Page
INTIMATEN
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAY, MARCH 18гn, 1912.
to establish compulsory arbitration, and we have The Tintes suggesting that it is improbable that the Bill contemplated by the Government will be
Buch
the Opposition in the House of Commons would support, or the House of Lorda
will be accept or that it exactly what the miners would wish.
A. S. WATSON A few days hauce it might be possible
& CO., LTD.,
ESTABLISHED AD, 1841.
to form a better idea of the prospects of n settlement. Meanwhile we can but follow the advice embodied in the classic phrase, "wait and see.” When we read of the enormous number of men engaged in the various industries who have been thrown out of employment by this crisis we begin to ralise what calamitous results the strike must have upon the trade of the country and WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANTS, {the national revenue. There are only two
SHERRY.
WE
can confidently recommend
following
na Xeres Wines of Highest Class Specially Selected, Shipped direct,
TELEGRAMS.
"|THROUGH BIOTER'S, AGN #OT,) THE STRIKE CRISIS.
GLOOMY OUTLOOK.
LONDON, March 16th. The reports to-night are most gloomy, and it is stated that the Conference has only accentuated the differences between the parties Y,
An abrupt termination of the negotia tions is apprehended..
Before the House of Commons adjourn- ed, Mr. McKenna informed Mr. Bonar Law that he could only say that the Con- ference is still sitting and would possibly be continued to-morrow,
THE EFFECT ON THE RAILWAYS.
The railways in England are making further large curtailments of labour.
The Midland Railway Company in ad- vancing sums to their unemployed on the understanding that the amounts will be
full work. repaid when they return to
At the request of Mr. Asquith the coal- TELEGRAMS. TELEGRAMS.
owners and miners have appointed repre- sentatives to confer with the Government
in the
preparation of the Strike Bill. Mr. Ramsay Macdonald, M.P., was called in consultation at yesterday's Cabinet Council on the Strike Bill.
MINERS' ATTITUDE.
The Miners' Federation states that their Executive has been authorised to consider the Minimum Wage Bill, which will be in- troduced immediately, with a view to safe- guarding the miners' interests, but not to recommend the resumption of work until they see ita final shape.
Mr. Asquith said that, considering the extent of the earnings and the number of the people affected, the dispute every day becanie a more serious menace to the well- being of the country,
PREMIER 8' AUDIENCE WITH THE KING,
Mr. Asquith had an audience with the King, to whom he explained the strike position.
ways of averting complete industrial para lysis. Either this strike must be done by legislation, by force majeure, orthominers and coal-owners must be left to fight it out until complete exhaustion of the miners' resources, leading to starvation, puts them in a frame of mind to compromise. It is the duty of Government, however, to protect the trade of the country from ruination, and the it is inconceivable that either the Opposi the tion in the House of Commons or
even a conservative House of Lords will say and even the truth is capable of it- band the Labourites are likely to oppose. ferent interpretations. The position ap-
THE POSITION.
The Westminster Gazette affirms that it is useless to endeavour to follow the daily vicissitudes of the Conference, as the in- formation relating thereto in mostly hear
GOVERNMENT'S DELICATE POSITION. It is expected that the Minimum Wage Bill will be introduced in the House of Commons on Tuesday, and it is hoped that it will be passed by the end of the week, though it is recognised that there are The Government's many difficulties.. position is most delicate. On the one
TáBOUGH REUTEX'S AGBNOT] P. & O. STEAMER SUNK IN
* COLLISION.
OCEANA" FOUNDERS NEAR
BEACHY HEAD.
THE
ALL PASSENGERS BUT SEVEN · ACCOUNTED FOR.
...
LONDON, March 17th. The four-masted barque Pisapua struck the P. & O. steamer Oceana, which sailed yesterday for Bombay, broadside on, four miles west of Beachy Head."
The passengers and crew were landed at Newhaven and Eastbourne.
.....
LATER.
[2HROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY,].
HONGKONG UNIVERSITY.
APPOINTMENT OF SIR CHARLES ELIOT.
LONDON, March 17th. Sir Charles Eliot, K.O.M.G., Vice- Chancellor of this University of Sheffield, Thas accepted the appointment of Head of
the University of Hongkong..
THE FRENCH AND CHINESE-
REPUBLICS
BEMARKABLE DEMONSTRATION IN PARIS.
LONDON, March 16th.
The Oceaan sank two miles from shore. There has been a remarkable Franco- while being towed to the beach. She Chinese demonstration in Paris at a ban- went down slowly in about twenty feet of quet organised by Mr. Wu, the Chinese water. Her side was smashed. She dis Minister to Rome appeared in twenty minutes, keeling right
on
over.
The captain and crew, who were board, were rescued by a tng.
Several passengers were severely cut and bruised in the collision.
The passengers, and crew were saved by the mail steamer Sustez and the lifeboats Irom Newhaven and Eastbourne.
There was a numerous company present, including ex-Premier Monis, Anatole France, and many Deputies. The Chinese Diplourats in London, St. Petersburg, and Vienna, and many students attended, all dressed in European costame,
Mr. Wu, in the course of a speech de- livered in excellent French, proclaimed that the Chinese republic was essentially
Miss Macfarlane, who was rescued from pacific, acapsized boat and taken to an East-Justice."
and do anything to thwart the efforts of the pears to be that the miners will discuss the arbitration, while the employers generally bourne hotel, says that the capsized boat
In Quality and Price they are unequalled,
A LIGHT DBY ...
B. VINO DE PASTO
Per
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Government unless they are prepared with alternative proposals likely to meet with readier acceptance by both parties to the struggle in the coal districts. It would be futile, for instance, to argue, as critics of the Government are doing, that Tariff Reform is the panacea for all the country's labour troubles. · Labour unrest is common to all countries, and the 1.50 origin of it is a growing tendency every- where for the men to consider that "JACK is as good as his master." Tariff Reform 2.05 may lead to an improvement in the rates of wages, but in that eront it would be equally certain, to lead to increased cost of living and to a restriction of the country's foreign trade consequent upon the enhanced cost of production. Whatever solation may now be found can be at best, A. S. WATSON & CO., we think, but a temporary expedient. The
C.
OLOROSO
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22.30
D. SUPERIOR PALE DRY 24.30
FINEST PALE DRY,
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ALEXANDRA BUILDINGS.
NOTICE TO CORRESPONDEN TO
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[23
ONLY communications relating to the news oulumn should be addressed to Tim EDITOR.
Correspondents must forward their names and addresses with communications nā. dressed to the Editor, nul for publícation hut as evidenor of good faith.
All Letters for publication should be written on one side of paper only.
No anonymously signed communications that have already appeared in other papers will be inserted.
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MARRIAGE.
On the 11th March, 1912, at St. John's Cathedral, Hongkong, by the Rev. F. T. Johnson, ROLAND HUBERT ELLIS, Singa- pore, youngest son of the late Stead Ellis, of Nelson, New Zealand, to. ETHEL, STAVELEY, of Wellington, New Zealand.
The ultimate goal sens to be the elimination of the capitalist; and it is plain that the nationalisation of mines is being brought - within the range of practical politics by reason of the insecurity of private capital which this uational strike of coal miners illustrates Nothing could be fairer than the proposal
which Mr. Asquirs has been urging botli sides to adopt, pamely, the 6xing of a minimum wage for each district by a small
The
schedules if the owners will accept the principle of the minimum wage. Scottish and Welsh owners will only as cept; the principle if the Government The Government, how- compels them. ever, can only compel them if the miners consent to discuss the schedules.
any attempt to establish compulsory sitting in the House of Commons will not accept the Bill unless it carries punitive powers against both parties. alg The Times believes that the safeguards. for the protection of the employers will follow the lines of the proposals of the Federated Coal-Owners published in The Times on February 21st,
MINERS JUBILANT.
...
LATER.
KING'S VISITS ABANDONED. Owing to the coal strike the King's visits to Foreign Courts, due this spring, have been definitely abandoned for 1912,
The proceedings at the Miners' Con- as, even in the event of a settlement, theference yesterday were most enthusiastic, distress and unrest will continue for some time, and their Majesties home engage ments prevent their going abroad in the summer or autumn.
NINERS DISSATISFIED WITH THEIR LEADERS. Both owners and miners are pessimistic regarding the ultimate outcome.
The miners in North Wales are express ing anxiety to resume.
To-day's feature is that two small Lanarkshire pits have resumed and an other is expected to follow.
Reports are coming in of the growing dissatisfaction in parts of Scotland, Wales, the Midlands, and Yorkshire with the leaders' policy and the smallness of the strike pay, consequently a number of Labour Members of Parliament are going
into their districts,
LATER.
CONFERENCE AGAIN DELAYED. The resumption of the Conference this board or committee composed of repre-afternoon was delayed owing to the pro- sentatives of the owners and the miners, longed meeting of the Miners' Federation. with a representative of the Government Sir Hugh Bell declared that matters as a sort of referee. A basis of settlement were not progressing well and nothing nad ought to be possible on these lines been done.
The French cruiser Kleber left the bar- bear on Saturday at noon:
The University Bazaar was concluded
the delegates regarding the promised Bill as a great triumph, and expressing little doubt that it would be of a character which they would be able to approve.
Mr. Albert Stanley, Labour M.P., in an interview declared that the miners believed that their will would be enforced in a few days.
WILL THE BILL. PARS! The Times, which praised Mr. Asquith's conduct during the disheartening and laborious negotiations, points out the possibility of the Bill baving an opposite effect to ending the strike, and considers it improbable that the Bill contemplated the Government, and such as the Opposition would support and the House
of Lords accept, would be exactly what the miners would wish.
INCREASING DISTRESS.
also contained her father, a clergyman,
whose fate is uncertain at present. · his wife and children, and other ladies,
The specie, to the amount of £747,810, was for Bombay, except £1,840 for Port Said.
The Pisugun arrived at Dover in a sink ing condition. A passenger named Chor!- ton has received a fractured arm.
· LATER. Captain Hutchinson, of the Yorkshire
Regiment, who was a passenger, says that second-class passengers aboard who were there were about 16 first-class and 30 abed at the time. It was a clear night. There was a terrible crash at five o'clock. in the morning, The Ocean was going at full speed, and she shivered from stem to stern. The passengers immediately rushed on deck. The conduct of the women and white men was splendid. That of the Lascars was abominable.
The P&O. Company announces that. all the passengers except seven are ac- counted for,
The accounts of the disaster show the
many were wading on the ship in two feet inrash of water to have been so great that. of water. Life-beits were served out. The
Its motto was "Liberty and
UNREST IN MEXICO,
LONDON, March 18th. President, Taft, by virtue of the Bill just passed, has proclaimed the penalties for exporting arms, into Mexico to be a fine of $10,000 (gold) or two years' imprison-
ment.
THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMAND.
Loynos, March 16th. Lieut.-General Hart has been gazetted
the British troops in South Africa. to succeed Lord Methuen in command of
SCIENTIST HONOURED.
LONDON, March 10th. Professor Joseph Thomson, the noted scientist, bus received the Order of Merit.
THE UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE TRIALS.
LONDON, March 17th. The Oxford crew went over the fall course in a trial yesterday in unfavourable conditions in 22 minutes 5 seconds.
ITALY AND TURKEY.
LONDON. March 17th.
first boat launched did not clear the
Italy yesterday replied to the enquiry of blocks properly and swamped. One lady the Powers stating the terms on which was saved, but it is feared that the re-Italy will end the war. mainder of the occupants were drowned. Captain Hutchinson's own boat made for the lighthouse and was picked up by the Eastbourne life-boat in the nick of time, as they were baling continuously.
The newspapers generally urge the miners to return to work immediately the Bill is passed in view of the distress which is increasing with most alarming rapidity.
The majority of the passengers landed The prospects are swiftly increasing towards industrial paralysis of the most at Newhaven in a very dejected condition. A number of them were injured, some. alarming character. Thousands were dis-with arms broken. Eighteen passengers ar- The Miners' Federation announces that missed at Glasgow yesterday, and the disrived in London in night at are wrapped the negotiations are broken off..
GOVERNMENT TO TAKE OTHER MEASURES,
LONDON, March 17th.
NEGOTIATIONS BROKEN OFF.
The
It is feared that four others were drowned by the capsizing of a boat, also some of the crew.
ofà
AN ESSEX ELECTION:
LONDON, March 17th. Mr. Rupert Guinness has been returned unopposed for South-East Essex.
JAPAN THE PEACE GUARANTEE
OF THE EAST."
but inasmuch as negotiations with a view to secure the voluntary adoption of this solution have proved fruitless, it can only
tress in the mining and iron districts is in blankets and overcoats, the ladies with
LONDON, March 17th. most acute. Many miners have expressed their hair down. Nine were landed at Reuter's correspondent at New York be hoped that there is better possibility of ~
their determination to resume work. Eastbourne..
telegraphs that at a luncheon given in patting the scheme into operation by legis In an official statement Mr. Asquith in Yesterday 200,000 non-unionists started at lative action. The present situation cannot formed the Conference that though the
honour of the new Japanese Ambassador, long ondure, we should think, without draw-Government had done their utmost they Bellshill, Lanarkshire. They were escort
Mr. Jacob Shift declared that the Ameri can and European bankers consented to ing the country to the verge of a civil war.
regretfully concluded that it was imposed by police, whom the mob of strikers sible to reach an agreement.. Other mea-stoned. A dozen were arrested, including A French trawler has arrived at New invite Japan to render financial help to
éome Polish and Welsh misiers. One of haven with two bodies--one
China Japan, he said, was the greatest. gures must, therefore, be taken.
peace guarantee of the East, standing the strike leaders, used Hartshorn, stewardess, the other a Lascar. Government would ask Parliament for in a speech last night, said compulsory
The number of the crew missing is un-sentinel over Asia. He was thankful that legislative declaration that a reasonable arbitration would not settle the strike. known. Altogether 32 passengers have ar-Japan instead of Russia was victorious. minimum wage accompanied by safeguarde
The outstanding fact is," he said, that rived in London. for employers should be a statutory por- the workers are masters of the situation.
miners. Without pledging the Govern ment to the precise form of the machinery, Mr. Asquith indicated. that district minima would be fixed locally by joint boards of employers and employees with a
A telegram from Buenos Ayres states neutral and independent chairman select- The 5.5. Cleveland, which was in Hong-ed by both parties or if necessary by the that the second official estimate of the kong some four months ago, has returned Government. The Government's pro- crops give: Corn, 4,610,900 tons; Bax 595,000 tons; oats, 877,300 tons. Although to Hongkong with another large comple-Posals included provisions for securing the crops will not be so heavy as repre- ment of round the world travellers. The promptitude in the presentation of the tourists did not visit Canton owing to the parties' cases, and adjudication thereon.sented in the first estimate, it will be
After hearing. Mr. Asquith both parties larger than last year. disturbed state of the city. The steamer-
made suggestions, the details of which the constitutes a record. ve leaves this morning..
Government representatives undertook to consider.
youngest daughter of the late Colone- Saturday. There was a large attention of the contract for all underground They have all the power and it is simply leg amputated.
dance.
[471
For being in unlawful possession of 11 HONGKONG OFFION: 104, DES VOTE ROAD Catties of chestnuts at Tsim Teat Teot, a man was at the Magistracy fined $5 or LONDON OFFICE: 131, FLB7 StBunt. BO
14 days' in prison.
The Daily Press.
a question of how they will use it.'
ARGENTINE CORN CROPS.
LONDON, March 17th.
The maize crop
BATTLESHIP MAINE" SUNK
AGAIN.
IMPOSING CEREMONY.
The ship's carpenter has had to have à
LATER.
INVESTITURE OF THE HON. MR. E, A. HEVETT, C.M.G
At the farewell "At Home" given by It is hoped to salve the bullion on board E. Sir Frederick Lugard on Friday the Oceano, whose masts are above water.
[The Oceane was formerly on the night, there was a little ceremony which Bombay-China. run. She was taken off has been unnoticed by the Press. It was this run about two years ago and had been the investiture of the Hon. Mr. E A on the Bombay-Calcutta run until lately Hewett with the Order of the Companion- when she raade a trip from Bombay to London. She was scheduled to leave ship of St. Michael and St. George. The London last Friday for Botabay, The warrant and the decoration arrived only comunander of the Oceania is Captain the previous day, and His Excellency bad
Owen Jones, R.N.R., who has a high re-
putation in the service. He is a son of communicated to Mr. Hewett bis regrets the late General Jones, V.C. Whether that he was unable to hold an investitore Captain Jones was in command of the before he left. It was an afterthought ship on this fatal trip we do not learn from the telegrams yet to hand. The Ocean was built at Belfast in 1887, and her tonnage was 6,610 ED.]-
THE VIRGINIA SHOOTING AFFAIR.
HONGKONG, MARCH 18TH, 1912. THIS is the eighteenth day of the coal miners' strike in Great Britain and still
that the investiture could be combined there is no prospect of an immediate termi-
At the Victoria Theatre on Saturday,
with the farewell At Home," and when nation. The best prospects of the ending
RANKS OF UNEMPLOYED SWELLED,
this idea suggested itself, about cloven a large audience witnessed the American of the striko lie, we think, not in the fact production of "Fiddle-dee-dee." The Texas swelled by thousands yesterday; for ex- The ranks of the unemployed were
o'clock on Friday night, it was in- that the Government intends to introdues Tommy Dance was, as has been advertis ample, 12,000 from the Paisley thread
LONDON, March 17th.
mediately acted upon. Many of His Ex-. into the House of Commons to-morrow a
The United States battleship Maine,
calency's "guests had already departed, LONDON, March 17th. The da suro cure for the blues,”
mills; 2,000 from the locomotive works at
Reuters correspondent at Roanoke but a goodly number were still there. Bill empowering joint boards to fix in every matinee yesterday afternoon was weil Swindon; 5,000 from the linoleum mills at which was recently refloated to ascertain mining district a minimum rate of wage, so attended. Playgoers should not miss "A. Oldham; 5,000 from the textile and how she foundered, has been sunk again telegraphs that the posse of citizens which Dancing was temporarily stopped, and the much as in the exhaustion of the funds of Night Off" at the Victoria Theatre to-machinery works at Accrington; while
off the Cuban coast, with imposing sere- went in pursuit of the brothers Allen and Hon. Mr. Hewett was escorted to the dias, the Unions by strike pay, and the distress night.
1,000 commercial travellers at Manchester mony. The deck was strewn with flowers others of the gang stormed Sydney Allen's as the ceremony requires, by two Com-
and the warships fired salvos. occasioned by the increasing cost of living
have been ordered to take a holiday.
house and wounded Allen seriously. panions of the Order the Hon. Mr. W. The bodies of the crew will be taken to Several others were captured.
Chatham and the Hon, Mr. Albert Browne in consequones of the restricted output of
SETTLEMENT PROSPECTS.
(of South Africa, who is on a brief visit manufactures due to the strike. We see little
There are hopes that the miners at their the United States for interment.
to his brother, Mr. Frank Browne, Gov- own desire will resumo work. This is the hope for the passage of legislation which will
ernment Analyst). His Excellency in a afford satisfaction to both parties. Mr. An extraordinary meeting of the share-
best prospect for the end of the strike. holders took place on the 13th of February
few brief words referred to Mr. Bowett's Asquire for nearly a fortnight has been pres last in St. Petersburg. It was decided to
Even the extremists of South Wales are
public services in Shanghai and especially ging unavailingly upon both sides a volun increase the capital of the Bank by reprezented as being angry with their tary acceptance of the proposals which Roubles 20,000,000 (about £sig. 2,100,000) leaders for causing them to believe that the
in Hongkong, where he has for many years served the public on the Executive and apparently are to be embodied in the Bill For this purpose 106, 106 shares of France strike would be settled in their favour in 500 nominal each will be issued at about
Legislative Councils, on the Sanitary the Government are now framing, though Frs. 740 each. Of the latter amount three days.
Board, and on many other public bodies, including the General Chamber of Com- it is possible that by the insertion of penal Frs. 500 will be attributed to the Capital.
merce, of which he has for several years clauses for breaches of the Act, the proposals of the Bank, Fre. 183 to the ordinary re serves and the balance, less issning
been the Chairman. Hu Excellency con- may become more acceptable to both parties charges, will be carried to the extra
gratulated Mr. Hewett upon this recogni We are told, however, in the telegrams that ordinary reserves. The total of the the Labour Party in the House of Capital and Reserves of the Bank will therefore be increased by Rouble- Commons is likely to oppose any attempt 20,800,000 (£3,110,000 sterling about).
THE RUSSO ASIATIU BANK,
THE MINIMUM WAGE BILAN The Daily News states that the Bill will empower the Government to work the mines of those owners who do not accept the principle of the minimum wage
A special meeting of the Cabinet has
considered the Strike Bill
INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL.
GERMAN POLITIC'S.
LONDON, March 17th. LONDON, March 17th. Reuter's correspondent at Berlin tele- In the international rugby match Scotgraphs that Herr Wermuth, Imperial Sec- land beat England by eight points to retary for Finance, has resigned, owing three, at Edinburgh.
to a disagreement over the new defonce In the international association match hills. Herr Kucha, Under Secretary, has at Belfast Scotland beat Ireland by four been appointed to succeed him. : goals to one.
DISASTROUS MINE EXPLOSION.
AMERICA AND SUGAR IMPORTS.
LONDON, March 17th
LONDON, March 17th.. Reuter's Washington correspondent tion by His Majesty, pinned the decora Fifty men have been killed by an extelegraphs that the House of Representation to his breast, and handed him tha plosion in a cont mine at Italianka intives has passed, the Fres Sugar Bill,
warrant amidst hearty applause.
Boath Russia.