THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS," SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2WD - 1924"
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SINGAPORE TRAMWAYS.
LAST-MINUTE, OFFER FROM HONGKONG.
SCHEME FINALLY APPROVED BY COMMISSIONERS.
A last-minute offer from the Hongkong shareholders in the old Singapore Tram -ways Company came before the Municipal
The PRESIDENT: When we have signified our agreement with this Ordinance we send it up to the Legislative Council, who will deal with it as they pleant.
,
INCHE EUNDA: According to this letter these people only want us to give them time.
letter is delay. "
The ParsIDENT The main object of the
1
In a further explanation of the matter, Commissioners yesterday, says the Straite the PRESIDENT stated that the tongkong Times of November 14th, when a special people sent a telegram on September meeting was held to approve the Tram-13th, to which the following reply was ways Bill, embodying the results of the sent "The position as it appears to us negotiations between the Commissioners is simply that the Court in England has and the Shanghai Electric Tramways appointed Sir William Pleader receiver Company. After a statement by the William Plender is the only person whom and manager, and that being so, Sir Commissioners' legal adviser to the effect the Commissioners can recognise or deal that the Hongkong shareholders had no with. Hence our attitude towards your legal standing, a receiver having been self and those whom you represent can appointed for the debenture-holders, in your existence as persons with whom we only be that we are unable to recognise the old company, the Bill was approved, can negotiate." and will now he sent to the Legislative Council
་
At the outset the President (Mr. R. J. FARRER) said that the object of the meet ing was to discuss the Bill which had beca prepared by the lawyers acting for Sir William Flender, the receiver of the
debenture-bolders in the old Singapore Trainways Co., and which effectuated the negotiations which had been going on between Mr. McColl, of the Shanghai Tramway Company, the Commissioners, and Sir William Plender for something like two years.
HISTORY UM THE NEGOTIATIONS,
IMPROVING COTTON ÎN
CHINA.
A TYPICAL MEETING WITH UP-COUNTRY FARMERS.
CANTON NEWS. [FROM OUR CHINESE CORRESPONDENT. I'
PREPARING TO, ATTACK
CANTON,"
In the latest issue of Agriculture and
General Chen Chiung Ming has tie- Forestry Notes, issued by the University cided to remain neutral in the mudula of Nanking, a description is given of one of politics in North and Central China, of the meetings held from time to time and devote his attention to the local with the object of improving the cotton issue the ousting of Bolshevism from grown in the country. The report says:Canton. His three divisions, led by
The following paragraph is taken from Generals Lin Ft, Hung Choa Lin, and a letter received from. Mr. Chen Ten Yeh Chu, have been ordered to preparo Shan and Mr. Chow Ming I of the Defor the attack on Canton, while a com- partment of Extension, describing their mittes composed of representatives of an extension field trip. It answers insisting him with funds. Some $300,000 experiences at Wakiang, Anhui, while on Canton, Swatow, and communities is aa-
influence.
Friends of Dr. C. C. Wu in Canton are placarding the streets to promote his election to the mayoralty. He is termed a friend to the workers, model mor- chant, and an advanced student. Dr. Wu is son of the late Wu Ting Wang and is at present Head of the Foreign affairs Department at General Headquarters. At Wakiang (Anhui), Mr. Li had He is the most popular candidate for the prepared well for the meeting. The door nomination among the students and the was beautifully decorated with a cedar merchants. Dr. Wu is a graduate of arch paper flowers, big sign for the London University and has been, a follow- exhibition and the national Bag Ayinger of Dr. Sun Yat Sen since 1917. Ho The next morning we arranged the ex- has never been a very active merchants hibit material in the school room and except perhaps, in real estate transas- were ready by ten o'clock. Many people tions in the last two years in Canton, and. passing, here came in to see our exnitats. Mr. Izr Ying Pak, his rival, the favourite We talked to them and asked them to of the Workers Union, may dispute his a model mer- come again in the afternoon at two claim to be regarded as o'clock in the morning we received chant. So far the rivalry has been most various lots of cotton from the farmers friendly, as both Dr. Wu and Mr. Tre and arranged it all in exhibit order. We are leading men in the Kuomintang. put the names, places, amount of land, amount of cotton harvested, and the total money obtained, on the bag of each farmer.
In the afternoon we started our
FOREIGN PIECE GOODS MERCHANTS AND LIKIN.
The authorities in Canton have ruled
very positive way the question so often has been handed over to the troops com- asked, Do the farmers respond to manders recently, and more is being sub better things? The College is maintain scribed for his support. The Cantoneso ing a one half day rural school emphasi- are supporting General Chen on the un scheme bad received the sanction of the
The PARSIDENT added that the whole zing school garden and nursery work, and derstanding that he will refrain from
siding with one political faction or a cotton demonstration farm at this another but concentrate his 'energy to Court in England, and until these gentle- men could get behind that order by per place. The Mr. Li referred to is a pro-wards the salvation of Canton from Red suading some court in England to cancel duct of our one year course in agricul it the Commissioners could not deal with | ture. In addition to his teaching, he con-
THE MAYORALTY. them.
ducts an evening course in popular educ ation with tho 1,000 character lessena. The PRESIDENT then gave a short out-On Sunday, he conducts a Sunday School line of the history of the present negotia and sometimes preaches. His first pro tions, which commenced in May, 1992. The Shanghai Company put forward cer
blem was to gain the confidence of the tain proposals, and the Commissioners farmers How well he has succeeded is appointed a special committee to consider indicated berewith. them. The committee did not agree with what the Company wanted them to do, and they sent the following cable to the It might be that the company: Municipality refuse exten- intervention at the fifty-ninth minute of sien of tramway concession on the ground of incompatibility of your interests and the eleventh hour of certain persons from theirs with regard to roads, hut would Hongkong, represented by Messrs. Rodyk consider railless cars in place of rails, the company to pay half the cost of recon and Davidson, from whom two letters; the struction of reads. One of the matters second modifying the first, had been re- that came up immediately was the revi ceived, might make the Commissioners sion of the electricity contract, which was doubtful whether it would not be desir referred to in the letter from Messrs. able to postpone matters, in order to Rodyk and Davidson. The electricity negotiate with this other body of persons. contract was made in 1923, and it bound In order that they might make up their the Singapore Tramway Company to de- minds, Mr. Robinson, their legal adviser, liver to the Commissioners all the power would make a statement as to what the that they required at certain rates. Dur- status of these gentlemen represented by ing the war the company found that this meeting at two o'clock. Both farmers that foreign merchants, as well as nativa, Messra Rodyk and Davidson actually contract, owing to the rise in prices, was and farm ladies, merchants and merchant dealing in piece goods will have to pay
involving them in loss of money. They
likin. The Big Lung Syndicate farming Mr. A. P. Robinson, of Messra Drew sought for relief in the local courts, but ladies, gentry and gentry ladies, were and Napier, stated that the position of did not succeed, and they then appealed meeting to order. Then 1 went up to
present. We rang the bell to call the out the likim for collection has guaran-
teed $193,200 a year to the government. the group of people responsible for this to the Privy Council. While the matter the platform to announce the purpose of letter was that they were a body of was still pending there was a decision in the meeting. Mr. Li told his experience shareholders in the Tramway Company, the Privy Council on the very point raised with the larmers in the beginning and THE SIMPLE LIFE IN JAPAN. and they had no legal status or entity by the Trumway Company, and the Com-their attitude toward him now. He made with whom the Commissioners could deal. missioners had therefore to contemplate them all laugh and again sorry for their The Commissioners were dealing now the practical certainty, that the Company ignorance. He also told the result of
BE DILIGENT AND THRIFTY," with the receiver for the debenture would win their appeal, and the Commis our cotton and of all farmers' atton in holders, and his position was legal and sioners would have to pay increased rates the exhibit baga. He also chose four
Mr. Hamaguchi, Minister of Finnnax. fixed, and he was acting in pursuance of for electricity supplied to them dating farmers to come to the platform to bear has given out the following statement to certain orders of the Cours obtained in back to 1918, which would have meant a witness and asked them to tell the sad the Press: England in debenture-holders' action very large sum of money. When the ence about their good harvest, better A company was one thing and its share negotiations with the Shanghai Company. cotton and more money received.
Today (November 10th) is the firs holders were another, Mr. Robinson ab or with Sir William Piender, began, the They believe in us now and want to anniversary of the grant of the imperial served. To deal with a company, or committee decided that in comng, to an grow more cotton next year. We had our Edict on the cultivation of a Bound what in this case came to the same thing agreement they should get the electricity movie in the afternoon instead of in the national spirit, and I feel the force at the representative of the mortgagees of question cleared out of the way, and thus evening, because Wukiang is also under the Imperial injunctions contained there a company, that was one thing: but to free the Commissioners from the neces martial Inw now. The room was fally in the more now because of the situation deal with a body of shareholders forming vity of continuing to take electricity from packed with about 300 people and the prevailing at home and abroad. The only a part of the shareholders of the Tramway Company, and put them in meeting was adjourned at half-past five. adoption of the Dawes plan seems to company, that was quite another thing a position to put up their own power The meeting was a very successful one a financial and political atmosphere in have introduced a ray of hope into the Whether this scheme was good or not station. As a result they had come to Mr. Li is the right kind of man to work Europe, which has long been darkened by was, no doubt, open to discussion, but a definite agreement with Sir William for it."
the post-war insecurity, and it is to bo even if it was very much better than Plender, but this was contingent upon the the one embodied in this Or "inance, the passing of this Ordinance and the terms
expected that a new face will gradually Commissioners were not able to deal with for the settlement of the Privy Council
be put on the general European situation hereafter. With the recovery of the sita these people at this moment because action were that the Commissioners wers they could give the Commissioners to pay £90,000 to the Company. Thanks
ation, economic competition among the nothing in returu. If the Commissioners to the desire of the Shanghai Company
Powers will probably grow. did come to an agreement with them, and who were the moving spirit in the pro-
supreme conjuncture when a revolution
What is, then, the state of Japan at this they undertook to form this company and posals for the reconstruction of the Singa of. 39,400,000 which had been authorised ary turn is about to come over interna to carry out this new scheme, still there pere Company-to obtain the concession by Government for the reconstruction of tional polities and finances? Although and the Commissioners, the debenture effect this very reasonable contingent as nearly as possible the old Tramway not yet wettled themselves. Industry is would be in between the Tramways here for railless trams, they had been able to roads. In most respects the Bill followed four years and a half have elapsed since holders, represented by Sir William Plen- settlement with regard to the electricity Ordinance. There can be no question paralysed and trade is at a low ebb. To the reaction came on in 1990, things have der, who were for all practical purposes the legal owners of the stock and busi ness and undertakings of the present Tramways
WaA.
COMMISSIONERS' QUESTIONS.
supply.
FEAR OF COMPETITION,
Continuing, Mr. FARRER suid that the idea of substituting railless cars, but they Shanghai Company at once adopted the
of South Bridge Road, and the new road to Kreta Ayer. The payments in return for which the Sbangtai Company got this the sinking fund and interest on the loan "concession were calculated to pay hall
said the PaeaIDENT in conclusion, "that since Mr. McColl and his staff took over the running of the tramways they have ey were before, and I have every co been enormously improved from what
ran these trackless trams in a manner he, satisfactory as we can hope to attain."
matters worse, the disastrous
of last year inflicted inestin- ̧
which depends the able losses upon the country's finances and economies. Foreign trade, upon
has been un
ME GRIFFITH-JONES: Are we in a posi-expressed the fear that the Commission-dence that the Shanghai Company will of the country' and decline
tion to deal with these people? Are we ers themselves wight compete with them, not committed definitely to the scheme with the Shanghai Tramways1.
The PRESIDENT: Certainly we are mor- ally committed; whether we are legally committed I don't know.
COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS.
Mr. DUNMAN remarked that, this re-
and the Commissioners committed them
favourable year in and year out since the termination of the war: "Laat year, selves to a declaration to refrain from competitive services on roads served ade
the excess of imports over exports of quately by the company, but they refused
the country, inclusive of Korea and For to undertake to restrain other competi- quest, coming at the late hour, was some-mosa, exceeded Y500,000,000, while the Mr. GRIFFITH-Joxes: Then there is no tors by restricting licences or by any what extraordinary. In any case it would trade balance during the first half year need to discuss this matter t
other action. Later on, the company delay the proceedings for many months, of the current year was over ¥700,000,000 The FussIDEST replied that he thought pointed out that it would be unfair to and that alone was a very great deter against this country. The aggregate sum some of the Commissioners might like to them if they were to be subjected to com rent. He added that the Shanghai Com of the surplus of imports since 1919 ham have any doubts they might feel as to the petition from motor-busses which might pany had worked during the past two reached the bugs figure of Y2,700,000,000. propriety of pushing aside that letter be bearing much lighter taxes than the years most efficiently, (Hear, hear.) The result of this strikingly unfavour- from Rodyk and Davidson resolved by company would have to pay under their They had put all the cars into thoroughly able trade balance has been the gradual their legal adviser.
agreement with the Commissioners, and good running order, they had carried out diminution of the specie, which has led Dr. PATHY: Are we in any way respon the committee therefore agreed to the a complete reorganisation, they had reto sharp fall in the exchange rate to sible for guarding the interests of the principle of equitable treatment of public duced fares and they had doubled the the extent of twenty or thirty per cent shareholders in this company 1. du
vehicles. In other words, if it should be fram traffic.
The effects of this phenomenon are being The PRESIDENT: Not in any way.
proved that the total sum payable to the
The PRIDENT: More than doubled it. disastrously felt in financial circles. On Mt. TESSENSOHN suggested that the Commissioners, by any company or person Continuing, Mr. DUNMAN said that the the other hand, State expenditure has Commissioners should be given a few in respect of public vehicles competing Shanghai Company had had to provide considerably expanded since the war. days to consider the matter." -
with vehicles of the company was less something like £80,000 in order to do this with the corresponding increase in The PRESIDENT: You have just been than that payable by the new company, work. The Commissioners had to con-national debts.
the best possible means of improv The lax and extravagant babits which told by your legal adviser that these the Commissioners would increase the ing trafo conditions in the town, and be grew upon the people in the war boom people have no power to negotiate, or taxation. A clause applying this prov felt quite satisfed, from what the Shang- days still exist, due to lack of popular offer us anything
sion to motor-lorries crept in, but ∙it had Mr. TzSSENSCHs suggested that they been deleted
hai Company had already done, that they awakening though there might wait until the gentleman who was
This Bill extended to the Shanghai were in every way competant to run the though only temporary improvement at coming from Shanghai arrived.
Company, the PRESIDEST continued, until new company most ably. He pointed out the time of the earthquake.
In short, if the present state of things There is to be ils course, there a it Sir William Piender has to the new company the concession i to the capabilities of the Hongkong abare- the neither financial recovery nor the in-
dealing with him. It is nothing to us that as soon as any route on which tram. SIDENT stated that he was informed that will be hopelessly left behind in
holders.
WES ·Som
gained by been appointed by the Court, and we are formerly held by the old company, for a
In reply to Mr. Griffith-Jonce, the PE crease of national resources, and Japan រ period of thirty years, and it provided
the whether the hareholders in the old com- |
the Commisalomera could not be held to future international competition: "The pany lose the whole of their capital or lines were situsted had been reconstruct be bound by anything they had done. It beat way to meet the present grave situ not. All that we are concerned with is ed by the Communioners the company all depended on the Legislative Council. ation is for the people to observe the in- getting the traffic of this town on a good had to pull up the fram-lines, abdi zun Mr. GRITTITE-JONES: If we break with junctions set forth in the Imperial Edirt basis.
railless cars instead the Municipality Sir William Plender now, do we re-open
referred to, and take on a fresh spirit. Mr. Rourarson asked whether the Presi- would then complete that, particular road the question of the electricity supply In other words, we must discard dippant dent had committed himsel verbally, to by reconstructing that portion over which
The PAESIDENT: Yes, because the and indulgent ways of living for a thrifty the scheme with the Shanghai company. the tram-lines had been laid." „It also en-
The PRESIDENT replied that for Mr. Mo-abled the Commissioners to come, to an agreement to withdraw the Privy Coun and strenuous life. In carrying out ad- Coll's satisfaction he had signed the draft agreement indeed, an agreement ha cil appeal is contingent upon the passing the Government K prompted by
ministrative and financial readjustment of this Bill Ordinance with certain reservations. Mr. virtually been come to both as to the Mr. GRIFFITH-Jones: We are committed desire to set the example of economy. if McColl wanted this particular document order in which they should take up the over this electricity question, and moral- the people are united in their efforts to for the purpose of showing in London reconstruction of the present tramway by committed over the tramwayat be diligent and thrifty, there will be an that an agreement had been practically routes, and the abandonment and removal The PARTIDEST: We are committed over increase of capital, on the one hand, and of the tram-lines · from · Jalan Suitan, the power station, which is the best thing the lowering of prices and the graduať DE CHARKE: What would be our posi- North Bridge Road, South Bridge Road we can possibly do for the tom
revival of the expert trade, on the other, tion if we did not carry out the agree, as far as Cross Street, and the whole of After further discussion the PRESIDENT with the result that a new life will be Phan Tanjong Pagar Hood, as soon as the moved that the Bill, with the exception imparted to financial circles and national ment with Shanghaila
The PRESIDENT: We should be under no alternative, router was available wifi Vic of certain sections which were mallers development, be attained. Diligente and liability, if that is what you meun. toria Street Hill Street, New Bridge for the Inanector General of Police, heconomy are not simply a negative moral
Incre Epson. If we pass this Ordi-Boad, and Cross Street, stall portion approved. Mr. MANASS seconded, and code regulating individual life, but an nance are we bound by it!.
(Continued on next column.) the resolution was unanimously carried."" important key to national prosperity."
arrived at.
וי