H.E. Tus GovEnNon-Very well. Mr. Grifin, unfortunately, was rejected by the medical authorities and returned to this Colony. It Mr. Grifin could be spared for the period of the war why can. aut Mr. Wood?
Mr. Looken-The work of the firm has incrassed by 50 per cent. since the out- break of the war and the great bulk of that 30 per cent, increase lies in these works of Imperial importance we are now discussing. I do not think it would I suggested for a moment that if Griffin happened to be at home at this moment, in view of all this work. he would have attempted to volunteer. When he did volunteer was three years ago when none of these important works were on the tapis, and as fui as we know: ware not even suggested. Moreover, Mr. Griffin is a man in by no means"good He was obliged to go away for * few months. this summer and be wa very reluctant indeed to go because of this work which had just come in.
health
R. E. THE GOVERNOR—Yes, but still he went. Then on the return of Mr. Griffin Mr. Leask wishes to go on leave. It is put in the argument that Mr. Wood-van- not be spared if Mr. Lensk goes on leave,
Mr. Looxx-Ï saw a reference in the papers to Mr. Leask going on les hut there seems to be some misapprehension. Except as a necessity, by reason of health, for a month or two, be dos not propose to go ou leave. Mr. Griffür's going away has thrown an enormous burden and strain on Mr. Wood and Mr. Lensk and they are quite liable to be seriously affect- ed by it continued for a long period. Your Excellency knows and the members of the Council know that after a man has worked hard for a considerable time for two
three years without a change whatever, particularly when he has been out here for a long time and when he is engaged on responsible work, that if he does not let up he will have a let down. It cannot be in the Imperial interests that there should be any let down in this work owing to the break down of one of the professional advisers employed on it. It may be necessary for Mr. Leask to go away for a mouth or two as it may be necessary for your Excellency of the Aeneral Otcer Commanding or any other invaluable officer 1 the Govern But because of a break-down or of the
for
of
TAR
HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 1918.
Etted for a remmission, and should, if that these by-products are disposed of Mr. Maas is alone. In the upcountry possible, be given ene here to look after elsewhere and owing to the exigencies of I department there were three Europeans the interest of, and to command the men the present state of trade it is essential at the outbreak of war. At the present of, the General Military Service Force that the by-products should be disposed meat there is one only. In the statis- members of this foren would be only too felds where there is an adequate demand ropeans, to second of whom was Mr. of Hongkong. I feel certain that the of in the area closest to the producing sight department there were formerly two
manded by one of their own officers. Surely Sumatra and Borneu all of which are glad to know that they would be com for them. The producing felds are Java, Russen WLO i now in sole charge
ne is a locally engaged man, 19 years of Alpsrs, Leigh & Orange, in order to near here. The by-products are disposed age in the cables department.there were release Mr. Wood, and, provided they find of in the area controlled by the Hongkonganery two Europeans. That depart- they cannot carry on their work with only office of this Company. Only by rails two members of the arm. present, might
neup to now run by a lady. She is able make arrangements with one or more of taining that by-product trade car the to do is work now because the majority of cables are now seat-in plata English mentioned to superintend and look after ment be kept up. The Tribuna. however these other firms or individuals. I have essential supplies required by the Govern
in the Shipping departaient there were some of the work they have in hand. If, through no fault of their own, formed generis two employes and air. Bunje is this does not prove satisfactory to the opinion that the war supplies co-
www mone there, ar. Bunje is also a sick Sears, Leigh &-Orange could they not sisted in bunkering H.M.' ships in
mun and the doctor says he should go gain approach Mr. Buyer and Mr. Far Eastern waters. The reason why the Orange to me out again, pointing out Government at Home ask that essential departmen: there are, two engineers away, but he cannot go. In the engineer. that by so doing Mr. Wood could be re- Leed for service,
men shall not be taken away from here
who deal with the purely technical en- at how many hours per week Mr. Wood by-products must be dealt with in this
I should also like to is because they recognise that these gineering work. Only last month a man has spent supervising the wark at the neighbourhood. I think your Excellency
was lent by the Royal Engineers, but he has ince been recalled, in the accounts Kowloon Docks and the Godown Company is aware that n somewhat similar tele department there were formerly four since these works were commenced,
gram was sent by the Secretary of State Europeans and now there are two. for Foreign Affairs to H.M.'s Minister at
each department there is a shortage. by the Company in Shanghai and Canton are sick. A number of men in the oce Peking with reference to men employed Quite a number of the men up the const and understand that none of the Come Bere are sick and the arm could do with al least, six or eight more men at the pany's men in those places have been taken.
present momet It is the misfortune at the present time that there is no assistant take over other work in the event of a in the different departments who, can man talling sick or going away. If Mr. Maas is taken, it is strongly submitted by the Company that the business of the Company in his particular department,
H.E. THE
GOVERNOR Perhaps Mr. Wood can answer that last question?
Mr. Woop About two days a week supervising taking the time to and fro
H.E. THE GOVERNOR What do you call
a day.
Mr. Woon-Quarter to nine in the morning till six at night.
:
In
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK The point is will H.E. THE GOVERNOR -Have you enquir.the taking of Mr. Manx distocate the fed for the substitution list. There is a. business!
civil engineer who offers the whole of his
Mr. Lewis-It is by reason of the dis time. Has the firm considered employing [posal of by-products in this area that, the Company is able to furnish war supplies. Mr. Wood-b will discuss that in pri-Now, Mr. Muas is in charge of the de-which as I have said before is the depart vate if you like.
partment dealing with by-products. Hement by which, the Company is enabled to is in sole charge and has no assistance maintain their war supplies, will be en other than purely clerical assistance.. tirely dislocated.
him?
sidered it and have not seen your way to take the man.
H. E. THE GOVERNOR--You have cuR-
Mr.. Looxs then dealt with the 35 gestion of Major Morgan that the firm might obtain the services of former part- pers for the period of the war and related the steps which had been taken in this direction. Two of the former partners, he said, were now engaged in Govern- meat work.
1
H.E. THE GOVERNOR-Have you made any application to the Government for assistance in this matter.
learn the work!
H.E. THE GOVERNOR--Where did he
Mr. Lewis-This branch of the work is entirely new. It was started in 1911 and has grown up under Mr. Mans hands.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR He learnt.it in to the Company as an expert? the Company's office. He did not come
Mr. Lewis-No. It is a new business.
to do with the production of the by- H.E. THE GOVERNOR--He has nothing products?
Mr. Looxta-No, sir, we have adver-grown up under his bands. In 1914 he tised in the papers. I would also men-
had an European assistant in his depart tion that it is generally understood and ment. Now he has not public remarks that every man in the I think I may say so from your own Government who could go to the front end could be spared, has gone and that the Government are working on the game minimum and reduced staff as almost all private frais in the Colony. It is hardly likely to occur to people, therefore, to #pproach the Government to release good men from the superintendener of import ant public works to assist private firms Major MonGas-This firm bra th
Mr. Lewis-It is merely the marketing and disposal of them, bot be deals with the whole of the policy of the Hongkong office and the selling agencies controller by the Company from Hongkong...
H.E. THE GOVERNOR-He is your sales- man in fact.
Mr. Lewis-No, it goes much further than that He does not sell very much
und the. Electric Light Company, himself except to the Shipping Companies
through whom the Company deals in its H.E THE GOVERNON-He is the agent
by products.
Ar. HAY-Is there a similar depart ment in Hongkong?
|
H.E. THE GOVERNO-Have you studied the substitution list ? Mr. Lewis--Yes'.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR-There are the nadies of some very excellent business men there.
11
Mr. Lewis Mr. Watson would very much like to employ, some of them-one man in particular, not as a substitute, but as an assistant so that he might learn a branch of "the business and be able to carry on in case of sickness in any other event. You will see the the "meri I may say, technical work, employed are employed on spécial, and,
to Mr. Maas' department.
HE, THE GOVERNOR-You might stick
Mr. Lewis-I was naked as to whether
anyone could take his place, and I have been showing that there is no-one.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR--I do not happen to be familiar with the duties of your. office, but it appears to me that it would not be a difficult matter to take a trained. business man from the substitution list and make him an understudy of M1r. do the work under supervision. There Mass for a short time so that he might
must be someone in the office who could exercise that supervision,
Mr. Law. The general manager has general knowledge of it, but not the particular branch specialised knowledge necessary in th
H.E. THE GOVERNOE-There does not
certainty of a break-down they did nos gu away. That is generally recognised And I would submit to the Council that if you take away Mr. Wood from tats ru, leaving Mr. Leask, who has been here for two years and working under enorious pressure, and Mr. Grima, who is udniittedly a sick man, that you are inviting disaster. I would also like to. point out, as 31r. Wood has asked me to do, that all these questions have already been decided by the Tribunal. I am not here to appeal against the Tribunal's deci-partners as at the beginning of the war.
I am here to support it.
Major
Mr. Looken They had then two train- Morgan is here to convince the Council, and capable assistants, who were on if he can, that the Tribunal's decision was the same plane as regards professional wrong. It not, submit, sir, the func,ability as the two partners. tion of this Council to take
any grounds H.E. THE GovERson asked whether it reversing the decision of the Tribunal which
are not put forward by the parties that by coming here for the duration of was pointed out to the former partners themselves as an appeal that is to say
Mr. Lewis-Hongkong is the head office it is a Court whose function is to decile qualified officer for active service, to the Philippines and Formosa. The deal the war they would release a particularly controlling all branches in South China, whether the decision of the Court below which Mr. Looker replied that he did noting in by-product in this feld is con- is right or wrong upon such grounds as are put before it by the parties. The Coun
think it was. The former partners knew trolled from here. Cuntinuing, Mr. ell is not open to revise on. its own initia.
Mr. Wood and were aware of the circum-Lewis explained the differens nature of specialised knowledge. It seems to ne tive any decision of the Tribunal inde- stances, but, if it was required the firm the by-products handled and quoted just a matter of business.. pendently of anything that may be put
was quite willing to telegraph them on figures showing the demand in this ares. Mir, WATSUR-There is the whole history forward" because, as I say, it is ur Appeal the subject. Continuing, Mr. Looker Court and I am really placed here to-day, said that the firm wanted assistance even
very large sum of money passed of what bas gone before. A great many instead of in the position of a respondeat. with Afr
through Mr. Maas' department and the mistakes might be made by men who di in the position of an appellant.
Wood here, and he asked Company required a responsible man not know the history of the bust We Your if the P.W.D. could supply it. Exellency can, appreciate the difference
whom they could trust and who had the have had very serious mistakes made by as well as I can.
H.F. THE GOVERNOR--I cannot supply ability to maintain a business of this people who have proved unsatisfactory. I have really had no car to reply to as yet. Your Excellency
man might pick up very quickly, but that submitted that substitution at the pre- magnitude. Part of the work another ance of the business said that it was Mr. Lewis after emphasing the import- knows as well as I do that the procedure is for the party appealing to open his
which a man could not pick up quickly sent moment was impossible. If a man ease and put before the Appeal Court the
Wa the policy which was carried out could be obtained he could be trained ap reasons why he says the decision of the
by this department in Hongkong, the and then, after a considerable time, and Court below is wrong. Those reasons are
Philippines, Formosa and South Chins the only grounds with which the other
generally." Mr. Maas had grown up with side is concerned. We have not heard
the business and the business bad grown one frum Major Morgan so far.
up with Mr. Maas. He knew all about it from its inception to the present time. He can deal quickly and satisfactorily with any question of policy that may arise. In that respect he cannot be re- placed.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR-I indicated that the step that I took was with the sole purpose of saving time. If you want to heur Major Morgun you shall hear him. Have you anything more to say.
Mr. LooKER-Nothing, subject to any remarks in reply to Major Morgan.
men to carry on, any work which is not
at vital importance. No doubt the firm has a lot of work to do; that is a personal necessity. matter. I am dealing with work of vital
work the firth has in hand to the Council Mr. LOOKER then gave the details of the in private after which the members con- sidered their decision,
Subsequently H.E. THE GOVERNOR in formed Mr. Wood that he would be exempted for three months and that at the end of that time he would be at liber- ty to go again before the Tribunal.
ASIATIC PETROLEUM COMPANY.
The last appeal considered was that of
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-What happened to the assistant who was there in 1914
Mr. WATSON-He was transferred to Kongmoor
H.E. Masa died to-night, what wo
THE GOVERNOz-Suppose Mr. it would happen to the business?
Mr. Lewis--It would be in a state of chaos,
men,
Mr. WATSON-About the details of the business.
seem to be any need for un particu's
after it had been ascertained how he adopted himself to the work, he might be able to carry on.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR-What would hap pen if My Mana, who has been here some thing like seven years, broke down.
fore the Company wants some one to train Mr Lewis-We realise that and there-
up to carry on in his absence. There is n man going away on sick leave for a great deal of difference
between
away from the business and leaving a few months and a man going entirely
man who has not adequate knowledge to run it.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR-I had a strong impression that the work might be distri buted among the present stoff.
enough to do already, sir
Mr. WATSON-They have more than
HE. THE GOVERNOR Apparently the Tribunal, which comprises six business men, seemed to be of my opinion.
Mr. LewiI do not think the facts were before them to the same extent that I am now trying to put them before your Excellency. Further the Tribunal refer red to a staff of 15 which is incorrect. Thy present was 20 at the outbreak of war. European staff is 12, not 15, whereas
H.E. THE GOVERNOR-You have three. boya
Mr. Lewis-Would your Excellency entrust a business of this size to a boy.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR-Certainly not without supervision.
"Mr. Lewis-Not only has the staff de creased from 20 to 12 but the business has very considerably increased with the result that every man in the office working at high pressure and cannot devote time to any department other than
Hoa” Mr. POLLOCK-What happened to these other men who have gone away.
Major MonGa-In the Colony at the the Asiatic Petroleum Company against present time the following firms and individuals are practising as Architects, the decision that Mr. M. M. Maas should Civil Engineers and Surveyors-Leigh & be enrolled. The Company was repre- Orange (Mr. Griffin, Mr. Leask and acnted by Mr. Lewin. Mr. N. L. Watson, Mr. G. G. Wood-one away); Little, the general manager of the Company Adams, and Wood (Mr. Little, Mr. Adams also being present. and Mr. M. Wood-one away): Palmer H.E. THE GOVERNOR (to MA LATHE. THE GOVERNOR-That seems extra and Turner (Mr. Bird, Mr. Cornell-3 on We have read the exhaustive memoran ordinarily bad organisation.
Dennison, Ram & Gibbs (Mr. dum which you have acat to us and we, Dennison, Mr. Ram, Mr. Gibbs-one of course, recognise the Imperial nature It is a question of men.
Mr. Lewis-It is not bad organisation. away). Mr. O. M. Hazeload, Mr. J. Caer of your work speaking generally. We
We cannot get Clark, Mr. A. G. Howlitt, Mr. A. R. F. would like you to address youmelf to Raven, Mr. L. A, Rose, Mr. F. E. Roeser. the particular subject of the non-exemp
H.E. THE GOVERNOR-A man of Mr. Mr. Warren, and Mr. W. L. W
Alias age; '32 or 33 years.. It would Weaser. Of all these firms and indivision of Mr. Saus; the particular point, point to no supervision at all. duals, Mr. G. G. Wood is
No-one way is Mr. Maas indispensable. the only man of military age and, on this ground allow me, before dealing with that
Mr. LEWIB-Would your Excellency business except him.
knows anything about this particular alone. I consider that he should not be exempted In his own firm there are three point. to deal with the point which partners-Mr. Grishn, Mr. Leask and M. leads up to it. In the first place, G. G. Wood
FL.E. THE GOVERNOR-From reading your Mr. Griffin is at present it appears from the remarks made at the absent from the Colony. Mr. Leask pro original Tribunal that the nature of the memorandum I gained a strong impres poses to proceed on leave as soon as Mr. Britan
work. done here by the Company, incon- sion that it was the sort of work that a returns. That in my opinion nection with Imperial interests had not good business man, of whom you bay proves conclusively that the interests of been clearly put before the Tribunal Ieveral in your office-you have a staff the firm can be maintained with the pre- take it that this Council is aware of the of about 12 I think-a good business man, sence hero of only two members of the telegram received from the Secretary of accustomed to business methods, and firm. For this reason I consider that Mr. State in which he says that the Ministry especially your business methods, could G. G. Wood should not be exempted. Mr. of National Service asks that great care undertake. It does not require technical bensk should forego his leave in order be taken not to dislocate the business of knowledge. to release Mr. Wood. Mr. Lensk only the Asiatic Petroleum Company by with. returned from leave at the beginning
Mr. Lewis-Do that point, Mr. Maas 1917, and I maintain that the climats of drawing essential men from the business went away in 1813 when the business was Hongkong, especially the Peak, is not so As the Company is furnishing important very much smaller. A man who had bs Mr. Lewis--Two went to other firms! trying as many other places east of Suez supplies. It appears from the remarks some experience took his place for thrive have gone home-to-join-the-army as, to warrant that Mr. Least should again made by Mr. Sharp that the Tribunal month or so Mr. Maas was away and it and one went to an outport to relieve proceed on leave. The numbers that are was not aware of the nature of the war
took. Mr. Maas more than a month's hard man who has since gone to the front."" due, or overdue, for leave is legion and supplies being furnished. Apparently it work on his return, getting the business The telegram received from the Becre in a crisis, like the present one the quee was thought, that the supplics cons sted straight, again.
tary of State says that the Government tion of leave must be put on one side in the bunkering of H.M.', ships with
H.E. THE GOVERNOR-Again I say that, at home are anxious that this business except on the most urgent grounds. Mr. oil fuel in these waters. That is not the it seems to me an extraordinary method should not be dislocated, I submit that U. G. Wood is in my opinion not iddes nature of the war supplies referred to in that no man of all your staff capable the business will be very seriously dis pensible to the firm, who can carry on the telegram. The war supplies are the of undertaking this work.
focated if Mr. Masa is taken and I, there quite well without him, provided the firm very large quantities of petrol for the
Mr. Lewis-It is a misfortune, sir fore, ask for his exemption. makes the necessary sacrifice.
This is proved by the senior partners being able the various areas of the war, and in order it.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR-I cannot believe use of the air and transport service in to proceed on leave. Mr. Wood is a-Cap that the Asiatic Petroleum Company may
Mr. Lewis-The staff is eight short of tain in the Hongkong Defence Corps and be able to give those supplies, it is neces. what it was in 1914 and it is a whole three months at the expiration of which has bad 19 years' experience na an officer in the auxiliary force. I maintain mest sary that many other things be lone. question of staff. In the executive de time he can go again before the Tribunal emphatically that his presence here is not The petrol has to be refined from crudepartment there is Mr. Watson, Mr Bell This exemption is granted with the specia of imperial interest nor of vital interest oil and in getting it from the crude oil and Mr. Manning. They deal generally object that the Asiatic Petroleum Com to the requirements of the Colony whereas, there are obliged what are known as by with the supervision of the whole of the pany should make an earnest endeavour being an officer of long standing in the products. Petrol can only be supplied to work done here, and controlled from here to find a substitute. Hongkong Volunteer Corps and Hong the Government at Home at anything and Mr. Bell and Mr. Watson are both kong Defence Corps, he is undoubtedly approaching a reasonable price provided sick men. In the by-products department
his own..
The Council considered the matter in private and subsequently, H.E the Governor announced. The Council has decided that Mr. Maas be exempted or
Mr. LEWIS-I am sure they will do that. The Council then adjourned.
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