Page
INITMATION :
S. WATSON & CO., LTD.,
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, MARCH £2ND 1812.
ross to an unprecedentedly high level, exoced» ing the previous record price by about 70 per cent, and in order to meet the needs of the local population, the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture deemed it advisable to pro- hibit the export of paddy to Bangkok from certain-diatrists in the interior, and, owing to the shortage, the unusual course of in porting rice into Bangkok from Singapore was resorted to. These were only temporary expedients, and it was felt that the situation would only be saved if the new crop of the season 1911-12 proved to be a good one. At one time the prospects of the growing erop were far from bright and it wasfeared that the Government might find itself compelled to prohibit the export. of rice from Siam WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANTS, entirely. The situation seemed to have
ESTABLISHED A.D. 1841.
SHERRY.
can confidently recommend
the
WE
following as Xeres Wines of Highest Class, Specially Selected, Whipped direct.
and
In Quality and Price they are unequalfed.
been saved by the heavy rains which fell in September last, and it was anticipated that with the continuance of seasonable rains, unaccompanied hy floods, a fair average crop would be obtained. The rains, bow.
(
The l'oochow ran into the H.M.B. Plors TELEGRAMS. TELEGRAMS. TELEGRAMS.
The Foochowa
as she was proceeding up-river to Shanghai last Friday afternoon, struck the Flora's port bow with her atar- board bow. The Flore was at anchor at. the time, and was only slightly damaged, but the Foochow had several of her plates so badly damaged that she had to be doek ed as quickly as possible.
The scenic railway, which proved such a great attraction at the University Bazar, is, we understand, to be sold by public auction by Mr. Geo. P. Lammert. Many enterprising persons have perceived that a show of this kind has attractive possibili ties. We have heard of three or four syndicates eager to acquire it, and if that ding, with substantial benefit to the it so there ought to be some spirited bid-
University funds.
Next month The Great Raymond," who is at the top of his profcasion as a magician, is paying the Colony a visit
(THROUGH BEUTEK'S AGENCY.]
COAL STRIKE.
· CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS.
SERIOUS SITUATION.
(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCT.]
BRITISH NAVY ESTIMATES.
IMPERTAL DEFENCE.
RECIPROCAL NAVAL INFORMA TION FROM GERMANY.
LONDON, March 21st. The week's decreases in traffic on the railways amount to £57,000, the decrease on the North-Eastern being 289,000; Mid-
LONDON, March 21st. In the debate in the House of Commons Western, £82,000. land, £83,000; and London and North
Several prominent lines are experi-o the Navy Estimates,
Mr. J. Murray Macdonald, - Liberal M.P. for Falkirk Burghs, urged that it menting with oil fuel.
KOFEFUL OUTLOOK.
A settlement of the immediate crisis is would be quite safe to reduce the Navy, regarded de more hopeful. The employers as the German Government's main argu- believe that the men will resume work, butment to induce the people to accept the there is no guarantee against a fresh additional burdens was based on what strike. The Yorkshire miners are pre- Great Britain was doing,
The Right Hon. Mr. Winston Churchill, paring for an immediate return to work,
that the reply to the invitation conveyed.
(PHROUGH RMUTAR'S "LOMNOY.]).
RAILWAYMEN'S DEMANDS.
LONDON, March 21st. The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants announce that they intend to submit a new national programme to the Railway Companies in May. The pro- Kramme will include & demand for a 25/- a week minimum wage for all adults.
VOTES FOR WOMEN.
LONDON, March 21st. The Women's Enfranchisement Bill will be taken in the House of Commons on the 28th instant.
PEACE IN PERSIA.
LONDON, March 21st. Reuter's correspondent at St. Peters- burg telegraphs that Persia has replied to the Anglo-Russian Note which offered an
The
| over, quickly ceased altogether, and the crop and will give exhibitions at the Theatre while the Scottish miners have been warn- First Lord of the Admiralty, pointed out advance of £200,000 to Persia at seven
Royal. He was the chief attraction fored to hold themselves in readiness to re- several months at the London Hippodrome sume work on Monday. The Sanquhar last year, and is now touring the East, pits have re-opened. under Mr. Maurice Bandmann's man- agement. He is on his way to the United States. The accounts given of his per-
}
SOUTH CHINA RIFLE
ASSOCIATION."
⚫ reports sinec issued from Siam indicate
anything but satisfactory conditions there indeed the crop reports for the period ending December last revealed a sad condition of affairs, perhaps unprecedented the in the history of that country, the detailed formances wherever he has appeared show various monthions that the entertainment he provides is one reporta from the (districts) indicating extremely poor pros-which should not be missed. pects, and fears have been expressed that the harvest will be so poor that scarcely 40 per cent, of a normal crop can be btained. Prospects of the rice harvest are also re- ported to be unfavourable in Cochin-China, Japan, Java and the Philippine Islands. Conditions even in the paddy districts of Pahang, Province Wellesley and parts of Kedah, Prai and Perlis are exceptionally unsatisfactory, owing to the drought, a d 190 crops over considerable areas in those dis- stricts are an almost total failure. It is estimated that the season's crop is likely to fall 70 per cent. bolow a good season'sC. A. Anderson. 2.55 average crop. Thus, we see that in' almost. every rice-producing country ni. Asis the harvest has been unfavourable. Only in
Per Par
dozen. bottle. 816.80 81.45
LIGHT DRY
B.
VINO DE PASTO
0.
COLOROSO
D.
17.80 1.60
22.30
SUPERIOR PALE DRY 24.30
3
FINEST PALE DRY,
NUTTY
29,80
2,05
A. S. WATSON & CO..
LIMITED,
ALEXANDRA BUILDINGS.
[23
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Telegraphie Address: Pass
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The annual meeting is now in progress at Stonecutter's Range, and King's Park Record entries have been re Range. ceived; British Army and Navy events average 500 entries each event; Indian regiment events average 750 entries each
event.
The prizes, which are on view in Messrs. J. Gaupp & Co.'s show wing dows, Chater Road, will be presented on 26th inst., at King's Park Runge by Mrs
THE MAGISTRACY.
LATER.
SITUATION AGAIN' COMPLICATED. The decision of the Miners' Fedoration
in the late Sir Henry Campbell-Banner-per cent. on certain conditions. reply is satisfactory at all points. man's prolonged restraint in aval con- struction was not a slackening but n
AMERICAN POLITICS. doubling in the rate of German construc-
LONDON, March 21st. tion: He did not believe that such
Mr. La Follette, the insurgent-Repub- to-night has again complicated the situa restraint would now break the spell, but
The Federation insists upon s tiou.
he hoped that the moderate though suff-lican, las defeated Mr. Roosevelt in the minimum of 5/- per day for all adult cient standard which the Government Presidential primaries at Dakota,
workers except piece-workers and 2 a day for boys.
OPPOSITION TO MINIMUM WADE BILL
The Unionist leaders have given notice of their intention to move the rejection of the Minimum Wage Bill. Mr. Balfour will move this. It is rogarded, however, more as a demonstration of protest rather than an indication of their determination to wreck the Bill, which, it is still thought, will pass.
. The attitude of the Miners' Federation is causing grave anxiety to Ministerialists regarding the fate of the Bill. The Federation says the Bill must contain the schedule rates for howers in ench district, and calls upon the Labour Party to amend the Bill in this direction.
had set up as a guide and an indication would remove uncertainty from our naval policy and avoid the yearly necessity of prolonged and heated debates in which all sorts of references had to be made to the building of other Powers. He was suro that did no good. Negotiations had been progressing for some time with Ger- many for an exchange of naval informa tion and he would he most glad if they reached a satisfactory conclusion.
CHINA'S SILVER REQUIREMENTS.
STEADY EISE IN SILVER EXPECTED
The writer of "The Week's Finance" Theily News.says.
With the revival of trade, especially of imports, funds are coming into Shanghai and the money market grows proportion- ately easier. The funds available for c culation have vastly increased, and this, added to the reviving confidence, allows We quite a sufficient amount for the needs of Of course, the revival of export trade will. prove a counteracting influence; but it shall always be ready to state what ships trade in ordinary circumstances. wo are building and when they will be completed provided we receive reciprocal must be understood that before export trade should have considerably improved. information. We want to avert the ill-trade can get into full swing the import For a time at least, however large the feeling caused by suspicion regarding vessels being constructed apart from those exports may be, the imports will counter- This would be a balance them, and so far as the need of officially announced.
exports and imports will balance each other. The funds, however, available for circulation, although they may be suffi cient for the purposes of trade, are not what they ought to be, in view of the payments now being made to the Chinese these columns on a previous occation, an average of £1,000,000 will have to be paid Government. As has been stated in to the Government for a period of siz rency and possibly some other, loan, the months, besides payments on the Cur fetation of which this year is very prob able.
Burma are the prospects regarded as satis. A. Irving, fifteen Chinese were charged afterwards described the position as even great benefit to Anglo-German naval money is concerned, it is probable that
After
At the Magistracy yesterday, before Mr. factory. There we read that though the with being found in a gambling house. area under paddy cultivation during the The first defendant was also charged with year shows a shrinkage of nearly one and being the keeper of the hous. half per cent as compared with the actual bearing lengthy evidence; hia Wor- area of the previous year and rather less ship imposed a fine of 823 on the keeper, than a half per cent. compared with the the alternative being six weeks' imprison average of the preceding five years, it is satment. Each of the other defendants was isfactory to note that the total estimated fined $2 or seven days.
LATER.
Miners' leaders on being interviewed more complicated than it was a fortnight ago, and declare that "nothing will induce us to give way."
"Whatever the fate of the Mimmum Wage Bill the question of the termination Federation, whose resolution regarding. of the strike depends upon the Miners' the minimum wages was carried by the L. S. Wills yesterday charged a China-Scoto-Welsh coalition, the majority being
only twelve,
The Labour Party have agreed to move man with having assaulted him early on
Defendant was corresponding amendments in the House Wednesday morning,
of Commona fined $25 or a
month.
DELICATE POSITION OF THE GOVERNMENT.
Alluding to the subject of relations. Imperial defence he said it was not for the Admiralty to initiate proposals to the Dominions, and any request for expert
atmost cordiality. We do our best, he assistance would be received with the proceeded, to help them to a wise decision, convenient and agreeable to themselves, of sound military value, based on true prin- ciples of Imperial defence. They may be sure that we will inform them on all facts of naval policy with the utmost frankness. Referring to the question of associating the Ministers of the Dominions with the Imperial defence consultations here, he said the subject was not free from difficul-
yield of the 1911-12 season's crop which is expected to be over 3 million cwts, of cleaned rice, exceeds the actual yield of the previous year by about 84 per cent, Japan, we learn from a Burma paper, has been practically the first foreign customer. this season to make purchases of Barea rice the quantity exported showing a very large increase on the purchases for the corresponding period of last year. Java, which did not previously deal direct with Burma, took about 55,000 toris
of rics from Rangoon the first six weeks of the present yoor. The Straits and China also appear to have been indenting largely on Burma, and frequenting an opium divan, on premises the districts indicate that in the best cir: Dominions, of establishing that real and India is growing acute, and while the gold
the agricultural authorities of thecountry are already becoming alarmed over the possible injudicions exportation." Prices locally at HONGKONG OFFICE: 10A, DES VEUX Roan presunt," an official report says, "ara fairly LONDON OFFIORI 131, FLEET STRØFT. BO | moderate, but with increasing demands from
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, Maron 22xD, 1912.
The disturbed conditions in China during the last six mouths must inevitably have a most serious effect upon the rice market
outside, they are likely to tighten, and should the market again reach the high level of prices of last year, cultivators may be induced to sell out stocks reserved for home consumption and seed purposes." In that event we shall doubtless see the Government of Burmar following the example set by Cochin-China last year, and con
before Mr. Irving yesterday eighteen men were charged with having been found
The payments for these loans will most- ly be in silver, and consequently China will have to buy silver from abroad. In
A lakong yesterday arrested a man who
The coal-owners at their meeting yester
the ordinary railway loans to China the materials in gold-using countries and con- was carrying a bag of rice, on suspicion day decided to insist upon drastic amend
greator port of the loan goes to buy of being unlawfully in possession of it ments. This, together with the new atti
sequently the effect of such loans on the tude of the Opposition, is expected to pro
silver market is not very appreciable. On the way to the police station, the man
long the proceedings over the Bill. It is
for some time to come, are toward ex- cents. The bribe was accepted, but the offered the constable a bribe" of forty recognised that the position of the Gov-ties, but as time passes it becomes less. But as the loans to China nt present, and most perplexing. Some encumbered with difficulties. In the Compenditure in the country, it only stands to ernment is constable, being honest, charged his pri Unionists forecast & Unionist and Liberal mittec on Imperial Defence we have reason that the demand for silver will be soner with being unlawfully in possession coalition against the Bill, which if not
silver prices. of the rice.
withdrawn the Bill may be passed by a machinery of the most comprehensive and considerable, and will help to maintain Thus, apart from-the Indian factor, the. small majority only justifying its rejec most flexible nature, which is capable, at tien by the House of Lords and the conso any rate in the intermediate stare of the situation in China has proved a source of quent downfall of the Government.
The instructions of the Federation to relations between the Motherland and the great strength to silver. The position in reserve is increasing week by week the cumstances the strike will continue at intimate connection which ought to exist silver reserve is falling correspondingly. least a fortnight. A prominent leader is
when silver flows back into the treasury quoted as saying that they reminded the
It must be remembered that the four Government that sixty-six Radical seats,
months from January are usually the time including thosa of seren Ministera, de
in the shape of taxes, and it is an pended upon the goodwill of the Federa-
astonishing fact that after a two years' struggle in order to stop Laying silver for DRAMATIC RE-APPEARANCE OF MR. BALFOUR.
silver reserves should have occurred during Mr. Balfour's re-appearance has added
coinage, an enormous decrease in the these months. Such a position cannot continue long, as after all India is mainly to the political importance of the indus trial crisis. It was decided at a meeting
a silver using country, and unless some- of Unionists, including Mr. Bonar Law. Mr. Austen Chamberlain,Mr. Walter
happens there is every reason to believe Long, and Mr. F. E. Smith, that appar
thing untoward in the shape of a miracle ently after the resolution of the Miners
in a steady rise in silver for the next few Federation, whose attitude was regarded as justifying the Opposition contention the Bill was now futile.
situated at No. 1, Centre Street, West Point. After evidence had been called, the case was remanded until 10 a.m.. to day The keeper was allowed bailiú $150, and the remainder in 82 each.
A junk master was yesterday charged with bringing cattle from Haiphong to Hongkong without having proper accom- modation provided or the animals. De fendant failed to appear and his bail of $25 was forfeited.
tion.
in matters of Imperial defence between the responsible leaders of opinion in the great dominions and those concerned with the defence of the Empire here, and any advance in that direction would certainly be facilitated by the Government and the Admiralty (Cheers.)
..
LATER.
Mr. Churchill, in reply to a question, said that the cruiser squadron would be permanently based at Malta, and that, the dockyard there would be kept in a regular state of efficiency.
months. BOLDIERS CLUB BILLIARD TOURNAMENT
The fifth and sixth games between the
Company R.GA. were played on Wednes-
22, against Sergt. Dawins 10 and 12 Bcores:
Gunner Goodnian
250 Bugle Major Johnson -232- Sergt. Holliday
As a result the Liberal papers admit that the position is fraught with peril to the existence of the Government. They suggest that the situation may be saved by the Government accepting the 5/- and 2 minima and definite safeguards against slackening, but they do not dis- suite their fears that the re-appearance of Mr. Balfour means that the House of Lords will be directed to reject the Bill, making a constitutional crisis inevitable. The King has postponed his visit to Dartmouth and will remain in London in close touch with the situation.
Sir Rufus Isaacs, when speaking on the Minimum Wage and Insurance Bills at Hoxton, was bowled down.
CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS MINENT, In the local market, prices are about af templated by the Government of Siam. The Sergeants of the K.O.T.LL and 83
The Daily Mail says that if the Govern dollur and a half a picul higher than they failure of the rice crops in so many countries
is a serious matter for Chiun, where the day evening, the Artillerymen again provment are defeated the Unionists are pre- Bugle pared to take up office and a general elec were last year for ordinary qualities of
area of cultivation has doubtless bron victorious in both games.
Major
ohion and Gunner Goodman tion will follow immediately. imported rice, while for the superior
were the first to play, the latter beating qualities the difference is very much more considerably restricted in consequence of
his opponent by 18, making breaks of striking. In the review of last year's trade the withdrawal of so large a body of
14 (twice), 33, 11, 15 and E, the Bugle iven by the Chairman of the Hong.. men from the fields for military serviceMajor making 11, 45 and 13.
The second game was between Sergt. kong and Shanghai Banking Corpora While the resulting increase in the price of
Le staple food of the people will entail great Holliday 3 Company R.G.A., and Sergt.
Darwin,
Holliday won by tinn at the annual meeting of hardtop in a country where faume already Dear will bust breaks war 14, 1, 26, and shareholders recently, it was mentioned that the export fell off by about 400,000 prevails over a cousiderable ares, yet the tone in cash of the two great rice-producing country may find some consolation in the countries of Asia-Cochin China and Stem,
prospect the crop last year having been very poor. Mr. MEDHURST also stated that the abnor mally high level to which the price of rice rose in consequence of these enormous shortages proved a strong temptation to producers to dispose of all available stocks. The Government of Cochin-China was. qbliged in the interests of the local popula tion to prohibit the export of rice, excapt such as was necessary to complete bona-fide outstanding contracts, and that prohibition was not rased until the beginning of Febru. ary. According to a report by the British- Consul at Bangkok, the crop in Siam for
of the high price of cereals offering what is perhaps a necessary inducement to the agricultural labourars among the diɛ. banded troops to return to the peaceful occupation from which they were withdrawn.
Siam has decided to adopt the Metric system of weights and measures.
Sergt. Darwin
250 143
TWO MEN FROM JAPAN,"
GROWING DISTRESS. The distress in the country is rapidly increasing. The Government has issued circulars to Board of Guardians, and Education Committees on the question of
A crowded house witnessed the first per- formance by the Hughes Musical Comedy Co. of the comedy "Two Men from Japan! The piece is on all fours with The Directors of the Bangkok Dock Co., those already produced by the company relief.
The plot is, of course, very thin, and
A body of hunger-marchers at Grimsby Ltd., propose a dividend of 3 per cent. for the year 1911 as compared with sample opportunity is given for the intro-
duction of numerous incidental songs and yesterday presented so pitiable an appear- per cent, paid in 1910.
dances. The costuming was particularly ance that the Chief Constable immediately good, and the chorus work went with distributed a large quantity of food and
ten. The Naval Association in Nanking has plenty of awing. As Mike and Louis,
It is estimated that up till now £816,000 sent a Chinese telegram to President who are mistaken for two-professors, has been disbursed by the trade unions Yean Shil-kai, Dr. Sun Yat Sen, Vice- Blinker and Klinker, Messrs. Paul Stan- 1910-11 fell short of the average output. President Li Yuan-hung, the Assembly, hope and Rert Le Blanc were responsible during the strike in unemployed pay.
for the bulk of the humour. Madame recent years by fully 50 per cent. below the the Cabinet and the provincial govern Lloyd was in splendid voice, and her songe owners have rejected the demand of record of the preceding year, when over enements recommending the late Admiral were as appreciable as ever. A special
a strike of half-a-million miners is million tons of rice were exported. As a Bab for service and explaining his atti- feature of the performance was the intro the miners for an advance in wages, and
duction of the "Texas Tommy Dance."
threatened by the 1st of April. result of the shortage of the crop, prices tude.
1-AMERICAN MINERS. ALRO DEMAND ADVANCE. The Cleveland and Ohio bituminou
LOANS TO CHINA.
LONDON, March 21st. Reater understands that an Eastern bank which is participating in the loan of a million sterling to China is pot receiving the support of the British
Government,
SALE OF ARMS TO CHINA.
LOANS TO CHINA.
BY FRANCO-BELGIAN AND BRITISH BANKERS-
The Peking correspondent of the N. U Daily Neas, telegraphed on the 15th inst as follows:-
Representatives of the French, Bel- signed an agreement yesterday for a loan. gian aul British groups and the Waiwupu of £1,000,000 for one year, bearing interest A five per cent and isued at 97, on the security of the income from the Peking- Kalgan Railway. This loag is subject to the approval of the Nanking Assembly and of the chiefs of the various groups in Europe, but this is practically assured:
LONDON, March 1st. Sir Edward Grey, replying in the House
There is no longer any doubt that the of Commons to Mr. Charles Bathurst, said he was not aware that there were any Russians will participate in the loan to restrictions imposed on Britishers regard-be granted by the group of six nations, in which the Russo-Asiatic Bank will re- ing the sale of arms to the new Chinese present officially the financial interests of Government. They were merely advised Russia in the Far East. The terms, how to abstain from selling arms during the ever, are still the subject of negotiations." The above loan, our Shanghai contem- Revolutionary struggle..
porary remarks, would appear to be en-. tirely distinct from what is being arrang- er with the Four Nations Syndicate. As regard the latter, there is no corrobora- tion yet locally of the Russians joining, although the Japanese are willing to do so.
WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL WARSHIP.
LONDON, March 21st.. The battleship cruiser Queen Mary has been launched at Jarrow. The ship is the most powerful warship in the world.
ALLEGED ESPIONAGE,
LONDON, March 21st, Three men, supposed to be spies, were arreated last night inside a fort at St.
arrested yesterday. Helens, Isle of Wight, and another was
A WRECK ON VRIES ISLAND.
The German str. Madeleine Rickmers, a steel screw steamer of 4,170 tons, on her way to Kobe from Yokohama ran on rock on the 14th inst. und lies in a danger- ous position on Vries Island.
The Madeleine Rickmers was built at Rickmers Reismühlen, Reed and Scbit. Akt. Ges. Bremerhaven in 1906, and she is owned by