EXPORTERS
THE HONGKONG, DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, MAKUH
AND DEALERS' ASSOCIATION.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
PROSPECTS OF THE EXPORT TRADE.
The annual general meeting of the mem-
bors of the Association of Exporters, and
grot
COMPANY MEETING. HONGKONG FIBE INSURANCE CO., LTD.
$1ør, 1911
CHARGE OF FORGERY AND FALSE PBRTENCES.
EVIDENCE FOR THE PROSECUTION COMPLETED.
The fifty-second ordinary meeting of the Hongkong Fire Insurance Co, Ltili, The bearing of evidence for the pro- was delit at the offices of Mears. Jardine,secution in the case in which Sham Lai: Matheson & Co., Ltd., sesterday at Sang, managing, partner. of the Kow. проп The Hon. Mr. John Johastogeloon Störés, is charged with forgery and (Chairman) presided, and there were also false pretences, was completed, at the present—The Hon. Sir Paul Chater, Ungistracy, yesterday afternoon, before Sir Robert Ho Tung, Mr. H. F. White, Mr. R. E. Lindsell, and the Magistrate. M. T." E. Pearce, Mr. H. W. Suatoon, postponed his decision as to committal, (consulting committee), Mr. F. C. Hall,
or not, to the Sessions. " (secretary), and Mesars. D. H Steaven- Ho Leung, A. Murdoch, A. Denison, Lo Cheung Shin and G. Grimble (share holders).
JOD,
The CHAIRMAN said:-Gentlemen, The
The complainant, Mr. J. H. van Gennep Luhrs, managing director of the Holland Pacific Trading Co., Ltd,, alleges that the defendant cut down a contract form,
WOOD-OIL TESTS. This knotty problem n is still, F
You will remember Dealera of Hongkong was held yester to say, unsettled, day afternoon in the Chamber of Com-that last year, about the end of April, merce Room, Chartered Bank Building, samples were sent to various bodies in Mr. T. W. Hill, presided and with him the United States, analysed by Mr. report and accounts having now been in which had been signed but only partially were the following members of the General Dover, the Government Analyst, with the your hands for some days, I propose, with led un in order to forge a document defendant to 85,000 from the complainant. Committee:-Mesars B Monteith Webb, request: that an analysis be made by them your permission, to follow the usual purporting to be a receipt entitling the
custom of taking them as read. The re
The defence is that the receipt is a A. W. Van Andel, S. 3. Chura, P. V. in the same manner in order that alt of our operations for the year 1919, Botelho, U. Rumjahn, A. M. L Soares, standard form might be arrived at. The
now under review, I am pleased to say, genuine document and is a receipt for -end J. Robertson,
replies so far received, I do not say in
have been again successful and the deposit of $3,000, made by defendant all cases, but in some cases, are very un- satisfactory and do not show any great account has run off leaving a credit as security for goods he undertook to Mr. D. H. Blake (of Messrs. Wilkinson desire to assist us. For instance, M: balance of 8332,092.00 which, though less sell for the complainant's firm. a Worstall, whose test is insisted upon by than in the year 1918, in well up to the
average for t
the last 20 years. This, & Grist) appeared for the complainant. inauy importers in the United States, writes of his test is a small sesle varnish think, you will consider satisfactory in and Mr. A. H. Crew (of Messrs, Hastings In re-examination by Mr. Blake, the operation and contends that no one is view of the fact that 1810 was not a happy & Hastings), for the defendant. qualified to test Wood Oil satisfactorily period for Fire Insurance. Companies, who has not had experience of the Many serious ares occurred in all parts complainant said that the authorised ol the world, Shanghai and the capital of the Holland, Pacifie Trading making, testing and use of Wood-Oil;
The following members were present Mesars. Andersen, Meyer & Co. Ltd. (Mr. Fannell), Arnhold Bros & Co., Ltd. (Mr. B. Monteith Webb), Bradley & Co Ltd. (Mr. T, W. Hill), Botello Bros. (Mr. P. V. Botelho), H. A. Castro & Co. (Mr. H. A. Lastrú), Dodwell & Co., Ltd. (Air. E. Hymar Thomson), Donnelly Whyte (Mr. D. E. Donnelly), Walter Ford & Co. (Mr. Arthur Samy), Gibb, Livingston & Co. (Mr. L J. Davis).
ין
A
Gilman & Co., Ltd. (M». ^ H. Bytes).em which he apparently professes Northern Pa ts, the Philippines and Co., Ltd, was 1,000,000 guilders, and the
W. A. Hannibal & Co. (Mr. J. Robert
to
bad. I quote Mr. Davey in say adin each contributing a vary substan-issued capital, 155,000 guilders. If he had tiat quota.. How serious this fire wastage been prassed for £5,000 in February this on), Hausmano, Kern & Co. (Mr. E.*ing that as long as Mr. Worstall and has been may be seen from the fact that year he could easily have met the call.
other Cheuists in the United States con- Hausmann). Holland China Trading Co. port and China Produce Export Co. means of secret unpublished test, the (Mr. A. W. Van Andel), Hongkong Imtinue to talk of judging Wood-Oil by
Mr. Alomail), W. G. Humphreys & Co. (M. T. R. Barton), Maxim & Co export, to the States will continue under
almost unworkable conditions.. Jahn & Co., Ltd. (Mr. Rumjahn), (Mr. V. A. Remedios). Pittendrigh, Rum Heiss & Co. (Mr. G. F. de Carvalho), J. M. da Rocha, & Co. (Mr. J. 3. da Rocha), David Snasoon & Co., Ltd. (Mr BZPA), She Sound Co., Ltd. Ezra), Shewan, Tomes & Co (Mr ... de Almada Rimedios); Scares
The New York Produco Exchange, although parcel receipt for sample, was handed to them on 2nd June, did not apparently obtain delivery until 20th October, when they wrote requesting
are still without a result of that teat!
amounts to no less than $180,000 more than the highest total for any previous the sum paid for losses and claims
the Holland Pacific Trading Co., Ltd., said he had never heard defendant speak Anthony John Bainbrigge, assistant in
Mr. Crew: I put it to you that"your" haging seen these contract forms signed is a mere matter of imagination on your part 1
of a 83,000 deposit made with the com- year.
Premium income and interest show in-pla anat. He had many times heard de creases of 8180,000 and $35,000 respectively, fendant pressed to settle his accounts in these being partly due to the lower rate of regard to transactions on consignment, sterling exchange at which we were able but had never heard him speak of a to convert our sterling figures on the deposit as set-off. He was present at the 31st December last. The ratios for losses transaction when the complainant handed and expenses work out at 62.47 per cent. the defendant contract forma signed in
blank. and 30.92 per cent. respectively as agaitist 24.35 per cent. and 31.00 per cent. for the year 1915. The balance standing at credit of the working account 1020 is $386,794.57, which is 811,000 better than the carry forward for 1918, the previous best in the history of the Company. It is carly, how ever, to comment on this account which has yet a further nine months to rub This year also has borne its full share of losses, but we have every hope of its closing with a satisfactory balance hand.
Witness: I can believe my own eyes. I saw it, I have not come here to tell'a pack of lies.
CONSTABLE'S ACTION QUESTIONED. Chinese Constable, No. 201. was called to give evidence of arrest. He said the Station" and he complainant said: took the defendant in charge.
The Magistrate:: Was he not accused of anything at the time i
& Co. (Mr. A. M. L Soares) Mr. Fremittance of G.80 to cover cost before PTalati (Mr. M. P. Talati), Union Trading Co., Ltd. (Mr. B. M. Chury and sending the sample to be tested, and we Mr. Barretto), and Harry Wicking & We shall continue to hammer away with Co. (Mr. S. Pinna).
The Secretary read the notice conven- Dovey's assistance, but receive little
or no encouragement. ing the meeting.
Tu CHAIRMAN Mid-Gentlemen, The BURVEY report and accounts having been in your hands for some days, I will take them as read The accounts call for no particu- lar comment. The Committee has uitder gone many changes and, of the new mem- one specially welcome Masra. Soares and Botelho, whose advice on technical and other matters, has been of great valite. We regret to record the death of Mr. Laung Fai Nam, an old Member of The Committee, whose, place it will bo difficult to fill. Our numbers are main tained and we are now composed of 56 Europeas Firms and three Chinese Firms, and, although, as your Chairman remarked, at last year's meeting, this shows confidence on the part of the foreign Grms in the value of the work dons by the Association, we have still failed to convince our Chinese friends of the value of co-operation and mutual understanding between buyer and seller, for the further and a combined finting, the export no doubt rend his speech, I do not pro worst experienced by, the Northern Part now you cannot arrest people without
ance of, and for
trade of this Colony,
Chamber of Commerce surveys appear to be of no practical value since are entirely ignored by arbitrators in London and elsewhere, in the event of a dispute, as to quality or condition, Private firms and this Association bare repeatedly endeavoured to come to some agreement on this subject and on terms of sale generally. As an instance of the total disregard of suggestions made at this end, the new rules drawn by the Canton Cassia Guild, and the, Canton Chamber of Commerce to govern the sale of Cassis, when referred to London and New York, were rejected practically in rate. We have asked for the assistance of the General Chamber of Commerce in this connection.^=
THE 'RICE TRADE.
NOT HEAVILY INVOLVED IN SHANGHAI FIRE
You will doubtless have heard of the disastrous fire which occurred in Shang hai on the 11th of this month, and I am sure you will be gratified to learn that the Company is only interested for the sum of £30,000. This fire was one of the
The witness was anderstood to reply in the negative. The words which the Magistrate read over to him afterwards, and to which he assented, were I knew nothing whatever about the charge.".
The Magistrate What: right had you to arrest him, then In the complainant justice of the peace, or a police officer 1 Witness: No.
How long have you been a constable T For four year
The CHAIRMAN of the General Chamber of Commerce, in his speech yesterday,
The Magistrate: You surely know by dealt with this subject and as you have
some charge being specified against pose to make any further remarks on and we may consider ourselves extremely them?
tongue should fortunatem escaping so lightly. The The witness made no answer, and the Magistrate pressed him for a reply. He run away with me.
With these few remarks, I beg, to pro greatly increased pose, the adoption of the report and 342,092.06, and we recommend the with the complainant, said that the de- volume of exports passing through this accounts and after they have been second payment of the usual dividend of 27 per fendant was to be charged with fraud.
3/11 equals 8102,400, to the Reinsurance port on the completion of the Hankowed; I shall be pleased to answer any share the appropriation of £18,000, at This completed the evidence for the Bís cot, far distant-and I'venture to think questions to "the best of my ability. (AP Fund, and that the balance of $13,692.06. -
The Chairman of the Hongkong and this subject. for: fear my surplus to he dealt with at this meeting then said, the Chinese assistant, who was
Kowloon Wharf and Godown Co., Ltd.,
at a recent meeting (I think it was last
year) predicted, n
Canton Railway an event which we hope
to a revival of exports on the usual reale.
plause.)
1.
complainant.
SUBMISSION BY THE
Mr. Crew, for the defence, submitted
be placed to the credit of Investment and
HE DEFENCE This Mr. J DA ROCHA said:-I have Exchange Fluctuation "Account. that an Association; such as this will prove its value when questions in couch pleasure is rising to scound the account will then stand at a figure of nection with the development of such adoption of the report and accounts as 851.450.78, which your directors consider that there is no case to go before a trade come to be discussed.
presented, and I have no hesitation in sufficient to meet all calls that may be jury. If the Magistrate thought the con THE PAST YEAR'S TRADE
saying that all the members of the Asso-made upon it. You will. I trast, approvetrary, he would reserve his defence. He enormously in favour of the defendant. The boom. in exports which lasted dur ciation appreciate, and thank the Chair of the usual bonus on their salaries of submitted that the probabilities were ing 1019, and carly 1020, came to an man, Committee and Secretary. for, the 10 per cent being granted to the staff. abrupt end, last Spring, when prices good work they have done during the I do not think that there is anything A debt of 300 wax due from defendant's commenced to sag, and it soon became past trying year, which gave us much further, in the accounts which requires. rm, and would be, for the sake of that, Apparent that the markets of the world cause for anxiety. We have listened very mantron by me, but after the resolution run the risk of seven years for forgery, were overstocked with produto of every attentively to your remarks on the past which I am about to propose has been and go about it in the one way in which description. These are not yet liquidated situation and we certainly value the good seconded I shall be glad to satisfy to he could most easily be detected! It and, until they are, and conditions in services you have done for this Associa the best of my ability, any enquiries would be the set of a lunatic. Mr. Crew Europe and America become maretion. In 1919 had the honour to attend arising out of them which shareholders described the story of handing blank Hormal, we cannot, I fear, look forward several meetings of the Rice Association may wish to put 1 now propose the signed forms to the defendant, as pre-
posterousada M of California and to address its members following resolution :
as to the rice trade from Hongkong, and
"That the report and accounts Mr. Blake, in reply, remarked that Mr. can assure you, notwithstanding We continue to meet with very scant 1 consideration at the hands of Associa the remarks made by the Chairman of presented, including the payment of a Crew's view of the facts would make the tions in Europe and America dealing the Chamber of Commerce, that we have dividend of 897 per share, an addition complainant equally a lunatic. Mr. Luhrs with South China produce, in the mate very good friends across the water and to the Reinsurance Fund of £16,000, st was a substantial citizen, the owner of ter of analysis and quality guarantees we can depend upon them to play the exchange 3/1 equals 8102,400, the trans good business, and would he trump up In fact, their arbitrary stipulations in game. Of course we know that as fer of 813,092.00 to the credit of lavest a charge against the defendant to Avoid many cases make satisfactory business there are in every commercial circle ment and Exchange Fluctuation account, payment of $5,000, which his books well nigh impossible throwing as they so there are in a country like Ame and the payment to the staff of 15 par showed he could easily have paid, if due 1peculiarities of the alleged receipt form, de, an excessive burden of risk on the rich some black sheep, and it be Cent upon their salaries, be adapted and Mr. Blake dealt in detail with the
and with the exporter here. While arbitrators con hovch us to be careful to see with passed. tind) to award allows that had whom we deal in America. With Mr A. DENISOS second, and the report thereon, expert evidence called
of inferiority to contract guarantee these remarks, I have much pleasure in and accounts were approved. scale discover what, in their seconding the, proposal for the adoption minda, constitutes FAQ and until a of the report and accounts se presented The motion was then put to the meet. mora definite understanding is renched on this point, export business will always ing and carried unanimously. be attended with very great risk. This
ELECTION OF COMMITTEL. mattor bas engaged the attention of Committees in the past and will no doubt do so in the future
Mr. Blake was referring to the com Mr. Ho Luso morod:-That the Honplanant's unfamiliarity with the books Sir Paul Chater, C.M.G., Sir Robert Ho of his firm, when Mr. Grew remarked that Tong, Messrs A. H. Compton, F. Mait the book-keeper ought to be called, (This land, F. E. Pearce, H. W. Sassoon, and evidence had been excluded because the B. P. White be elected to form, with the bonk-keeper would have gone to another, Chairman of the Company, the Consult appontment in Shanghai before the case The election of the following committee ing Committee for the ensuing financin would be heard in the Sessions, if com- proposed by Mr LJ DAVIS, and year; and that, in view of the continued mitted). "I will zow touch briefly on a few mat seconded by Mr H SYMFS was carried success of the Company and the very The Magistrate said he did not see how ters that have been brought to the attenunanimously Messrs. B. Monteith considerable increase in the magnitude of the witness could be held if he was going Webb (Chairman)J. Robertson (Vice its operations, that the ramuneration of tion of the Committee during the year
Chairman), T. WHill, A. W. van Andel, this Committes be increased to the sum Blake said his evidence was merely BM Churn, J. H. Brister, P. V of 310,000 per annum.
corroborative, and majo The growing practice, among dealers Botelho, U. Rujahu, A. M. L. Scares, Mr. D. B. BIZAVERBOR Ccondled the The Magistrate As, he is not called, I motion, which was carried unanimously do not think you should comment on his Tho confirmation of the election of the
Messrs. H. Percy Smith and A. R evidence following new members, proposed by the CHAIRMAN And Bonded by Mr B Lowe were re-elected auditors at a Mr. Crew. It is monstrous that my MOSTEITE WEB was agreed to:essramuneration of $500 each, ou the proclient should have to run the risk of seven and Its obviou oger that is af, sub- titution, adulteration, faulty Backing Honta & Co, Ltd, Britto & Co. Ltd. position of Mra Lo CHRUNG BHiv, second
This concluded the busines and other tricks at, which certain dealers Carroll & Co. T. M. Gregory & Co., fed by MTK MURDOSE and adopt, should be sufficient syidence Davis Co., Ltd., and Hausmann, Kein
CRIFESE CONTRACTS.
cf, insisting on Chinese
case of certain arti
ing them from all res
sta in the and O. Eager
prüchted recent innovatio
shipment, is greatly to: It's a com]
of the necessity of its supression. The Co
copperation of members, is essential if desired md is to be achieved and herefore earnestly request you to
accept such contracte.
(The Membership new stands at 59, con-
of 50 European and 3 Chinese
This concluded tho kasiZİ ÇOKƏS
Bradford is to select by secret hallot a soldier of the rank and file upon whom will be conferred the freedom of the city.
witness thould not lose a month's pay. He should be subpoenaed by the police and detained bl
years' imprisonment in order that the
At the conclusion of Mr. Blake's address, the Magistrate said he would like a day or two to consider the care and he would give his decision sa to..com mittel on Entarday 24,
LANE, CRAWFORD & CO.
have just received
NEW STOCKS
for the
RAINY SEASON
BURBERRY
RAINCOATS
There is just that SOMETHING about the style of a genuine Burberry [that makes all the difference.
ZAMBRENE" TRIPLE-PROOF
RAINCOATS.
LIGHT RUBBER WATERPROOFS.
UMBRELLAS, OVERSHOES.
MOTOR CYCLISTS OVERALLS
PHILLIP'S RUBBER SOLES & HEELS.
Lane, Crawford & Co.
Fortify
your BOOLS!
15
LANE, CRAWFORD & CO.
ESTABLISHED 1850.
SHIPCLANDLERS.
COMPLETE SHIP'S OUTFITS,
DECK AND ENGINE ROOM STORES OF ALL DESCRIPTION. OILS, PAINTS AND VARNISH IMPORTERS? 1
ENGINEER'S TOOLS, BLOCKS AND TACKLE
HEMP AND MANILA ROPES ALL SIZES. PACKING AND ASBESTOS GOODS. SOLE AGENTS FOR DOBBIE MINNESS NAUTICAL SPECIALTIES.
Tal 1741.
HONGKONG.
PIANOS
"BABY" GRAND & UPRIGHT
By
CHICKERING,
BROADWOOD
COLLARD &
ALLISON &
HAMILTON.
COLLARD
THE BEST THE WORLD CAN PRODUCE.
197
The Anderson Music Co., Ltd.
Powell
TELEPHONE 8146.
JUST UNPACKED
GENTLEMEN'S
KNITTED NECKWEAR
IN MANY SMART
DESIGNS.
These are hand-made of High-Class Silks. Gentlemen who prefer this kind of Neck wear should dot miss seeing them.
Wm. POWELL, Ltd.
SPECIALISTS IN
GENTLEMEN'S NECKWEAR.