RANDOM
REFLECTIONS.
ON THE STRIKË.
The leading topic of the day is the strike of the Chinese fitters employed in the engineering establishments of the Colony for an increase of 40 per cent. "in their rates of pay. One would very match like to see authoritative statements issued showing on the one side how the men arrive at the figure of 40 per cent. and on the other what reasonable argu- ments the employers are able to advance against it. In the absence of such state ments is is not a matter for mush aur "prise that publia sympathy is to a con- siderable extent" with the men-possibly because they have heard only the men's
THE HONGKONG. DAILY PRESS,
Come now to another consideration." It cannot be disputed that the rates of pay in Hongkong are generally very much higher than those which obtain any. where in Ching, steopting, perhapa, Shangbai, which, like Hongkong, is to all intents and purposes a foreign city. The thought, bowover, suggesta itself that when the dockyard scales of pay were adopted five, or it may be ton, years ago they were intended to afford the men a living wage." It is manifest that, having regard to the inercass in the cost of commodities which has since taken place, these wages to-day have not the same purchasing power that they had five years ago, What, then, is the con- tention of the dockyards? I have seen no public statement on the subject, but I fancy the reply would be to this effect: What one gathers from the statementsThe men during the war have been published, largely from Chinese sources," is that the strike had its origin in the earning more than they have
done before, because business has dockyards whare, it is alleged, no change
been good, and when that is the has been made in the scale of pay for very many years. In this respect "tho
ense they are assured of regular employ ment, and they make plenty of overtime." same position as the private establish-
for fitters in the dockyards in these days ments. The man say that the host of
to double their ordinary pay by overtime living in the Colong in recent years han They are thus carning wages which appear increased very much, that they have rude absolutely princely compared with the pay repeated requests that this should be recognized and the scale of pay revised.they are able to earn in Canton or else
ever
ROBERT DOLLAR CO,
WICTIM "ZED.
SHROFF CHARGED WITH
EMBEZZLEMENTÄ
MANAGER'S PLEA FOR LENIENCY, At the Magistracy, yesterday, a Chinese young man, shroff employed by the Robert. Dollar Co., was charged with embezzling $188.50.belonging to the firm | and with falsifying the cash books.
Mr. W. B. Hind, appearing for the defence, mentioned that the deficiency in the accounts had been made up by his olient mixing up his money with his master's and then forgetfully making use of it.
97
EDNESDAY, APRIL 14TH, 1920,
WOMEN AND GIRLS' PROTEC- TION ORNINANCE.
INTERESTING CASE BEFORE THE COURT.
A the Magistracy, yesterday, an interesting hearing was commenced under the Women and Girl Protection Ordi- nance, when a Chinwa,, landlord ́yasi
charged with allowing the first floor of his promises to be used as a brothel
Mr. E. Davidson appeared for the defence.
Sergeant Peterson stated that on April 3rd & Chinese womsin was fined $100 for keepingly brothel on the premises. Sho had been previously fined for a similar
Mr. Smith: A dangerous thing to do.offence and an order was made for the clowing up of the premises. Defendant Was be secured!
was the landlord, and a notios was served A on him by the Chinese Secretariat. large portion of the floor was used for a
A constable stated that he served the
Mr. Hind: No Continuing, Mr. Hind said that as soon as the deficiency was pointed out to his client-be understood that it was pointed out as the latter had brothel... been away on a holiday and his desk had
Royal Naval Dockyard stands in the I am told that it is no uncommon thing meantime the proceedings had been taken ating that his master had gone to been searched-it was made god. In the notice on defendant, who received it,
and although the Police were, nominally, prosecuting, the real prosecutors were the Robert Dollar Co, who were prepared to say that the deficiency had been made good; and were further prepared to mak
and that these requests, if they have not been altogether ignored, at least met with At last these no favourable reception. requests became an organised demand for 40 per cent., and the refusal of the dock yards—the private dockyards at any rate -to consider auch a demand brought the „men out on strike
"
where in China.
Canton."
Mr. Hutchison said that it had not been proved that defendant was landlord of the
bouse.
The Sergeant replied that the notice
the Magistrate. for the utmost leniency.was served on the defendant as landlord.
Mr. Davidson said that there was no that was if the Magistrate was prepared
one to say that defendant was the land- to accept that explanation.
Jord. As a matter of fact, his defence was that defendant was not the immediate landlord.
Inspector Watt; That amounts to a of not guilty.
plea
Mr. Hind: No, that statement is made without going into the actual facts of the case,
I
Mr. Hutchison asked Mr. Davidson what be incant by immediate."
Mr. Davidson The person rented the
Inspector Watt said that defendans hadi collected various aus, atqunting soffor to the brothel-keeper. $597.50. He had only paid $505,290 into the bank. His duty was to enter all accounts in the bank book and take the
I do not know whether this adequately presents be situation. but it may do something towards giving the public a clearer comprehension of the factors in the dispute. There is room for discus- sion. The dock companies, after the strike began, intimated, through the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, their readiness to make certain concessions which the men calculate to "amount to about 15 cent. I believe they subsequently improved upon this offer. But the men will listen to nothing less than 40 per cent., and so a
money to the bank. In making up the deadlock has been reached. Hundreds cash book. a carbon copy of which was of the men have left the Colony, for usually sent to America, he made the pro- with an intimation that the Canton where other guilds of workmen per entry and later on he changed themediate landlord.ked th
are housing numbers of them and configures in the cash book to read $505. tributing to their support. It would be interesting to learn precisely what actuates this philanthropy.
are
The Chinese engineers of the Colony
in a guild,"
And organised when the fitters of the dockyarde other truck, the filters in every
the Colony presented, a .concera in similar demand to their employers.
would strike if this demand were not conceded. As there was combined action on the part of the men, it was necessary that there should be combined action on the part of the employers. In no case was the men's demand conceded In fact, common agreement on the part of the
employers would be a little difficult, for in many of the establishments, I under stand, rates of pay have been improved to some extent in recent years, and the demand for a general increase of 40 per cent. on the part of the Chinese fitters in such cases seems especially unreasonable.
The electric trams have ceased to run, the electric" light and power services are only maintained by the assistance of men from the Royal Navy and the Royal Engineers; the Kowloon Railway and the Peak Tramway, though they have lost their Chinese fitters, have been able to maintain their services, and several local industries are handicapped by the strike. The Telephone Co. has managed so far to retain its fitters, but they, too, are demanding the extra 40 per cent and won't be happy till they get it.
Mr. Smith: Won't it be found out! Inspector Watt: Yes; the money was taken to tide over certain difficulties:
Mr. Hind: He carried forward into the took for next month the money that should have been in his handa. Although he retained the "money longer than be should have done, yet when he carried that amount forward ho debited to him self the amount that should have been paid into the bank.
It has to be borne in mind that in this matter the engineering establishments are fighting the battle of all employers of labour in the Colony. If they acquiesce in the full demand of the fitters, every employer of labour will, sooner or later, Then there will be another jump in prices be required to make the same concession, all round, only to be followed by demands for higher wages still. We are on the Laspector Watt:"That is not so. There edge ci a vicious circle, and the outlook were several transactions and at the end is a serious one. It does hot mitigate the situation to say that it is the same of April the amount reached 8150. in most countries. The reader may per baps call to mind some old lines which warn us that after the boom comes the slump, and after the fizz and the big cigar, the cigarette and the hump!
What the outcome of the strike may be I cannot venture to predict The em ployers can stand the racket better that the mea, but they can have no desire to see the industries of the Colony handi capped and the public inconvenienced longer than is necessary to secure s settle be reasonable and just to every interest. ment of the dispute on a basis which will
criminal intention on my client's part, I Mr. Hind: Without admitting any
may say that this has been due to a con-
siderable amount of carelessness.
is a serious thing.
Mr. Smith: But altering the cash book
Mr. Hind: I do not think he altered the cash book, a
Mr. Smith But he is charged with it... Mr. Hind stated that as the money had been paid, and as the employes treated it
A stage has been reached in the dispute an a civil case, be submitted that his client when it seems desirable that the Govern- was only guilty of a technical offence. ment should take a band in the matter
by appointing & Wages Board, before which
assurances Bro
RODERICK HANDOM.
Mr. Hutchison: Well, the case will then revolve round the fact as to whether or no defendant is the immediate landlord."
Jr. Davidson: No, I said that to save
time.. I'eubmit there is no charge for me to answer. Defendant rented that door to another man who has absconded, and I maintain that the absconder is the in-
Mr. Hutchison that he was in doubt as to whether or no the principal tenant could be considered as the im-
mediate landlords
Acting Inspector Willis stated that there was no other landlord than the person registered as such at the office of the Mfr. Davidson said he thought that the Secretary for Chinese Affairs. absconder was the registered landlord of the floor.
Sergeant Peterson. replied that that would be impossible, because the notice would then not have been served on defendant.
The case was remanded till Saturday for enquiry,
ماید
ALLEGED FALSIFICATION OF
TR. DE MARK. ESSRS. LOXLEY & CO. SUMMON
CHINESE FIRM.
At the Magistracy, yesterday, Mr. H. L. Dennys, appearing on behalf of Messrs. Loxley & Co., summoned the Wah Loong arm, represented by Mr. M. K. Lo, for using their Star" trade-mark on certain. cotton goods which was calculated to deceive the public.
The Palice, acting ou instructions, have seized 200 pieces of cotton and 300 labels, which are now in their custody.
Mr. Dennys suggested that the defend-
Mr. Smith: I understand that the firmant should be asked whether he desired the
case to be tried summarily or before the Supreme Court. It was necessary to know somewhere the trial was to take place before a data could be fixed for, the hearing.
Mr. Lo replied, that he thought a date should be frat fixed and that it the first hearing the question should be seked. He had come there to ask for a formal remand and had not discussed the matter with his
chent. **
must be informed in Court. He did not
· Mr. Dennys stated that the defendant")
Mr. Le: In any case you will have to bear all the evidence.
Mr. Hutchison remarked that he did not know whether Mr. Donava anggestion. was going to make any difference.
No one will dispute that the cost of living has increased very considerably in the whole dispute can be re-argued, it does not want to press the charge.
forthcoming that the Hongkong since the war began-for the arbitration of the Board will be loyally
Inspector Watt: They wish for Chinese artisan as well as for the Euro-accepted by both parties. At present the sort of punishment. pean. The cost of living has increased take up the quite unreasonable attitude
trouble, I understand, is that the men Mr. R. E. Gunn, acting manager, said throughout the world-oven, in the interior of refusing any discussion of their he was sorry that the solicitor for the of China. Perhaps the reader of these demand. Surely the Chinese Chamber of defence and muddled up what was an Commerce, or some other representative Notes observed, in the Daily Press of body of Chinese in the Colony, can induce intricate business deal The youth did yesterday some remarks on the sub them to be reasonable.
not have a cash-drawer and he could not miz up the firm's money with bis own ject by a correspondent writing from
Howsimply working as an errand clerk Nanning, up the West River. He wrote:
und be had to pay certain moneys into why it should not be done now, as they the bank and get the sums entered to the sould then find out how long the case FUNNY PLAYTHINGS.
credit of the firm, He had withheld a would saka portion of that money, $188.50, which was ELECTRIC FITTINGS COLLECTOR.& small amount. As far as going into any civil action he would a good deal rather At the Magistracy, yesterday, An charge the sum to profit and loan account electric fitter of the Hongkong Electric when a reconciliation of the recounts had
Mr. Lo stated that he had already Company, was charged with being in to be made. Defendant had falsely unlawful possession of a quantity of changed the figures in one of the out written to Mr. Dennys telling him that electric fittings.
standing cheques to note the should although the mark was manufactured by Acting Inspector Willis stated that on
He suggested that defendant should be his client it was done in perfect ignorance Information received a visited defend to remember his deed, and he thought & Co. He also told Mr. Dennys that his given some little memento of the occasion of the "Starmark of Meners. Loxley ant's house and found the fittings. Mr suspended sentence to be of good behaviour client was perfectly prepared to under- V. Borby, of the Electric Company, ideati would meet the case. That shows an increase in rice and rent as belonging to his firin
fied only a certain amount of the fittings Mr. Smith: There is no provision for take not to sail any more cotton under that trade mark That undertaking was alone of from 80 to 100 per cent. What Mr. Sorby, giving evidence, stated that Mr. Guan stated that as the father had given without prejudice to his contention. has been the increase in rents and rice some of the Attinge belonged to his Com- paid the money be would plead for that it was not an infringement of the
pany. The majority of the articles were leniency on behalf of the father, who had trade mark in Hongkong in the same period! Every-old. Defendant had been employed by the shown his good intention and was E pros Mr. Dennys said that there was one body knows about the great increase which Company for nearly five years, and had perous merchant in Yaamati, He hated point the defence had not realised. He has taken place in the price of rice, and always borne a good character.
to indict a hardship on the father through wrote to Mr. Lo asking for full detail Inspector Willis stated that there were
the son. Could the Magistrate fing the and his friend replied that the letter does anybody dispute that rents, too, have other fittings which were unidentified.
youth1
donga covered all Mr. Dennys' queries. He was been advanced considerably? If we take That threw a certain amount of suspicion
Mr. Smith: Lcan
Three years ago a family of father, mother and two children could live on 6 cents a day-eating, of course, the very plainest food and poor quality ric. Now-a-days they cannot do it on less than 40 to 50 cents a day. Three years ago a workman's cottage could be rented at 80, cents a month, To-day the same house cannot be got for less than $1.50. Wages are rising in proportion.
sospended sentences.
the domestic budget of the Chinese family on the defendant. The Company had for any offence a fine instead of afraid that the letter did not cover one
blamed the Polic
of the curio.
Mr.La mid he would write to Mr. Dense on the matter.
The hearing was fixed for Tuesday
next:
Mr. Gunn replied that that would meet We have to recognise that there have been been missing several articles lately, and the case. He did not like to see the young very substantial increases in the main Defendant said that he had bought a The man had been trusted with largo an going to gaol for his first offence. necessaries of life honerent, ricco,arao quantity of fittings
BRALA ALU TE WEs probably due to the Chlua fuel, and clothing. What that increase Defendant: To play with.-(Langholice in America would not have found
Mr. Hutchison: What for 16
New Year that the deficiency arose. The amounts to exactly there are no afficiator.)
the deficiency, but the local office would WILL MAKE FORMAL DENIAL means of learning, but it is not beyond Mr. Hutchison raid that be did not have. That the man intended to pay back the capacity of a Government Department think defendant had an intention of the sum was proved by the fact that when Tho Chinese Government is making Like the Chinese Becretariat definitely to stealing the article, otherwise he would he came to the office bo had a paper in trenerations to formally deny that the ascertain. The general impression is bare disposed of them. Because of his which were written the suws owing to the spernetrators of the both outrage outside that 40 per cent does not cover the previous good character, he would dis ooo. The father had promised to see the Foreign Offen in Tokyo last Ortahiny increase which has taken place in these charge him. Heawamed him that if he at the man did not work in a European reared the bomb from a member of the bare necessities of life since the begin portisted in taking the things away he office as long as the Magistrate wis bed bite of the Chinese Pence Delexation ning of the war
would get into serious trouble.
Smith fined defendant $100 during the stay of that body in Yokohama.
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N
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Just received from U.S.A., a new shipment of Typewriters- different models.
108
Inspection cordially invited by→
UNIVERSAL IMPORT & EXPORT CO.
HOTEL MANSIONS,
TOP FLOOR,
HONGKONG.
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