stern, fitted with "Yarrow" patent flaps, which can be adjusted to suit the trim of the vessel under all conditions of draught. Besides powerful propelling engines, a steam capstan is fitted forward for use when ascending the rapids, as it is intended that the Chutung shall haul herself past the difficult points by a steel cable, There is complete accommodation for the captain and crew, and a feature of the vessel is the arrangement of bollards on either side, to enable her to fasten her tow alongside when descending the rapids.
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On the next slip a combined passenger and cargo flat is nearing completion, and when ready it will accommodate 12 first-class and 100 second-class passengers, besides carrying a large quantity of cargo between decks. This it will be the duty of the Chutung to tow on its up- ward and downward journey, and should the experiment prove a success it is practically cer- tain that the Szechuan Steam Navigation Com. pany will build a fleet of special craft for Yangtaze work.
A decision of the utmost importance to the shipbuilding industry has just been arrived at by Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping, whose surveyors are resident at all the world's principal ports. As a result of deliberations which have extended over a year, and at which all the best known shipowning and shipbuilding experts have assisted, the Com- mittee have come to the conclusion that in view
of modern conditions which call for new types of ships, a radical alteration in the present system of constructing and classifying steamers is necessary, and the new regulations will come into operation at once. These new rules will, it is expected, add considerably to the carrying, capacity, and by a redistribution of material, the cost of construction to the shipowner will be lessened. These revised regulations have been awaited with a good deal of anxiety on the part of shipbuilders as, in view of the alterations several important contracts have been kept back in order that advantage might be taken of the improvements which, it is said, will have a far- reaching influence on the industry throughout the world.
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The new
convention between the French Government and the Messageries Maritimes has given rise to much debate in the Chamber of Deputies on the subject of shipping subsidies. The Socialist leader, M. Jaurès, while criticizing the policy of the shipping company, especially with regard to new constructions, expressed approval of the principles which the convention sough to establish. In his opinion, the Govern ment was proceeding on the right lines when it claimed for the State the right of control in return for the grant of a subsidy. Personally he was in favour of the British system of advancing fixed sums on specific terms. He suggested that, as the existing agreement with the Messageries Maritimes would not expire for another three years, a sum of £400,000 for the construction of two new steamers should provisionally be advanced to the company so that the workmen at La Ciotat dockyards could be kept employed.
In the meantime Parliament would have an opportunity of elaborating an acceptable form of contract. The initial and radical fault which the Government had committed was in not
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
inviting tenders for the new mail contract. For the rest national mercantile marines were artificial products and had to be artificially maintained, and some day the nations would realize the futility of competition in this sphere, as they had already recognized the unprofitableness of the sugar bounties.
CHINESE IN THE PHILIPPINES.
CHINESE CONTROL THE ISLAND TRADE.
That the Chinese merchant has lost none of his hold on the retail trade in the provinces all over the archipelago is evident, says the Manila Cablenews, from the annual reports of the pro- vincial governors. In the sub-province of Bukidnon, Agusan, the Chinese merchant and the Visayan principale control all the trade. The former is the actual trader and the latter lives on the percentage he secures from the former in payment for the trade he brings in through his influence.
The provincial governor speaking of this fact says that the hold the Chinese merchant has in the province is so great that one lived for three years in the municipal court house, and he adds: "He does not live there now." He also adds that while Filipinos have tried to get a footing as retail merchants they have been unsuccessful, as the Chinamen have them "handicapped by a system of weight and measures that would skin a cat."
In the sub-province of Catanduanes, Albay. the importation of cloths is exclusely in the hands of 120 Chinese merchants. The Chinese also buy up all the hemp and copra, the sole com- mercial products of the island. In Virac and Bato alone there are 17 establishments run by Chinese.
In Batangas they are the only dealers in sugar.
In Bohol almost all the business has passed into the hands of these merchants.
In Bulancan they control the output of sugar and all the nipa wine industry.
In Cagayan, in th majority of the pueblos, the general stores are owned by Chinese with capitals of from P.10,000 to P.20,000, This is especially so in Aparri. They travel from town and up and down the river and kill all possible competition.
In Ilocos Norte" commerce is almost entirely in the hands of the Chinese who deal in foreign merchandise."
In Occidental Negros "
local com- merce is almost entirely monopolized by the Chinese, who invade everything."
In Oriental Negros the only manufactory is soap and that is in Chinese hands, as is the greater part of the retail business.
In Pampanga "commerce, properly speaking is confined to the purchase and sale of the prin- cipal agricultural products-rice and sugar, the buying of which is, with few exceptious, in the
hands of the Chinese."
In Samar the Chinese control all the retail trade and they even compete with the large foreign firms doing a wholesale business.
In Sorsogon the importation and exportation is in the hands of Spaniards and Chinese, only one Filipino being in the business.
In Masbate the commerce is monopolized by the Chinese.
In Surigao a large part of the business in hemp, oopra, rice, flour, textiles, etc., is mono- polized by the Chinese.
In Tayabas they are the only retailers of the necessities of life.
In Marinduque there are a large number of Chinese stores in every town.
In Union "commerce is in the hands of the Chinese, Macabebe, Hocano and Pangasinah traders who travel from town to town."
In the provinces not mentioned the provincial governors do not go into detail as to the extent of the business relations of respective nation.
alities.
The Directors of the Kiangpei Ting Coal and Iron Mining Co., Ld., announce that the negotiations with the Chinese authorities have now been concluded, on the arrangement that the Chinese will pay an indemnity of Tls. 200,000 exclusive of the stock of coal in the Company's possession. A meeting of share holders will shortly be convened.
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[July 19, 1909.
AGITATION AGAINST THE CHINESE
IN INDO.CHINA.
The Courrier d'Haiphong is endeavouring to stir up public sentiment against the dominant influence of the Chinese in Indo-China. Our con- temporary says France spent on the conquest of Indo-China a little more than 750 millions of francs. Two loans amounting to 280 millions have been contracted and spent on the develop- ment of the country. Every year about 150 millions of francs are demanded by way of taxation to cover the expense of administra tion. These are the pecuniary sacrifices which But who can count it is possible to value. the moral sacrifices that have been made, the number of soldiers, officials and Colonists who have died in the breach, doing each in his sphere his duty to guarantee to France the free possession of the country to increase her colonial domains? Who, asks the writer, has
benefitted by these enormous sacrifices He
sadly answers the question that these sacrifices have only served, with some rare exceptions, to enrich the stranger, "our worst enemy, the епешу who opposed our conquest-the Chinese !"' It is complained that the government has outrageously favoured the Chinese to the de- triment of the natives of Annam and even of the French themselves. The Administration has been prodigal in its favours to the Chi- nese in the markets and in the exploitation of monopolies, in Cochin-China, in Tonkin, in Annam and in Cambodia. That the Annamite is not 8 merchant. and that there is need of the Chinese intermediary is described 28
gross error to which everybody, Governors and colonists, have been voluntary victims : we have servilely imitated the usage in the neighbouring colonies of Hongkong and Singapore without perceiving that no comparison can be made between these where the natives do not count, and Indo-China Colonies which are purely commercial places
where we find a dense, population which it is necessary to administer and to educate." If the Annamite is not a trader it ought to be recognised, says the writer, that commercial faculties are innate in him which only need to be developed, and it is the duty of the French as the protectors of the native to develop his faculties, encourage his efforts and to shake off his torpor. But up to the present they have only served to accentuate the oppressive tutelage. Chinese are constantly coming into Indo- China. They come with the single aim of making a fortune and they stop at nothing in striving for that result. Usurious and rapac- ious, the Chinaman grasps everything that may help to assauge his insatiable thirst for money, and all the riches he acquires he takes away to A member of secret his country of origin. societies of which the mot d'ordre is hatred of the European, he excites the Annamite against our domination; he foments and encourages all the intrigues against us; proved contrabandier, he employs all the-resources of fraud to secretly Thus is the evil undermine our authority." stated in order that the remedy might be found, and our contemporary warns the authorities that if they wish to have a French and not a Chinese Indo-China, it will be prudent to adopt vis-à-vis this suspected stranger a policy more in consonance with French interests.
On Saturday an enjoyable “At Home" was held on the Japanese cruiser Otowa, to which Rear Admiral Taragaki, the Captains and Officers of the Japanese Third Squadron invited a large number of Hongkong residents. H.E. the Governor was represented by Captain Mitchell-Taylor A.D.C.
His Honour Mr. Justice Gomperts delivered decisions in two actions in Chambers on Satur- day morning. In the suit brought by Mr. PA W. Goldring against Mr. E. G. Jordan to recover $1,000 due for rent, plaintiff reduced his claim to $700, and his Lordship entered In the action judgment for that amount. brought by Jackaria Alimahamed against Omar C. Moosa for the recovery of $274.18 alleged to be due for salary and travelling expenses under an agreement of service, and the counterclaim for $540, his Lordship gave judgment for plaintiff for the amount paid into Court, $61.22. and allowed defendant $30 on the counterclaim.
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