Page
CENTRAL BANK OF CHINA NOTES.
CANTON'S DISTRUST,
DEPRECIATION EN SPITE OF ORDERS.
TREASURY'S NEW DECISION.
KWANGSI ENVOY · AT CANTON?
THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1929. HAWKERS SQUAD AN OLD DISPUTE
SETTLED!
FIRE DANGERS IN HONG KONG.
AND SQUEEZE.
LAST MINUTE EFFORT FOR QUESTIONS IN LEGISLATIVE
PEACE.
SKIRMISHING ON THE EAST BORDER?
[GM OUR CHINESE CORRESPONDENT]
CANTON, May 1,
COUNCIL.
At to-day's meeting of the Legis- lative Council the Hon. Mr. J. F. Braga will ask the following ques- tiona
Will the Director of Public Works inform the Council whether in the
inenti
[FROM OUR CHINESE CORRESPONDENT. } General Wong Shiu Hung, Chair Scheme of Town Planning for Kow
man of the Kwangsi Provincial foon any site, and where, has been Council, is reported to be sending marked for a recreation ground CANTON, May 1
for the growing number of members Owing to the political situation one of his most trusted subordi- of the Police Force stationed
nutes. Colonel Kung Kit Yuen, Kowloon and of the subordinate Central Bank of China notes con- (arrison Commander at Wuchów, staff in the service of the Govern tinue to depreciate, in spite of all us an envoy to Canton. From the Government regulations to keep tone of General Wong's circular them at par
Rice merchants and telegram (published in yesterday's restaurant keepers positively retas-Daily Press) and from many other indications; it is obvious that ing to accept the notes, whenever
Kwangai is desperately anxious to they" dare, saying that they have the greatest difficulty in passing them in the ordinary way of busi-
ness.
The writer went to a rice dealer this morning and a question about prices brought the reply that it all depended on the currency in which payment was made.. In silver the price was tea catties for a dollar, in bank`notos seven and a hall catties for a dollar,
Restaurant keepers are certainly coming off badly. Custopers, hav- ing eaten their fill, pay in notes and if the bill is only about 20 cents, change in silver is de- manded. The diner, in fact, just about gets his meal for nothing. No one is allowed to refuse the notes and the proprietor has to take what is given. A certain num
avoid war with Kwangtung. The issue will turu on
"ROAST GOOSE & MACARONI" HOW FAR ROUND THE NEW
ACQUITTED.
TERRITORIES?
"SOME UNSATISFACTORY EVIDENCE.
MILE-STONES NOW BEING ERECTED,
The case in which a constable
What has always been a subject attached to the Hawkers' Depart-for dispute among local motorista- ment of the Central Police Station the exact mileage of the popular was charged with collecting bribes drive round the New Territories was concluded yesterday at the from the Star Ferry and back-- Central Magistracy, Mr. E. W. has now been decided once and for Hamilton discharging the defend all by the Public Works Depart
ant.
Sergeant Field, who commenced
his evidence on Tuesday afternoon, continued yesterday. In answer to Mr. Geo. K. Hall: Brutton, solicitor for the defence, he stated that the defendant was a good worker and
Sergt. Field added that he felt no surprise when witness was ab-
ment
Granité mile-stones of triangular shape, with two sets of figures ons on either face, shewing the distance from the Star Ferry and back- hom the Ferry on one side and the distance yet to go on the other, are new being erected; the circuit being marked off for the journey ria Castle Peak, Un Loag, Fanling and back by Toipo.
If no such site has been marked out as yet, will the Government consider the advisability of forth with making a suitable reservation of Crown and, both as regards area and location, for recreation pur. bore" a good character. He applied poses for the abovementioned for a transfer from the Hawkers members of the Civil Service resid-Squad to regular duty on April 15, ing, as Kowloon ! the results of !
Without implying any reflection giving as his reason that he did not on the personnel of the eficient like his foki and hard-working staff of the Fire Brigade, is the Goverment satis fied with the up-to-dateness and completeness of the appliances and equipment for life-saving in the event of another outbreak of fire like that of the King Edward Hotel in the anal hours of March 11t
Are the rescue-ladder of a sufit the two witnesses who gave evi- have been made and the road dence yesterday made their state-straightened out. It is intend ments incriminating this man, off ed to erect mile stones when the their own bats I had never seen mile marks are all in place... the witnesses before they came into this Court.
Colonel Kung's conference with the Kwangtung authorities, but it is dificult to see how the latter can out unless the Kwangxi stanil leaders are prepared to submit to Xanking.
11
There is no sign of yielding, and skirmishes with the advancing troops of Ho Chien and Fan Shek Sheng are reported on the Eastern frontier of Kwangsi,
Practically the whole of the forces at the Kwangsi leader's disposal are sup posed to be in and around Kweilia. Only a small garrison is at Wuchow. Meanwhile business is at a stand still, and the merchants of Nanning, Liuchow, Kweilin, Bak Ip and other smaller cities are cabling to Wu- chow that they can execute o orders at present. Little or no cargo is being carried by the boats
ber have, however, found an in-plying between Hong Kong and genious response. They are buying Wuchow. up large quantities of the all-too- common, counterfeit 20-cent pieces, paying about one-äfth of their face value. Customers, trying to, got nearly a dollar's worth of change by making a few cents' purchase
CORRESPONDENCE.
AN INDIAN GRIEVANCE.
find themselves landed" with the [TO THE EDITOR OF THE * HONG KONG
bad money. As might be expected
DAILY FRESA."]
all the good coin issued by the
SIR-In your report of yester- Bank is hidden away and the day of the Sanitary Board Meet ordinary currency is mainly banking, mention was made of the forthcoming resignation of Dr. 8. C. Ho from the Board, which would create a vacancy.
notes and coiners' wares..
Money changers are refusing to give silver for banknotes, declaring that they have no silver left and that people who want coinage must go to the banks. But the banks are crowded with a surging and jostling humanity, and the attendants are paying out coins at slow speed"
While not wishing to teach the powers-that-be their business, it would not be out of place if I say here that it is surely about time the Indian community in the Colony was represented on that body. The
Scient height to reach the top floor of the tallest building in the Colons when any inmates are entrapped therein in the case of a fire!
If not, will the Government take immediate steps to provide the Fire Department with a suficiency of all appliances (including jump ing-abeets) accessary so as to avert the recurrence of a disaster and to minimise, as far as practicable, the loss of lives such as happened in the King Edward Hotel fre?
Will the Government cause 1121
Prince's,
immediate inspection to be made of all the large buildings and offices in the Colons-e.g. China Build- Alexandra, and similar buildings, ing, Queen's, King's,
to ascertain" if fire' exits are pro- vided on every floor therein; that there are indicators showing the
seat at 9 a.m. on April 9. He took defendant to Chief Detective In- spector Reynolds at 4 pm, because the matter had then passed into that officer's hands.
Mr. Hamilton: "Can you tell me
Hawkers' Evidence, The prosecution then called a hawker, who stated that he knew the defendant to be a plain clothes man.
Mr. Hamilton: Have you ever paid him any money 1
Witness: Yes, but not to him per- sonally.
body else collected it for him.
You paid somebody else 1-Some
The distance is, according to this marking, exactly 57 miles, but as Mr. E. Newhouse of the P.W.D. our representative, explained so certain sections at present measure rather more than the mile between two stones. The extra diatadee will be lost when the projected altera- Soos to several dangerous bends
"
To Help the Police.
The milestones have not however been erected in order to discour age motorists from betting on the distance or fighting over the ac euracy of their respective speedo meters, but to assist the police.
a case of any accident, damage to the road, or deed of darkness and violence" being reported it will be possible in the future to indicate the exact spot, as, for example, 300 yards beyond the 33rd mile. Did you ever get any considera- atone, and an ambulance, flying tion for your money 1-Yes, a pass-squad or breakdown gang can be sent at once withont entering into Have you ever used it 3-Yes. elaborate explanations of features To whom l-To "Roast Goose and of the landscape. Macaroni," (The defendant is
Sand on the Roads.
word.
name.)
...
way to the exits and lighted in red / known to hawkers by this nick While in conversation with our by night, in the same manner is Witness described the circum-representative Mr. Newhouse also done in theatres; that the passages along these exits are made easily stances under which he used the mentioned the sandy patches on some of the roads of whith so many password.. On April 20 he was accessible and kept free from ob-hawking sugar canes in the Praya motorists complaio. It was quite
structions at all times1
danger for the unwilling steam roller" if the vehicle was being driven with reasonable care. Re-
when the defendant asked for the necessary, he said, to sand the If no powers exist to compel the witness' licence. He showed his road in certain parts to harden the which would enforcement of the requirements licence and gave the password, atacadam surface stated in the foregoing question, which the defendant passed on. otherwise be cut up when softened will the Government frame and in- Another hawker stated that he by the sun. The sand was rolled troduce early legislation with had paid certain sums of money
into the surface by the traffic, and, view to amend the Building Ordi- to Ab Ping (one of the collecting Mr. Newhouse said, there was no nance so as to invest the Building agents). Authority with statutory powers
His Worship: Did you ever pay enabling him to call upon the own any money to defendant 1-Never, era of buildings of the type men-
Were you ever arrested by this tioned to make adequate and ample man-He has inspected my licence, provision for re-escapes in such but he has never arrested me. buildings, and to permit of their Have you ever given him the regular inspection by officers appassword-Yes, he moved on when pointed by the Government, and to I gave him the password. require that the main staircases of
When WAS this 1-About buildings designed for use as hos months ago. telries and groups of offices shall.
What was the password It was be built of fireproof material t
the character " Wood."" Will the Government consider the Have you ever given the password
and only small quantities to each community here is not a small one, advisability of compelling holders to another constable 1-Yes.
and it seems unfair that they of hotel licences to fulf the re individual. But the general effect should have no voice on any publie quirements ret out and to instal Automatic electric fre-alarme, or of these shifts is to intensify body. The Chinese and Portuguese other mechanical contrivances for popular 'distrust of the notes and communities are represented in the effectively raising alarms upon an tu force their value still lower." Councils, why should not the outbreak of fire, in their premises?
Indians have a'sent?
GOVERNMENT ACTION.
In short, the way the Indians are treated in this "British Isic" does not appear to be very equitable, and hardly consonant with British traditions of fair-play.
The Hon. Mr. W. E. L. Shenton
will ask the following questions:-
If steps have already been taken, what further steps does the Govern. ment propose to take?
two
cently the P.W.D. have been using white granite chips in place of
sand.
You realise now that you ought to have reported that at once to Sergt. Field I went to see Divi- Bional Inspector Clarke.
You were frightened -I WAS afraid that I would be involved since I was the head of the squad.
Why did you ask to be removed from the Hawkers Squad 1-I had heard that squeezing" by other Have you ever been before me constables had been going on on a
large scale. I have been here before.
Before you had the password-1 had not begun to pay at that time. Mr. Brutton indicated that he would not cross-examine these wit nesses, 23 their evidence
You did not tell him of the irrelevant. It did not corroborate "squeeze"-I dared not say, the charge of accepting a bribe. although the Inspector asked me the An unlicensed hawker who was reason why I wanted to change.
How long ago did you ask to then called, said that the defendant accosted him on April 22 in the leave the staff Three weeks prior Praya, near Wing Lok Wharf, to the discovery of the ring, on while he was hawking pickles, and April 21. threatened to arrest him. nest asking for mercy, the defend- ant, he alleged, suggested that wit ness should pay $1 to a man named Ah Ping whom he would find outside a pawnshop in Possession Street. This the witness did and was given the password "Fire."
The Defence.
On wit-
Hot Guilty. This closed the defendant's evi- dence, at the end of which His Worship said it was perfectly ob vious that he could not convitt de- fendant unless the evidence offered by the prosecution was strongly corroborated Be found, on look. ing at the evidence, that the first had no case to answer, as the pro- two important witnesses, were both Mr, Brutton submitted that be two witnesses for the Crown, the secution evidence had not been shaken in cross-examination. One of the three mon who nesault-corroborated. The first two wit As regards the defendant, the perses on their own showing were only thing he did was that on April accomplices, and the hawkers who, he did not go to the Police gave evidence, were also accom-Station until 4 p.m. He then ap plices in the crime with which the peared and explained that he was frightened because he was the No. defendant was charged-
We had a very glaring example of the slight (and it has long since
What steps have been taken by Mr. Fan Ki Mo, the new Com- been a regular habit) on the oc- missioner of Finance, called a meet-casion of the Royal visit. Among the Government to carry out the ad report of the Committee appointed the prominent residents, in ing on Tuesday at the Central Bank dition to the officials, who were to consider suggestions for the im to discuss ways and, means of re- presented to the Duke at Queen's provement of the fire-fighting.or suscitating the notes. Among otfier Pier, were representatives of the ganisation of the Colony, which was Chinese and Portuguese commu-aid on the table of the Legistative things, it was decided that on and nitics. As is usual in such func Council on May 27, 3027 after May I the Central Bank of tions, Indians were conspicuous by China notes will be the basis for their absence, yet Indians are sup all financial transactions, whereas Posed to be British subjects! prior to that date all transactions could be settled either in silver or in banknotes, at the demand of the debtor. A letter has been sent
May I add that these remarks are to the Canton General Chamber of not "made in a contentious spirit, Commerce to this effect. The Gov. but are merely meant to draw attened Sanitary Inspector Roylace in tion to what the Indians of Hong ernment consider that this is the Kong consider to be existing in Gascoigne Road at about 1 mm. on April 14 with intent to rob, has only way to keep the notes in circu- equalities-Yours, etc,
"1814-1918"
been sent to prison for six months. lation. But whether or no, the
When charged yesterday be pleaded Hong Kong, May 1.
guilty. Inspector Roylance was on decision will meet with the approval
his way home to the Railway Quar- ters when be was attacked by the defendant and two others. He put up a struggle, and a motorist pass ing at the time blew a police whistle which attracted the attention, of the police and, the defendant was arrested.
of the Chamber is not known, for
L
no reply has as yet been forth- KOWLOON COURT CASES. coming,
There has been a great deal of WASHING CLOTHES IN THE trouble over this matter during the last few weeks. The Canton banks
STREET.
The new regulation prohibiting who have made big loans of late, the washing of clothes wear a street to merchants and industrialists are fountain resulted in the appearance finding themselves repaid in the of two Chinese women before Mr. IT. S. Whyte Smith at Kowloon depreciated notes. The banks have Magistracy yesterday. domanded silver and disputes have Detective Sergeant Humphreys thereby arisca and led to Chamber told the Magistrate that the defen- dants were obviously not aware of of Commerce arbitration Now the the new regulation, but did not go matter is settled, and the money away when warned to do so. market, as far as silver is concern." Remarking that if he started ed, has become tighter than ever. cautioning offenders he would be Meanwhile the Government is doing so for the next fortnight, the pushing on with the reminting of Magistrate imposed a small fire of the 17th year of the Republic coins, 81, and said he would increase the which wore struck only a few penalty of other offenders appear months ago, and the 18th year coinsing before him. are very much in demand.
(Continued on nezt (olumn),
Six Months for Assaulting Sanitary Luspector.
Another Larceny from Socony Works,
charge.
'
Me. Brutton proceeded to quote L authorities to show that an accom "I know enough of the Chinese. plice's evidence, if uncorroborated, to consider that a quite reasonable should not be accepted. He added explanation," said Mr. Hamilton.' that the position of the defendant Continuing, His Worship said was that he absolutely denied the that the defendant had been given A good character by Sergt. Field, The defendant then went into the who was in a better position than witness-box. A
anyone else, to know. It seemed Mr. Hamilton: Were you in the quite possible that the hawkers. "equeeze ring "1-I was not. who had given evidenco had been You have heard it given in evi-lumping together" all the Chinese A Chinese was sentenced to three dence by two men that they paid members of the Hawkers' Squad weeks with hard labour for stealing money to you at your own house. and had extended their evidence to "To my involve the defendant. several brass articles from the Is that truc -That is not true. Standard Oil Company's installa Why did you not torn up at your mind," said His Worship, "the tien at Lai Chi Kok. The defen-office at o'clock on April 281-witnesses for the Crown are lying dant, who pleaded guilty, was ar I was out on the street from 9.30 and their demeanour confirms my rested in the act of selling the
to 12.30 when I returned home. opinion.
Addressing Chief Detective In But you did not go to the Police articles to a marine bawker.
Station -No,
spector Reynolds, His Worship You had a reason for it. Tell me said: "You were perfectly correct why I heard a rumour while. I in bringing him before me, in view, was in the street that the other especially, of the fact that he turn- constables in the Hawkers Squaded up late. In my opinion, he is an had been arrested for collecting innocent man and I consider he is
aqueeze."
not guilty. The defendant is dis (Continued on next Oolumn). charged?
Alleged Army. Robbers Discharged. The two Chinese who were charg, ed with complicity in an attempted armed robbery at 60, Lai Chi Kok Road or March 28, were discharged yesterday owing to lack of evidence against them.
POWELLS
10, Ice House Street.
COOL
SUMMER
UNDERWEAR
regulating bodily temperature and imparting health and fitness to the wearer.
The new season's stock comprises amongst many others-" Aertex" and "Cellastic Cellular, India and Wool Ganze, "Meridian," "B.V.D." and Artificial Silk.
We shall be pleased to demonstrate the above to you without obligation to purchase.
We allow 10% Discount for Cash.
Without
9669
ELECTRIC
Columbia
RECORDS
Scratch
SANNIE LAURIE-VARIATIONS"...
TIVOLI THEATRE ORGAN. KEYS OF HEAVEN-VARIATIONS...
5256 BIRO SONGS AT EVENTIDE..
I'M LONELY
5254
9649
GOSSAMER WINGS LAND OF DREAMS
(MEMORIES OF MENDELSSOHN"
TWO PARTH
SQUIRK'S OCTET.
ANDERSON MUSIC Co., Ltd.
DIRECTORY
OF
THE FAR EAST
1929
NOW READY
Class led List of Manufacturers
and Merchants in
Japan, China, Straits, Etc.
Hong Kong Daily Press Office.