Page
THE CANTON TROUBLE. STRIKERS RETURN 13 CARGO-
JUNKS.
HONGKONG RIVER BOATS RESUME RUNNING.
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH, 1926
FIRE STATION BUILDING.,
PROGRESS REPORT.
The Progress Report for the fifth quar ter, ending 31st December, 1995, was laid before the Legislative Council by com mand of H.E. "the Governor yesterday.
The contractors are Trollope & Colls (Far East), Ltd., and the report is made by the Director of Public Works:
[FROM OUR CHINESE, CORRESPONDENT.] -
The Contractors for the New Fira Complying with the request of the Brigade Station have made satisfactory Customs authorities and the order of the progress with the work during this quar- Canton Government, the Strike Com- The whole of the concrete work is now inittee enforcing the "anti-imperialist"complete with the exception of the ground boycott have returned all the 13 cargo floor, courtyard and one or two minor
junks scized within the inst few weeks
The Customs authorities are demanding also the return of the goods, alleging that some 300 or more cases have to "bo e- counted for. This appears to be the only hitch preventing the Canton Commis siuner of Customs from re-opening the rort which he virtually closed by refus ing to fürther issue permita to vessels to work their cargo until his demands in regard to the boycott pickets are satis- sed,
ter.
items such as channels to verandahs, etc. Brickwork to all üpper floors is prac tically complete and all the necessary bricks are on the site in readiness to complete the ground door walls.
The stonework is now nearing comple- tion and the masons are at present en- gaged in laying the last course found the building.
The door and window frames are being built in as the work proceeds and all window sashes and doors are at present stored on the job but cannot be hung until the Ironmongery arrives from England.
*
The non-delivery of this indent which was forwarded more than six months ago is very definitely and seriously retarding the progress of the work and therefore delaying the date of completion of the circumstances, be completed within the stipulated time.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
VACANT, FLOORS AND REFUND
OF RATES.
A SPECIAL AND TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENT.
A meeting of the Legislative Council was held in the Council Chamber yester day. Present:-
but before the payer of the tax en ask for a refund the whole of the house minst have been vacant during a whole month of the quarter. That works out quite fairly in ordinary times, becauso "ja" making the assessment the Assessor in allowed to deduct frùm the total probable rental an allowance up to 20 per cent for probable vacancies, and this is ro- gulary done. That deduction in ordi-
His Excellency the Governor (Sir Ceainary times is quite enough to relieve the payer of the "tax from the burden he CLEMENTI, K. C.M.Q.).
flis Excellency the General Officer Com manding the Troops (Major General C. C. LUARD, C.M.G.). The Colonial Secretary (Hon. Mr. E. R.
HALLIFAX, C.M. G., O. BE.). The Attorney-General (Hon. Mr. J. H
KEMP, K.C. C.RE). The Colonial Treasurer (Hon. Mr. C. Mcl.
MESSER, OB.E). Hon. Mr. H. T. CREAST (Director of
Public Works).
Hon. Mr. E. D. C. WOLFE (Captain
Superintendent of Police). Hon. Mr. D. W. TRATMAN (Secretary for " Chinese Affairs).
Hon. Sir HENEY Potiock. K.C. Hon. Mr. P. H. HOLYDAK, Hon. Sir Seer SƠN CHOW, Hon. Mr. A. O. LANG. Hon. Mr. H. W. BIRD. Hon. Mr. R. H. KOTEWALL
But it has
would otherwise have to bear if portions of his premises sere vacant. bean impressed on the Government re- cently that in the present temporarily depressed condition of house property in certain parts of the Colony that rule works unfairly or perhaps I should say
hardly because, for various reasona, it happens in certain parts of the Colony
much more
thab vacancies are very frequent, and last much longer, than in ordinary times. Some of these causes of this date back a considerable time. They began at the time of the land boom, when the house accommodation was far behind the demand. Land was bought
Chinese merchants and the public who are being penalized for the lawlessness of the pickets whom they have tolerated and morally supported, are understood to contract, which cannot now, under any Mr. S. B. 3. McELDERA (Clerk of and buildings were commenced "in, all
#suffering more from the Commissioner's
action than from the pickets' illegal! seizures and, according to a report, they would be willing not to press for the return of the gands. This, they thought, would remove the practical difficulty, as the Strike Committee are denying ever possessing so many cases or packages as the Customs authorities allege
According to information filed with the Customs, up to February 21th, no fewer than a claims were lodged for losses in connection, witë boycott picketing since! ita operation. There are others which have not been the subject of pritest or claim.
י ן;
The joiners are in readiness to lay the wood block floors to all offices but can not do so until adequate, protection can be obtained and all doors and windows
shut.
Conceils).
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on February 4th having been circulated and approved" they were sign- As stated above this cannot be provideded by H.E. The Governor. until the Ironmongery arrives frou England.
MOTOR MISHAPS.
SEVERAL ACCIDENTS ON THURSDAY.
Several motor accidents occurred on Thursday.
A Chinese hoy received slight injuries through being knocked down by a motor- car driven by Dr. B. A. Tottenham, near
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE the Central Market.
COMMISSIONER
A letter from the Canton General Chamber of Commerce to the Canton
Commissioner of Customs, roughly trans- lated, follows:
The Customs House is instituted for
A car owned by a Chinese crushed into the wall of the Botanical Gardens, and its occupants, two Chinese boys were slightly injured.
A privately owned car was badly smashed in Garden Road, caused by the driver losing control of the steering wheel. Two small boys were injured.
A coolie was slightly injured through
a motorcycle, ridden by Mr. A. May.
Two motor buses collided outside the Mongkok Police Station. One of them. owned by the Kai Tak Company, was badly damaged.
the lawful inspection of goods and col-being knocked down at Praya East, hy "lection of duty and has never at any time essed to operate." We are surprised that you bave on the 22nd (of February) closed the Customs and thus made it necessary for about 50 vessels from several ports to he detained in Canton on account of This their failure to discharge farge.
will not only interfere with the normal course of trade but also affect the food more problem of the people, which is
serious, leading to public excitement. Your action, we are informed. has not been preceded by notice, and the inton. tion was only made known verbally to Mr. Foo Ping Sheung, Superintendent of Customs, on last Saturday morning at 1 o'clock. We understand that the rea son for your action is that pickets of the
HARBOUR MISHAP.
MOTOR BOAT SUNK,
ارم
РАРЕКА
parts of the Colony For a long time building failed to catch up with the do mand, but a year ago it was predicted by well-informed persons that the Colony would very soon be over-built. That result has now been reached and in cer tain new parts of the Colony two or three floors of a house may be vacant. and only one let. When that is the case the owner while still having to pay the interest of his mortgage has also to pay rates on the whole house. In some cases he may thus bive to pay out more in respect of the house than he receives as rent for the floor occupied Owners of that class of property, I believe, are feel- ing the pressure and would be glad of the relief by a more generous system of refunds which the present temporary measure would afford. The Government has not acted hastily in proposing to bring forward this legislation The Arst request was made a good many months ago, but the Government was not, then satisfied that a case had been made cut for relief, but the Government is satisfied Quarterly Report relating to the Fire+now. The form that relief is to take is
Station building.
The Corcs SECRETARY, by command of H.E. The Governor, laich upon the table the "following papers:
"By-law made under section 16 of the Publio Health and Buildings Or- dinance, 1903, and published in the Government fiazette of January 5th, 1928.
"Resolution of the Legislative Council
under the provisions of aection of the Tramway Ordinance," 1902, on the 4th day of February, 1990, and published in the Government Gazette of February 5th, 1926, Rules made by the Registrar of Patents under section 11 of the Registration of United Kingdom Patents Ordinance. 1925. on January 20th, 1928, and published in the Government Gazette of February 5th, 1926. Quarterly Report relating to the new
- Sairingpun School.
JURG2S' LIST,
"The COLONIAL SECRETARY, "by command of H.E. The Governor. submitted the
Jurors' List for 1926 and moved that it be considered by the committee of the Early yesterday morning, the "Star "whole Council at the conclusion of the Ferry boat. Northern Stur, collided with present meeting. two motor-boats lying between the ferry The ATTORNEY-GENERA. seconded, and wharf and the public pier. One of the boats was sunk, and the other received the motion was agreed to. damage to the extent of $100. No lives
were lost.
RATES AT STANLEY."
that the Governor in Council shall have power to exercise it in cases, in which he nks ft The measure has been put in present wide form because it will afford a quick and easy method of arriv
ing at a fair conclusion in the various ciremstances that arise. The intention
is that refund of rates will be granted only if two or more floors of a tenement are vacant-ot for a single foor, be onse, as I bave explained, provision is The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the made in the assessment for a certain following resolution which was standing amount of vacancy during the year, and that would cover the vacancy of one the agenda in his name? "Resolved by the Legislative Council for. But in cases where two or more that the percentage on the valuation Hoors are vacant the Government would of tenements payable as rates for
Strike Committee have been interrupting ST. JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE.。n
the Customs administration by detaining goods which had not been properly in- spected. We are also informed that Mr. Foo, the Superintendent, voiced his objec tion to the proposal and agreed to take up the matter with the Government. You did not wait but carried out the order, to which we also take exception.
вод,
HONGKONG CORPS.
AWARDS FOR 1925.
REFUND OF RATES
"LA CHU PAK" DUTY CEP -For the best record of actual Ambulance duty In awarding this Cup Juring the year. it was found very difficult to decide "We consider that the Government between the merits of the **Indian might have been requested to remedy Division and the "Y.M.C.A." Division the motion was agreed to. #such a trifling matter as pickets detain respectively. After very careful compari-
ing goods and that the eloting the port,
and a further revision, the Cup has delaying the transportation of goods been awarded to the "Indian" Division. abould have been avoided, since The "Y.M.C.A." Division is very highly creates public excitement, and hesitation
commended. on the part of rice ships to leave other ports for Canton. This will lead to the stoppage of food supplies and enthil seri ois consequences, the responsibility of which we wish to know whether or not you are able to assume. For the pacifica tion of the public, we would ask for the immediate resumption of Customs pro chedings so as facilitie the working of cargo without delay.” KUOMINTANG ORGANISES OTHER
PROTESTS."
The Kuomintang was to order the students, labour, and other organized bodies in Canton to stage another meet ing of protests yesterday (8th inst), On Wednesday, the Kuomintang ordered the four leading commercial guilds in Canton to make a protest against the Customs Administration similar to that made by the General Chamber of Commerce.
The Ministry of Finance, Mr. T. V. Soong, issued a permit to the s.s "Kwai to return from Hongkong to Canton at the request of her owner. SITUATION EXCITES NATION-WIDE
~ ATTENTION.
HOLYDAE ATTENDANCE CCP:-Award- ed to the Division showing the highest percentage of attendance at ary 15 meet. inga during the year. The Cup is won by the Railway" Division, with an attendance return of 100 per cent.
tenments in Stanley shall be 8 per be prepared to consider a refund of rates. cent. as from the date fixed by H.E. It is not proposed to refund the total The Governor for the coming into amount of the rates attributable to two effect of this resolution, that is to
or more ficors, but only of any floor in say, the 1st day of April, 1928.
For example, if two The ATTORNEY-GENERAL seconded, and excess of one
sors are vacant the ratepayer will get a refund of rates for one foot only. This relief will not be granted in respect of The ATTORNEY-GENERAL: Sir, I beg to the month of January because it is quito
the move the resolution standing on
impossible now to check any claims ́in agenda in my name, vis-
"Resolved that it is desirable that respect of the month, but it will be Tegislation be introduced, as a tempor-passible to check for the present month, ary menaire of relief, in order to enable and also for Hanh. It is impossible to refunds of rates to be made in respect say how long this relief will be required of vacant portions of tenements in cer- and no undertaking is given that it will be continued beyong the present quar ter. If it is owners of property should Though not necessarily connected with
The ATTORNEY GENERAL said: To under-remarked that the ordinary rule is that the present difficulty it might be men- tioned that the Kuomintang at Canton stand, this resolution it is necessary to no claim to a refund can be considered caless the rates have been paid in the have advised the Customs authorities at have soine kuowledge of the rating sysrst month of the quarter, and any owner Lappa, pear Macao, that vessels armed with special permits issued by the Govern- tem in vogue under the present rating who may claim in the second quarter ment at Canton should be allowed to pass ordinance. As hon. members know, the ahould pay his rates in the first mouth without further inspection. No individual rateable value of a house or tenement official or military commander, except the highest authority in Canton, however, is the amount at which the tenement might be expected to be let. The Asses may issue such permits.
The Prize Court," or joint Examina sor arrives at this amount from inform tion Shed of the Workers and Merchants tion as to the actual rentals and from in Canton to inspect goods with a view to excluding "imperialist goods" has his own general knowledge of the house been functioning as usual since February property in the Colony. On the amount 2nd.
HEAVY SQUEEZE."
Lain cases,
of that quarter. There is only one other thing I want to say, and that is that a notification of this decision will be given in the Press, and that appications for zelunds should be sent to the Colonial Treasurer who will deal with them, and report to the Governor in Council.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded the motion which was passed.
'THE COLONY'S AZDULATIONS. AND BY-LAWS." of the ratcable value so arrived at, the
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the rates are calculated. The percentage incond reading of the Bill tituled Ar 13 per cent., but varies in different parts Ordinance to authorise the preparation Beuter's correspondent says it is re- ported that one foreign firm paid £12,000 of the Colony. These rates aro an occu to obtain the release of steamer cargo pation tax, and, that being so, provision seized by armed pickets.
RIVER TRAFFIC RESUMES.
The Hongkong, Canton and Macso
is nalurally made under the ordinance for refunds of "rates on premises which have been vacant. The two principal
of an edition of the regulations, rules
December 31st, 1925;
d by-laws in force, in the Colony on
The COLONIAL SECRETARY Seconded.. The second reading having been pass. the Council on the motion of the Attorney-General resolved itself into
The action of the Commissioner has attracted nation-wide attention. In addi- tion to Dr. C. T. Wang, Foreign Minister at Peking, who cabled to Canton for information, the Shanghai Cantonese, have also cabled to all concerned in Canton to expedite a satisfactory settle-Steamboat Company's 18 Lurig Shan conditions precedent to the right to a Committee to consider the Bill clause by ment so that the "Canton-bound vessels
FRENO Amendments were made and on the resumes her daily run to Canton this refond of rates are, fit, that the whole ciduge at. now awaiting further instructions
morning at 8 am now that the port has tenement shall have been vacant, daring Council resuming the Bill was read a Shanghai may proceed to Canton.
been re-opened. The s.s.: Fatahan (China the whole of any given month and, third time and passed into law of Customs had instructions from the Navigation Company), operated in con-
Junction with the Lang Shan on this run, secondly, that the rates for that particu
It is understood that the Commissioner
THE MAGISTRATES ORDINANCE.
Inspectorate General before taking action The Cantonese organizations, not being will resume her sailings on Monday morlar, quarter shall have been paid in the The ATTINEY-GENERAL, moved the first month of the quarter. Under the second reading of the Bill intituled An Aware of this, perhaps, are still demanding at the same time.
Ordinance to amend the Magistrates
ing the dismissal of the Commissioner from the Service
POSTAL INFORMATION. MA
Mag
A notification from the Post Office existing law the unit of the rate is the Ordinance, 1890
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and To guard against possible shortage of states that the mail service to Canton whole house. A fcor is not as a rule food, the Government in Canton bas by steamer will be resumed as from to taken as a unit. For example, take the motion was agreed to taken steps to charter private vessels today. The letter mail will be closed athises in Des Voeux Road Central; they the Committee stage, read a third time The Bill a afterwards taken through operate as Government transporta 7.15 am, and the parcel mail at Bp.,
daily, excepting on Sundays.
may be let out in three or four floors, sad passed into law.
(Continsed on nezi Column.)
HIDDEN
WHAT
QUALITY.
IS UNDER THE
SURFACE
IS AS GOOD AS ON THE SURFACE, A PIECE OF FURNITURE MAY LOOK OUTWARDLY ATTRACTIVE; IT MAY BE COVERED IN GOOD MATERIALS, THE DESIGN MAY BE SOUND-BUT IF THE OUT-OF-SIGHT FEATURES" ARE NOT UP TO STANDARD, THAT PIECE LACKS QUALITY.
IT IS CLO SE ATTENTION TO THESE DETAILS THAT ENSURES EACH ITEM OF OUR
BEING PRODUCTIONS UNRIVALLED IN VALUE AND CONSTRUCTION.
WHAT ARE
AS
SIGHT
ARE
OUT OF GOOD AS ON THE SURFACE IN UPHOLSTERY WE USE ONLY THE BEST COPPER WIRE SPRINGS, FINE WOOD HAIR STUFFINGS, AND IN WORK ONLY THE BEST OF TEAK AND HARDWOOD.
THEREFORE OUR FURNITURE AND UPHOLSTERY MEANS TO YOU DE- PENDABLE HONEST GOODS AT WORTH-WHILE PRICES.
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