Page
· THE APPEAL TRIBUNAL,
MERCANTILE BANK MR IRVINE AND MR. TURNER.
ONE APPEAL ADJOURNED; TWO REFUSED.
The Governor-in-Council eat yesterday Torning to hear appeals from the deci sions of the Conscription Tribune.
THE HONGKONG DAILY FRESS, FRIDAY, JULY 121, 1918,
sorry to have left. He would have no tally considered your appeal and they responsibility to the Bank at all.
H.E. the GOVERNOR-You have not made any endeavour, beyond telegraphing to London, to follow the-indications of the Tribunal that you should try to find sonic assistance which would be trained
more or less during these three months
Mr. CHAMFEI-I hold the view that no such assistance is available in the Colony and therefore I have not attempt
Mr. CHAMPELY-I do not think anyone in this Colony is capable of taking over the whole of Mr. Kennedy's work.
H.E. the GovenNOR-We understand that.
H. E. the Governor presided, and there were also prosent:-H.E. the Generaled to find it. Officer Commanding, the Colonial Secre H.E. the GovEANOR--I put it to you tory, die Colonial Treasurer, the Serre- that it is not quite safe to come to this tury for Chinese Affain, the Attorney conclusion. It may be possible that there General, the Director of Public Work" are men in the Colony who have been and Sir Paul Chater. The Hon, Mr. H.trained in Bank E. Pollock, KC, the Hon. Mr. P. H. Holyoak and Mr. N. J. Stabb were also present as ASHERHOTH,
There were three cases. Mr. Champkin, on behalf of the Mercantile Bank ap pealed against the decision that Mr. Kennedy should be axempted for three anonths only. Mr. Irvine, of the Charter ed Bank, appealed against the decision that he should be exempt for two months, He wanted to go at once. Mr. Turner appealed against the decision that he should be enrolled in Hongkong, desiring to be sent to Canada to place himself at the disposal of the authoritics there.
Mercantile Bank's appeal was adjourned for four weeks in order to give Mr. Champkin time to see what arrange- ments could be made in the way of ob. taining assistance. The appeals of Mr. Irving and Mr. Turner were refused.
Mr. CHAMPKIN It is not a question of releasing one of the members of my staff. I have only one assistant. The man who takes his place must have cer tain knowledge of all the signatures and to must be a man who can do the work without the necessity of supervision by the accountant.
H.E. the GOVERNOR--We understand your point of view, Mr. Champkin. We will not detain you any further. Have you anything to say, Major Morgan ↑
Major MORGAN-I believe in the Colony. thero is Mr. Dowbiggin, who is of mili tary ago, but has been rejected on medical grounds. He was previously a member of the Mercantile Bank, but whether here or elsewhere I do not know. Surely be could be brought in and learn the work during the three months exemption that has been granted to Mr. Kennedy.
THE MERCANTILE BANK. Mr. Champkin was first called. H.E the GOVERNOR You appear on behalf of your Bank to appeal against the non-exemption of Mr. Kennedy, one of your assistants. We have very care fully considered the papers in the car, and I would like to ask whether there are. any fresh reasons to those advanced by | Dowbiggin." you before the Tribunal against this non- exemption.
Mr. CHAMPKIN-There are no fresh reasons. I understand that the view taken by the Tribunal was that I could get out of this difficulty by employing a substitute. I am of the opinion that such a substitute would be useless, and worse than useless--an encumbrance. It would take my accountant, who is already over worked, most of his time to supervise the substitute, and, therefore, I do not think that the suggestion of the Tribuan is at all feasible..
regret they cannot entertain its
Mr. Invix-I beg leave to my that I resigned before Mr. Lovely and if one of us may go at oùce I think I should be the one.
HE. the GOVERNOR We are aware of all the facts and I say that we regret we cannot entertain your appeal, You will have two months' exemption. After that we shall have pleasure in forward ing you somewhere nearer to the fighting line than you are at present.
MR. TURNER
CORRESPONDENCE.
MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS,
(TO TAB EDITOR OF THE
DAILY PRESS]
HONGKONG
B-With reference to the letters from Major-General Yeatris and Lieut- Col. Crisp, replying to my recent re- marks on this subject in the Military Tribunal and read in the game Tribunal yesterday, if candid criticism be" insult I am afraid I must plead guilty, though none was intended.
LANE
CRAWFORD & Co.
SOLE AGENTS FOR SPAIDING'S ATHLETIC GOODS.
JUST
TENNIS
TO HAND
HE. the GOVERNOR (to Mr. Turner) We have carefully considered the papers in the case together with the letter from Mr. Wilbur, which was not before the Tribunal. You say you do not wish to avoid military service, but that you prefer to be transferred to Canade for Y.M.C.A work with the consent of the Canadian military authorities The Tribunal, on the other hand, decided that you can best serve the Imperial Interests
In conclusion, and as by being caroiled in Hongkong. Do you for taking up the question on behalf of
& justification CENTRE
wish to add any fresh reason for exemp-men who cannot well protect themselves, tion 7.
I may add that a very definite assurance was given to the unofficial members"
your age without the slightest attempt If passing men, who were examined a
at any further physical examination satisfies the Army regulations I can only say it does not satisfy the men conscript. ed, whose lives aro involved, nor the general public, who are freely condemni ing it. That many men in the medical TENNIS examination now going on have been so Passed as fit for aorvice Lieut. Col. Crisp cannot deny.
Mr. TURNER--No, Sir.
After deliberating in private, H.E. the Governor, addressing Mr. Turner, said The Council have carefully considered your case and have decided not to enter tain your appeal
POSTS.
EVERY ACCESSORY FOR
TENNIS TOUSAND
RACKET
COVERS
BACKET
NETS
THE
MPIC MARKER.
PRESSES.
OUT
PRESERVER.
GUIDES
MARKING
of the Legislative Council, when urging that there should be more than the Mili- tary doctors on the "Medical Board," that the examination would be most COURT
MARKERS.
TENNIS BALLS, THE **RISELEY "
A thorough. I am, sir, yours faithfully, P. H. HOLYOAK.
Tho modical examination has undoubtedly Hongkong, July 11th, 1918.
and we intended to draw attention to it. been the subject of considerable comment, It will be remembered that the medical ex- severely criticised in the House of Com HARD amination of recruits in G. Britain was mons, and there was no complaint of Ra insult. In this Colony adverse criticism is
Mr. TURNER-I would like to ask ons
Canada on Wednesday of next week with question. I havo arranged to go to
my wife and family. I understand that the Artillery have been ordered to go to France. I am a gun-layer and a training now for distance range finding. I would like to go with my wits and family to
Canada and wait there for the Artillery I would much prefer to go to France than
commonly resented. It seems not to be public ratnin the right to question the realised that in the British Empire the
with authority.--Bo., II.D.P.)
THE ENLISTMENT OF NON- EUROPEAN BRITISH SUBJECTS
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE
DAILY PRESE"].
H.E. the GOVERNOR (to Mr. Champkin, recalled)-Major Morgan has mentioned to Mesopotamis. I would like, if pus-official conduct of those whom they invest Lout a possible substitute i Mrsible, a recommendation to that effect
from this Court of Appeal. Mr. CHAMPKIN-I consider that is not
H.E. the GENERAL OFFICER COMMAND possible. There are objections. It INGAs far as I know you enlisted in the particularly undesirable that any ex. Infantry. change broker should be given an inside knowledge of a bank's operations. In no circumstances would an exchange broker be acceptable.
H.E the GOVERNUR---You did not ap
mission-7- pear before the Military Service Com
Mr. TURNER--No, Sir. I was willing The COLONIAL TREASURER-Was he not to do so but was asked not to do so. in the Bank before 1
H.E. the GOVERNOR The fact remains
HONGKONG
BIG,With reference to the telegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies appearing in this morning's issue of the paper to the effect that: cain conditions would be imposed on
Mr. CHAMPKIN He is an ca employé of that you did not appear. It is only thenpa-European British subjects who care the Bank
men who applied before the Military operations of exchange.
The COLONIAL TREASURER-He knows the Service Commission who are accorded the
Mr. CHAMPLIN-The man who would tako Mr. Kennedy's place would not be required to know the operations of ex- change. He would be required to know the signatures of the clients and so forth. As a matter of fact, it is in one sense more important that Mr. Kennedy should be retained than that I should be retain
H.E. the GOVERNOn-The Tribunal did, not go quite so far as that. They found that your staff is now equal to the pre war staff that is to say three, and they gave three months grace before Mr. Kennedy gors, leaving it to you to find assistance they do not say substitute- Assistance, if you could, to replace him more or less. I would like to ask you. We can, if the worst comes to the whether you have made any endeavour since the sitting of the Tribunal to see whether you could obtain such resist.
nice.
Mr. URAMPKIN-I have made no such endeavours, because I do not think any such casual avsistance would be of any I have telegraphed to the London offico the decision of the Tribunal and there has been
RSC.
no
worst, came the exchange business, but we zoust keep up our local business..
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-Assuming that no substitute can be obtained locally to do the whole of Mr. Kennedy's work, is it possible so to arrange that some of it might be done by a substitute ?
Mr. CHAMPKIN--I have already stated that four fifths of an assistant's work time yet may be described as essential. It would, to receive a reply. Any assistance of course, be possible for any substitute to at all possible for me to take would have do one-fifth, but the remaining four fifths, to come from London. It is not possible | 110. to employ local assistance.
H.E. the GOVERNOR-I suppose you are aware that the premier bank in the Colony-it is now public knowledge--has released two of their assistants and are Teplacing them by two men who have had no previous training-men of good edu- cation and good character.
The Council deliberated in private and subsequently H. E. the Governor informed Mr, Champkin that the Counell had unanimously decided to adjourn the appeal for four weeks from that day to give him time to see what arrangements could be made.
MR. IRVINE.
privilege of going to England.
Mr. TURNER-I put it to you that. I aan Artillery man, a gun-layer and am doing the D.R.F. coure so that I am an expert,
H.E. the GOVERNOU—I am afraid, after what has fallen from the General Officer Commanding, that we cannot vary our decision on that ground. No doubt, when you get to India, they will sort you out according to the qualifications as they
find them.
The GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDINO-Are you in the Defenes Corps ↑
Mr, TURNER-Yes, Sir.
The GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING Will you put in an application for the artillery to me through your Command ing Officer! I do not say we can grant it, but we will consider it
E.E. the GOVERNOR -That means that your wife and family go on whatever date at is you sacation, but the military Buthorities here will consider your case and will make arrangements accordingly if they are able to fall in with your views that you should be transferred to
the artillery..
The Council then adjourned.
GENERAL MILITARY
SERVICE TRIBUNAL
TO-DAY'S AGENDA.
3.30 p.m.-less. Dodwell & Co.-
G. Morton Smith T. C. Nixon
Medically fit.
F. Syme-Thomson Rejected as medically unfit.-F. W. Stone and E. Grant Smith. 3.45 p.m-Messrs. I'm. Powell & Co.
E. W. White
Medically fit
J. C. Finch and C. Staart:
Rejected as medically unfit-H. Overy 4. p.m. The Eastern Extension Tele
graph Ca.
M. F. Murray
to enlist with combatant or other units of the British Army, these conditions ser to be invidious, to say the least. With your permission I wish to deal with the conditions paragraph by paragraph,
(1) ? That they agree to ent the ordi-
nary rations of the British soldier.”
I wonder whether the Sccretary of State imagines for a moment that a British subject, if he enlists for purely patriotic reasons, will cavil at being given the ordinary rations of the British
Tommy," or does the Secretary of State, through ignorance, think that such men in Hongkong-I speak only of the Eurasians and Portuguese--are not used to eating the diet of the ordinary Eng- Fishman and have a special diet of their own? It is not so sod 1; ag a non- European British subject, voicing, as I think I do, the opinion of all such elig ible young men in the Colony, wish to state that the paragraph is invidious aud casts an aspersion on our patriotism. What caresman for the particular food he is naked to eat so long as he is given the opportunity of meeting the despoilers, of women and children, the wreckers of homes, and the murderers of innocent. beings! Our patriotism will surely make forego the luxury we are accustomed
Now as regards paragraph No. 2 pay When one enters the Army to do. aus bit in the struggle for freedom, one does not think of pay; only of the pur- pose for which one came. A few extra shillings in a man's pocket will not re dress the wrongs of our distressed fellow-
men.
Mr. CHAMPKIN-I will ask your Excel-
H.E. THE GOVERNOR. (to Mr. Irvine)- lency to imagine that all the assistants The Tribunal has exempted you for two of the Hongkong Bank were taken away mouths and you appeal on the grounds and replaced by lawyers, brokers and that it will not inconvenience the bank policemen, who were untrained. What to allow you, like Mr. Lovely, to go at would be the condition of the Bank? once. You any that you volunteered You are taking the only assistant that we before Mr. Lovely and should be granted have. Four-fifths of the work of the equal consideration with hûn. You have assistant, can only be done by a trained been eight years in the tropics without a man and specialist. One fifth can be holiday, and you do not wish, to land in done by anyone. If I had five assistants England in November. Have you any I. would spare one and take in a sub. other reasons to urge against the decision. stituta in order to do the non-essential of the Tribunal ? work the decoding of telegrams, looking after the postage book, etc. If I take a man now he has to pass all my cheques. What indemnity have I got against forged cheques He has charge of my notes and shipping documents. If anything was It was pointed out that Mr. Downing 4.45 p.m.-Union Insurance Society of native race whose religion, in some cases, missing he would shrug his shoulders and was not appearing. suppore it must liave been lost, and then
Mr. LAVINE-No, Sir. I only claim equal consideration with Mr. Lovely on the point.
The ATTOENRY-GENERAL- Does Mr. Downing oppose this?
After the Council had deliberated in private E. the Governor, addressing
he would perhaps suggest that he should go back to his original job which he was Mr. Irvine said-The Council have care.
P. T. Chilvers L. C. Robinson
C. P. Templeton
A. E. Cherry
Medically ft.
With regard to paragraph No. 2, I do not suppose the Decretary of State is under the impression that the non- European British subjects of Hongkong are an uneducated baundering mass of humanity; if he does be is mistaken. Every eligible young man is conversant with the English language and can hold his own in it with Europeans. Surely it is not expected that ricsha coolies, house- boys and the like will join the army.
Tho telegram has caused much discus Aston und a certain amount of annoyance, and instead of assisting in the enlistment of young men throws a wet blanket on their ardourYours truly,
W.N;
J. S. Jennings Hejected na
as medically fit:H. Baxter and N. E. Kent 4.15 p.m.-Hongkong Telegraph -
A. Morley-Medically fit Rejected as medically unfit:-C. AL Wilson.
4.30 p.m.-Mestras Brewer & Co.:-
N. I
I. Brower.
Canton, Ltd.
C. H. P. Hay
G. 9. Archbutt
W. R. C. N. Mansfield
Hodgson and C. B. Bird- Rejected as medically
Medically fit
unfit-P. M.
10th July 1918 N [Our correspondent overlooks the fact that non-European British subjects include
neccssitates specially prepared food. He appears to confuss "non-European British subjects" with "British subjects who are not of pure Estrogean descent En. H.D.PJ
FOR
COURT
MARKERS,
LAWN
MOWERS
TENNIS! [RACKETS. TWO POPULAR MODELS."
AYRE'S
THE S. E. G.
AND GRASS COURTS. SLOTTED THRO_T. SPECIAL TERMS TO CLUBS AND COLLEGES
LANE, CRAWFORD & CO.
PALMOLIVE
SOAP
PALMOLIVE
SPECIAL PROPOSITIONS TO DEALERS
APPLY TO
Andersen, Meyer & Co., Ltd.,
Sole Agents,
Missions Building,
CANTON,
Hotel Mansions,
HONGKONG.
2. Powell
Wm
TELEPHONE 346
STOCKS
NEW
OF
VIYELLA
AND
"AZA".
IN
CREAM AND STRIPES.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " KONGKONG
DAILY PRESS,'"]
SIE,- I am requested to enquire whether the Hongkong born people who are now serving in the Police Reserve Force-at included in the Conscription Ordinance, or are absolutely exempted.
In my humble opinion they are the real indispensable to the services of the Colony and ought to be totally exempted. The abstate of police vigilance in all quarters of the town makes it imperative
1180
Lid
that they should remain as they are, Dow that they have proved quite efficient in the exercise of their duties The Colony needs more men as policemen, for armed robberies and murder, are becoming top frequent-Yours truly,
AN ENQUIRER [At present only. British subjects of pure European descent" are being con- scripted for service outside the Colony. Noa European British subjects are invited to enlist, under the conditions specified in the despatch from the Secretary of State.—ED.,
DP.]: