Page
INTIMATION
A. S. WATSON & CO., LTD.
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1911.
the expectation of an increasing revenue from existing taxes we have in mind also the fact that there will be no further voten for the building of the Post Office and the Law Courts. On thess two buildings alone
TELEGRAMS.TOPE OF CENSURE IN THE LORDS.
[THBOUGH EBUTRE'S AGENCY.
LATER.
The House of Lords was crowded to-day. There were many peeresses and diplomatists
in 1910 the Government spent a sum of THE POLITICAL SITUATION, in the galleries
nearly $100,000. That sum in itself would far to defray the cost of the public works specifically mentioned by "Taxpayer"—or, at least the cost of a year's progress, with these works. The provision of wireless telegraph stations at Hongkong and the Pratas would not be ar expensive matter, and, moreover, accord. ing to our understanding of the position, no expense in connection with this great need will fall upon the Government, for in the first place the Fratas Islands form part WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANTS of the territory of China, and the Chinese
ESTABLISHED 70 YEARS.
Sir Robert
Burnett & Co.'s
OLD
CELEBRATED
TOM
DRY GIN
SCENES IN THE COMMONS.
LONDON, August 9th. Mr. Asquith is suffering from laryngitis owing to the strain of his speech yesterday. He will be unable to take he place in the House of Commons for a day or two.
Lord Hugh Cecil moved that the Parlin ment Bill be postponed for three months. He expressed regret that Mr. Asquith was
Lord Curzon moved a vote of censure.
upon the Government, re-emphasising Mr. Balfour's donunciation of the Government's abisa of their powers.
He strongly denied that the Lords had transformed this Bill. The Government had refused to accept the amendments in order to facilitate a seriesof measures which the majority of the people did not desire.
CORRESPONDENCE,"
IS HONGKONG LIGHTLY TAXED?
TO THE EDITOR OF PER" HONGKONG
DAILY: PREIS,"
I
some
the liquor duties Fore doublot, $450,000 would
be gained with- out any additional expense, Bad- no one could grumble, because if a man wouldn't afford to pay more for his drinke he could con- mame half the quantity of alosbol to the grant Hongkong, August 8th. Bia-On June 1st the Hon. C. Montage advantage probably of his health and pocket.
If still more ravenue wars required, the Ede, in moving that the Military Contribution collection of a daty on tobacco by the should be fixed at 81,000,000 sunnally, Superintendent of Imports and Exports endeavoured in a very able speech to disprove would cost, little and not injure any individual
the statement that residents in Hongkong are more lightly taxed than residents in Great Britain..
to no appreciable extent, and we should still have our free breakfast table and no income tax to console us for our exile.
I sympathies fully with the endeavour
Itcannotbedoubted that additional revenus i, of the unofficial members to alter
the insidomos of this
argently required to carry out many public contribution, which, works which are absolutely indispensable for the the Hon. Mr. Pollock and, hangs like welfare and development of the Colony and a millstone round our neckeshenever we raise which all appear to be held up for want of fonds: Lord Crowe, explaining the transactions revenue to meet any exigerey that may occur. auch se Wireless Telegraph Stations at Hong- with the King, said that at the interview and I consider it only fair that the taxpayers kong and the Pratas, electric communication Government has engaged to erect and ill, but nevertheless ho would like to see him which he sud Mr. Asquith had with the of the Empire should bear the great portion of with Cheang Chau and Lanteo, roads to Lai Chi King on 15th November last they ascertain the cost of maintaining as a fortress and naval Kok and Tan Wan, from Farling to Au Tan ed His Majesty's view that if the opinion of and military base this Outpost of the Empire, and in many other places --Yonca, &c.,
punished by the criminal law.
Ministerialists, who appealed to the Speaker. This provoked an sugry outburst from
The latter remarked that it was only a pions opinion.
maintain a wireless telegraph station thers for meteorological purposes; and, secondly the wireless installation at Hongkong, we understand, will be provided by the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company or, failing them, by some other private com- pauy. That the opening up of the Now Lord Hugh Cooil continued. He said Territory by good roads is indispensable that the Premier had been guilty of high for the welfare and development of the treason in attempting to overthrow one of Colony is manifestly true, and we should the Houses of Parliament. much like to see spent upon this work the greater part of the money saved → if we may use that term--by the completion of the Post Office and Law Courts. We leave
BLACKMAILING THE KING,"
tropa
TAXPAYER.
beau
ATTEMPT TO KILL A EUROPEAN,
determined attempt seems to have.
Early yesterday morning, just abont dawa, z made by a Chinese to murder a doping Euro- pan on the Y. M.C. A. floor of Alexanden. Buildings. The European in question was Mr.“ R. L. Atkinson, an assistant ot. Messrs.
rooms there. Owing to the hoat he was sleeping on the verandah, and was aroused by a stab
General Election the creation of peers might British prestige in the Pacife from the Alontías the country was clearly defined by the which forms such an important link in the pre tootion of British trade, British property, and in the last resort be the only way of conclud Islands to Tanzania and from Parama ing the dispute. His Majesty faced these Brechos.
Nevertheless, it appears to me that Mr. contingencies and entertained the suggestion, although with logitimate reluctance. The Ede's arguments are King aturally felt, as did the Government, they might tend to disconnige the Council
faliasions, an:l,
that if they resigned and a dissolution fol- in framing the annual Estimates, which lowed it would be practically impossible to meat soun be brought forward, keep the Crown out of the controversy. providing the Revenue necessary for the Braver & Company's, who occupiss one of the This naturally was most distasteful to His devolopment and welfare of the Colony, I crave Majesty.
permission to encroach on your yainable space in Lord Haldane said that no sane Minister order to show that the statement which Mr. with a knife. He saw in the moonlight a din. to the Hon Mr. EDE the defence of throughout, and he congratulated Mr could have given other advice to the King Ede met out to controvert je tras; not only missed boy bending over him. Realising what
on bringing the great Let There was no other course open to the party to its knees. Neither the Govern-Government unless they were to find them-
selves in the humiliating position of ment, tlie Наняс of
acknowledging that the constitution had of the- House
Lords, йor the broken down and that the present situation Crowu had been free agents since Mr. was irremediable. Asquith's blackmailing letter to the King
his figures as to the relative wealth per head of the inhabitants of this Colony and Great
Sir Edward Carson declared that the Nationalists had dominated the situation
Redmond
GIN Britain, but we would like to make a com
ment or two on "Taxpayer's" conclusion that if we are to be taxed in proportion with our friends at Home we should contribute £2 is 8d each instead of the present sum of £1. 94 Od. We do not follow this argument. Taxpayer" admits that our income per capita is only one third that of our friends af Home; and that being so it seems to us that we should be taxed proportionately.sion. Even taking into account the income tax and the taxes on ten, coffee and sugar, and
IMPORTED AND BOTTLED BY-
LIMITED,
Alexandra Buildings,
[25
ou the 15th November last,
Commons,
This aroused a Ministerial cutburat, bat the Speaker refused to rule out the expres
جازی
The House passed the vote of censuro by 283 votes to 68.
*THE KING'S RELUCTANCE,
LATER,
by him, that is, in comparison with the average absolutely, but in the relative tonas pat forward
wealth of the individual.
Mr. Ede starts by showing that taxation in Great Britain in £6 176. Od. por hand, and in Hongkong $16, or £1 98. Od. only, less than
one-&fth.
He thes
proceeds to conipar the average wealth at the taxpayer at honic and iu Hongkong respectively: and patling the total national income of the United Kingdom at £2,000,000.000 espitalizes that income at 4 per cent, and obtains a total capital value of privately owned property in the United Kingdom of £50,000,000,000 sterling.
In this calculation Mr. Ele-ignores the dif- foronce between earned and unearned income.
The Times states that it has high authority for stating that Lord Crowe's reference to the King's reluctance was made by request. It is understood that Lord. Crewe's fresh account of the events of The earned income of the United Kingdom November last was the result of the visits (that is, salaries and wages) is estimated to of Baron Knollys to him and Mr. Asquith.amonut to about £1,000,000,000. or half the Yesterday the Times and the Daily Tele total the remaining half consists of rents Crewo's spooch in which is suggested the privately owned property is about £25,000,000,000 grayh emphasized the passage in Lord and profits of capital. Therefore, the total
possibility of the lamentable necessity of according to Mr. Ride's own method, or about Both £550 per head of the population instead of the unlimited creation of peers.
£1,090 na stated by him,
an eventuality.
זי
Mr. Churchill said the King was fully the higher taxes on spirits that are paid at acquainted in November with the true state of the political situation and all matters in A. S. WATSON & CO. Home, we must, on "Taxpayer's" own
showing, le paying taxation now equidispute, of which Home Rule was one of the valent to what the Home folks are most important. He reproached Lord Hugh paying, having regard to the rela-Cecil for talking of the possibilities of tive taxable capacity of the two places. disorder when 70,000 dockers, some of whom We even think that, to equalise matters,
were starving, were actually on strike in we ought to pay less because if we are con sidering the white population we have to London. The Government refused to accept take into account the fact that it costs a all the amendments of the Lords, but pro-journals appeal to the peers to prevent such: Europeau a bigger proportion of his posed to insert amendments providing that
to live in
4 sub-tropical than the Speaker should consult responsible in temperate eliuse. In trying to morgbers on both sides of the House, namely, ascertain the taxatile capacity of a commun- ity it iwas requisite to form some idea of the Chairman of Ways and Meats Com the necessary expenditure of as the income unittes and the Chairman of Pablic Accounts, per head, and this important factor seems before deciding whether a Bill was 2 money to be entirely ignored by "Taxpayer" Bill. They also proposed a few minor In the course of another mouth the Annual amendmente, including s
clause Estimates will be due for presentation to the Legislative Councit, and we shall then learn forbidding the extension of the life of a definitely whether or not increase of taxation Parliament beyond five years. in necessary. Meanwhile it is interesting to
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Telegraphis Address - PERRE
`Colis í"A.B.0, 5th Ed. Ineber,
P. O. Bor, 34. Telephone No. 12.
HONGKONG OFFIH: "104, DEB Vœux ROAD LONDON OFFICE 131, FLEET STREET, EO
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, Avqust 10th, 1911.
income
new
Lord Hugh Cecil's motion was rejected consider the possibilities of raising by 348 votes to 209. additional revenue, and “Taxpayer'e " suggestions will doubtless be eurofully considered should the need for increasing the taxation arise.
AMENDMENTS BY THE COMMON 8.
5. LATER.
The House of Commons has rejected the Lords' amendments on the Veto Bill
has
The English mail of the 8th July was delivered relating to money bills, und in London on August 8th.
One case of plague was reported yesterday, bringing the total for the seasou up to 253.
* Dr. W. B. AyMoore, of the Governmont Civil Hospital, leaver for Homs to-day by the Lustsów on twelve months' leave of abænco.
An assistant compradors residing at the Old. robbed of watches to the value of $600. Bailey reports to the police that he has been
passed an amendment requiring that the Speaker should consult with two members appointed each session from the panel of chairmen.
The Lords' amendment excluding Home Rule from the scope of the Bill wha rejected by 321 votes to 216.
He
Mr. Balfour said that this amendment alone was the cause of the Government' criminal advice to the Sovereign. refused to participate further in the debate in view of the procedure, which was the most conspictions and signal infamy in the whole constitutional history of the country.
The Government amendment providing
It is not often that we find a taxpayer in Hongkong advocating or. suggesting an increase of taxation, but we publish, to-day a letter from a taxpayer who, premising that additional revenue is ingently required to arry out many public works which, we agree,(are absolutely indispensable for the welfare and development of the Colony. The tiger stories are not yet ended. Another suggests the sources from which this comes from the New Territory. At Ta Shek income may be derived.. Our correspondent Yui on the 5th instant a tiger is reported to says it cannot be doubted that additional have killed a ballook. revenue is urgently required. We must confess to harbouring doubts on this point It was only in May last that H.E. The GovEuron, speaking in the Legislative Council said: "I think I may say that we can take comfort in the feeling that we or The Secretary of the Borneo Chamber of probably at the end of our financial difficul-Commerce has been officially informed that the ties, and that the revenue and prosperity of commencement of the service of mills toment was attempting thereby to save the the Colony has been placed on a satisfactory Borneo, vit Siberia, is only waiting the receipt face of Lord Lansdowne, against the Die
of some formal advices from the Postmaster Hards." The amendment above stated was footing, which will not demand of us any General of Hongkong, further sacrifices in the form of new taxa- tion." His Excellency based this statement
Chamber of Commeres shows 29 subscriptions The Snancial statement of the North Borneo paid, and on 30th Jane the Chamber had a balanes of $737 in hand.
Wo Fat, compradore, Vietoria Street, was
by Inspector Coombes for selling tins of un- wholesome food. The defendant pleaded that the tins were liable to go bad in this olimate bat his Worship did not accept the plea and a fine of $57 was imposed.
on a review of the complete financial returns proceeded against at the Magistracy yesterday of Inst year which showed under nuany important headings that the revenue had er ceeded the estimates. We trust the returns for the current year to date have not been of a leas gratifying character, for it was 'obviously upon a continuance of these in
་
Major W. H. Wooldridge, 126sh Balochistac dications of prosperity that HIS EXCELLENCE Infantry, has been granted furlough to England counted and based his expectation that the ❘ on private affaire, from 10th January, 192, to community would not be called upon to make | 9th January, 1913. Leave of absence, en private further sacrifices in the form of taxation, affairs, to the neighbouring countries, has been Our doubt of the real for additional granted to Capt. A. D. Wating, RA.M.C., from taxation, however, does not rest alone upon 30th August to 29th October, 1911, indusive,
THE OPIUM CONFERENCE.
Then Mr. Ede estimates the value of property ir this Colony at $275,000,000, or £60 per head of population: ho does not say whance this | figure is derived, and I am therefore unable to
oriticise it,
"Lowboy, August 9th.
But the ability to pay taxes does not only de. A Washington message states that all the pend on the property of the taxpayer, it depends interested Powers have accepted the pro
upon his income, and it must be remembered posals of the Opium Conference and invita that nearly every male adult in Hongkong is tions will shortly be issued for a Con-working and earning an income, and that ference to be held at the Hague on the 15th October.
THE "NIOBE."
LONDON, August 9th. The Canadian craisor Niobe
which
here the proportion of male adults to the total is very much in excess of a similar proportion at home, and that in Hongkong the female adults are mostly income earners as powauts, sèrvants or coolies,
If in the United Kingdom the earned income is about equal to the unearned income, in
and aroused men sleeping in the salinining had happened, Mr. Alkinson yalled for assistance
rooms, but the boy on the alarm being raised hurriedly made his escape, nad in falling over an obstacle in the room dropped the knife, which was of the kind commonly used by Chinese onoks.
Mr. Atkinson's injury was promptly attended to. Fortunately it is not of a serious pature. The miscreant evidently missed his mark, and - instead of a deep stab he made a long slanting out on his victim's side.
It was subsequently discovered that the boy hall takon Mr. Atkinson's revolver from the drawer in which he kept it, and had tried to tice it, but the cartridges in it fortuantely proved of no use.
The police bare the matter in land.
TYPHOON WARNING.
the American Consulate General, Hongkong, The telegram quoted below was received by from the Manila Observatory at noon yester day:-Cyclone or Typhoon SE, of Naka, moving
W. or W.N.W.
SHIPPING NOTES
There has been some doubt in Hongkong us to whether Captain Archibald was in command of the Empress of Chinas on her last fateful trip, as the C. P. R. Commodore had intended taking a holiday. The accounts wo reproduced from the Yokohamaa papers yesterday pot an end to doubt. Captain Archibald was in command. and he will have the sympathy of hosty of friends on both sides of the Pacific in his misfortune. An illustrated supplement publishest by the Japan Gazette gives néven. views of the wrecked stester:
Archibald, R.N.R., Commandor; Mr. A. O. The ship's officers are så follow -Captain R.
went aghots on the coast of Nova Scotia Hongkong the former must exceed the latter Copper, R.N.R.; Chief Officer; Mr. C. E.
has been towed to Halifax.
BRITISH TRADE RETURNS.
by a'very large sum.
The average annual earned income at home is apparently about £22 per houd of population flacluding women and children); in Hongkong we have no data upon which toform an estimata, but I think we may safely say that it is not loss. than 212 a year.
縣
Daniel, R.N.R., Second Ofoer, Mr. V. W. N. Higgens, R.N... Ex. Second Offiger, Mr. G. Partington, R.N.R., Fourth Officer; Mr. W. Watson, E.N.R: Third Office: Mr. H. W. Mathiesen, R.N.B., Chief Engineer; Mr. S. C. LONDON, August 9th: British trade returns for the month
Binos, Farrer; Br. John S. Stewart, M.D, of July show an increase in imports of
If income at 5 per cent, on Mr. Ede's average Surgeon; Mr. D. C. Bissett, Chief Steward; £1,690,048, mostly in food, tabacco capital of £60 owned by each individual here and Mrs. M. E. Murchison, Stewardess. and raw materials. Exports show is added, the average gross income earned and
The Imperial Mail Steamer line of the
East Asia and decrease of £3,780,541, mostly in iron.arned is £15 at least: whilst the average North German Lloyd to
gross income earned and unearned at home is Australia on June 30th completed 25 years" £44, or about 3 times as much.
work. The pioneer steamer was the Order, It therefore we are to be taxed in proportion Captain Pieiffer, which opened the voyages on with our friends at home we should contribute June 30th, 1886, wuilt as the second steamer £2.5. 8. each instead of the present sum of the Salier followed to Australia on July 14th.`
1. 9. 0..
The Secretary of State Delbrock and the Secre- To descend, however, from the realms of para tary for Postal Affaire sunt congratulatory tele- theory to actal facts, let us enquire what rates grans to the Norddeutscher Lloyd, expressius awl taxes an ordinary householder pays in the hope that the company's lines to the Far England and Hongkong respectively.
East may continue to prosper.
steel, cotton and wool manufactures.
NEW AMERICAN STATES.
LONDON, August 9th. Washington messages state that the Marice and Arizona intothe union of States. Senate has admitted the Territories of New
THE POPE.
If he lives in an urban district in England ble rates and taxes (including water rate, inhabit.
It was mentioned in this column a week ago
ad house duty, poor, education, police, borough, that the Palermo went aground on the Kana- &c.) will probably amount to at least 37 per
gawa side of Yokohama breakwater during the
LONDON, August 9th The Pope is suffering from cold and gouty that the Speaker should have a consultative pains. Sisters are in the Vatican nursing, or 7/6d. in the pound: he pays taxes on stor of the 25th-26th instant. Tug operations ounnittee eroked protests from Radiosands His Holiness.
his tea, coffee, nosos and tobson; he pays tax having proved unsuccessful, dredgers hail Labourites who declared that the Govern← -
aubstituted.
The clause limiting the duration of Farliament was adopted.
es of 2/6d. a bottle on his brandy and nearly 2 to be employed to dig round the vessel. Her a bottle on his whisky, and to crown all, he pays condition was reported by the Harbour Offica income tax.
authorities as being worse than that of th Hitachi-maru, which also went where in that section of the harbour during the storm of the 19th June. The depth of water at this point is about 19 feet.
„STRIKES IN ENGLAND.
I estimate that renta in Hongkong are about LONDON, August 9th.
two and a half times those pall for equivalent Four thousand railway workers are idle accommodation in su average lan or suburban at Liverpool. The strikers have issued a residential area in England, and as we pay manifesto in which all railwaymen in rates baro at 1.3 per cent, on this higher rent, we sympathy with the strike are requested to may say that we pay 32h por dent, as against 371. Two minor amendments were agreed to strike in protest against the Conciliation at home: our without disenission.
Boarde. All goods stations and docks are smokes are dutý free, we pay about la. ·30. a A committee was afterwards appointed toas. Quantities of meat and butter and 'draft reasons for disagreeing with certain of
other perishable goods are being held up. the Lords' amendmenta...
Mr. Balfour informed Mr. Churchill that
they would repeal the Bill, but not without when the Unionists were returned to power
substituting reform therefor.
It is expected that the division in the House of Lords will not be taken before Thursday.
THE DELTH DURBAR,
LONDON, August 9th. Lord Crewe had an audience at Bucking had Palace regarding the Durbar. Baron Knollys in the afternoon called upon Lord Crewe and then went to Downing Street,
breakfast tables, and our
bottle on brandy and less than 18 Id. on whisky,
and we pay xo INCOME TAX, Amongst the Chinese the duties on whisky, &c, are repressated by the duties on lamahn and the rent of the Opium Farm.
The Toyo Kisen Kaisha, having added the Shingo-maru to their fleet of Trans-Pacific liners, announce the inauguration of the now service from Yokohama on the 29th inst.
Captain H. Stanley Smith will command the new liner, which is vessel of 21,000 tɔns, capable of a speed of 21 knots. She was built in Japan
If our rates were increased to 16 per cent (ie,
"The Economist states that the following issues the home level if my estimate is correct) the of British capital have taken place during the Revenue would gain at least $230,000 without last six months:For the United Kingdom, the expenditure of a single extrs cent in colled £16,677,000; for Britisti possessions, £35,576,000 tion, and the additional $2 or 3 month to each including 23,167,500 for Australasia and £19,784,500 for Canada); for foreign countries, £65,230,000,
householder would be inconsiderable,