+
11
SHAREHOLDERS CENSURE DIRECTORS.
→ (CÒNTINUED FROM PAGE 3.).
carry greater weight and influence in all matters appertaining to Cainess business.
The Chinese advice to us is that, if the present Chinese farmer were continued in this present strong position, it would be so impregn able with the Inpso of years that the Company's independent. exis teiro would be placed at the mercy of their own farmer. This fear a not imaginary. It is very real indeed. It has transpired in one of the later stages of the recent negotiations for a compromise be- tween the condicting views of the Directors that although the Board was willing to run ita sten:ners on its own account, under conditions which amply protect the Company from being in worse position than if the existing farming agreement had been adhered to, the Company how proposes to continue the sys- tem of farming out to Mr. Woo."
Sir Robert Ho Tung's Warning. Some time ago Sir Robert Ho Tung sounded a note of warning of what might happen; he was ignor ed. Impending danger now threat- ena the Company in a very real sense. Sir Robert is very anxious to ward it off. His is not a negli- gible interest in the Company: it) is a very substantial one. So are those his associates. Sir Robert, Mr. Li The Feng, and fr. . K. Lo hold between them more than one-third of the total expital of the Company. They, as men of busi- dess, of mature judgment and cool deliberation, are not likely to trifle With their preponderating interest in the Company out of spite.
Theirs is large interest, and they are not going to stake on a cost of the die. Their advice is dr liberate and calculating, and, it would be folly on the part of the
shareholders
to contemptuously
throw it aside as of little mement and unworthy of consideration and
dcceptance.
i
resolution moved by Sir Robart. Ho Tung and seconded by Mr. Li Tho Fong. They rely on us for it; let us give it to them without stint, and so prove that diligence, zeal, and watchfulness in our cause must have their reward.
MR. LO SPEAKS OUT.
기
THE FARMER AGAIN CRITICISED.
??
Mr. Lo said:-I had not really intended to say anything at this meeting, but in view of the Chair maa's observations I think it
THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1930.
CROWN PRINCE OF DENMARK.
VISITING HONG KONG IN MOTOR YACHT.
"
TO-DAY'S BUSY PROGRAMME,
His Royal Highness Prince Frederik, the Crown Prince of Denmark, who is on a tour of the Far East, arrived in the Colony from Bangkok shortly after noon yesterday, in his private yacht, the motor-ship Fionia. Included in the
Royal party are Prince Knud, Prince and Princess Axel and "Mr. is Henrik de Kauffmann, Danish Minister to China, Japan and Siam. Mr. W. Bache, Chamberlain, to His Majesty the King of Denmark, and Mr. Thiele (A.D.C. to the Crown Prince), are also in the party.
only due to you that I should say a few words in reply, I am happy to notice both in his speech and in the proposer's speech all absence of personn! feeling, and I person- ally am very delighted with this attitude. Personally I do not mind whether you will agree with me or disagree with me, but I am very anxious that there should be no difference as to the facts of the
CANC.
Between people who have any memory and honesty there can be no dificulty as regards facts and as regards what has happened. To begin with. I would like to say one word of what I may de- scribe as the cause of this adjourn. ed meeting. As far as I know, and speak with these i ny hitch not aware that there was any in the negotiations which were then being conducted with view to coming to an agreement on terzis read out by the Chairman. I
0
the
confess it was not very much to my liking that we should have to plead with the farmer for conces sions. as to whether we have to retain all his staff, or his crew and what we have to do with him, or by him, but that is all by the way. As far as I knew right up to the orning, when Mr. Li Tse Fong and myself went to see Mr. Mackie and Mr. Johnson, our impression was that those efforts were about to be crowned with success.
Through Sir Robert's action, for which he was thanked by the Board, the present farmer's last tender was
As stated in the circular letter increased by $10,000. It wna he, who secured a tender from another sent out by Sir Robert Ho Tung, prospective farmer, whose initial the sole cause of what I might call offer for the business was slightly
the dramatic breaking up of nego; tiations was, very succinctly stated better than the present farmer's
in that circular letter. The cause tender for the first year, and $12,000 better for the second und
was that the Chairman read out to third years. Compare the respective portion of the telegram (sup- values of the security offered by the
two rival tenderers. In the ease of
the present fariner it is only 8200,000. In the case of his com- petitor it is five times as large, viz, $1,000,000. And yet, for, no con- vincing rense, the majority direc tors decided to ignore the new tender with all its greater advan- tages to shareholders, and to afford the present farmer a fresh-oppor- tunity to increase his offer
to
enable the directors to award the new contract to him. Pertinently, Sir Robert, Ho Tung remarks, the principle underlying the advantage of scaled tenders is defeated."
Vacillation Alleged.
I can only attribute to a con
siderate moderation the absence of
1
plied to him by the China. Naviga
tion Company) to the effect set out in Paragraph 94 The, Chairman said in effect: I interpreted it in a certain way, and, geatlemen, that's all. It's no use talking fur- ther." That was the real cause of this meeting. It is not that every Avenue had been explored and that we had failed to come to terms unless the intimation of Butterfeld Swire could be considered as a
failure to come to terms.
The visit to the Colony is a private one and yesterday after- noon, the Crown Prince was busy hopping in Hong Kong. His Royal Highness left Denmark early in the New Year and has made. visits to Colombo, Penang, Singapore and Bangkok. It was at the latter port that the Danish Minister joined the party.
Perfeet weather was encountered
all the way from Bangkok, and in spite of a stop of three hours just outside Hong Kong on account of the fog, the vessel arrived 20 hours ahead of the scheduled time.
Arrangements for To-day. We understand the Crown Prince will lunch at Government' House to-day, while the rest of the pro posed programme during His Royal Highness's stay in Hong Kong as follows:-
1
Motor car drive round the Island this morning.
Tea a.t the Danish Consul'ı Mr. Larssen) residence, The Peak. Dinner at the Peninsula Hotel
(given by the Danish community)..
We have been fäformed that the Roof Garden of the Peninsula Hotel has been reserved for the latter occasion.
ין
MRS. SOUTHORN ON THE CHARM OF “JANE AUSTEN.”
POWER OF MAKING EVERYDAY THINGS LIVE
FOR EVER.
CHIEF JUSTICE'S BRILLIANT EPIGRAM.
The penultimate lecture of the season was given yesterday to the British Association by Mrs. W. T. Southorn," in the foria of a witty and very human sketch of the life and charactor of Jane Austen. The Chief Justice, Sir Henry Gollan, whose tren- chant and humurous remarks have been one of the fa&tures of this series of lectures, coined a brilliant epigram for the occasion.. Speaking of the happiness which radiated from. Jane Austen's books he said, "any fool can be unhappy, but it takes brains to be happy."
Sir Henry was in the chair, and having announced the meat- ing open be said that there was no need for him to introduce Mrs. Southorn, he would instead re-qaste a quotation made by ber the other day
Good wine needs no bush,"
“SMALL BEER, BUT NOT FLAT BEER."
WAS
them. Jane Austen "would de-
Mrs. Southorn began her lecture, identity being made, krown to, the had been said about Jane Austen,future novel to him. "Emma by quoting some of the things that Prince, invited to see his library and given permission to dedicate a One writer had referred to her as accordingly so dedicated.
that comic author," Chesterton in a preface to her very early book, Love and Friendship." said that she could have been a buffoon like the Wife of Bath. Those who had rend Jane Austen, said the lecturer, could never consider her comic, and no comparison could be lesa" apt than that of Chesterton. Jane Austen was always herself, preserv. ing her own inimitable virtues as a writer. A friend on hearing that she proposed to give this lecture had said "How can you, there is True her career was not like that nothing to say about Jane Austen." of a cinema heroine, but there was too much matter rather than too little, Jane had invested every moment of her life with tumour. and
interest.
Д name. Sir
not read her," said Mrs. Southorn, "I would urge those who have to disabuse their minds of the thought that she was a dull, pre- eise, maiden lady It was easier to find Edgar Wallace than to seek out Jane Austen but most people liked really good things when they light many people to whound the was под mercly Walter Scott had said of her, describing every day life, which to That young indy had a talent for
me is the most wonderful I have met with .. What a pity such brilliant creature died so young." Mrs. Southorn emphasised the as- tounding genius needed in making It was Jane Austen's gift to put little, every day things live for ever. before us every day things in a brilliant manner. She proved for ali time that small beer need not
be flat beer. Her work was dis tinguished by a marvellous blend of attention to detail and breadth of vision.
SIR HENRY GOLLAN,
IT TAKES BRAINS TO BE
HAPPY."
Jane Austen's Placid Life; In a short sketch of Jane Austen's One more personal detail. Jane life the speaker said that it was Austen created in the hearts of her not often that one found an author family and friends a remarkable who lived in surroundings so har-depth. of devotion to herself. It monious te her taste, and who was. was from her that all the fun and able to write with such peace and laughter of the home emanated, and tranquility. Yet great things were to her that her family and her happening in the World of that day. friends brought their troubles and Jane Austen was born in 1775 and their difficulties. The Fionin will weigh anchor dice in 1817, living through a period just before midnight and will pro- when Empires rose and fell, and ceed to Shanghai. According to
rose again; and yet she never hint- present arrangements, visits will beed at politics in her novels. Her paid to Nanking and Japan, where yes never looked beyond the coun- a stay of six days will be made tryside she loved, except for brief be via Suez. before the journey home which wil glimpses of quiet London Squares, and the grey streets of Bath, but every page she wrote sparkled with humour and was filled with the breath of life. It was obvious in her books that she had a warm corner in her heart for sailors, and in all her references to ships and accuracy. That two of her brothers shipboard life, there was no in entered the Navy and rose to be they not done so it was improbable Admirals accounted for this, had
that the sea would any hicho con Her tiohed as she never touched on
subjects of which she was ignorant.
The Flonia,
draw your attention to is this. It The second point I would like to is a point, which has been impress- ed on ua time after time, day after day, meeting after meeting, by the The Fionia is a twin-screw motor Board and it is: Well, look at vessel of 5,210 tons gross, and 3,347 the Company's position before the tons. zett. She was built in 1014 farming system was adopted by by Messrs. Akt. Burmeistra and the Company." not a director at that time so I dimensions are:-Length 301. It
Happily I was Wain of Copenhagen, and her
Gentlemes, I ask you, can speak all the more, frankly. breath 63.9 ft.; depth 27 it. Her really satisfed by an observation builders develop 098 N.H.P. and are you engines which were installed by the
the Company's satisfactory position lights and a wireless outfit. like that, that the real cause of the vessel is fitted with electric was because of the system? Do port of registry is Copenhagen. you mean to say that if the Com-
not farmed out pany had
the
steamers it would have gone on year after year getting the miser able results which they had in fact been getting.
an outburst of indignation against a deliberate policy of playing fast and loose with the minority diree tors in the vacillation that has nounced feature of of made its fee of the conduct of negotiations by the majority diree- tors, and which must be decidedly annoying, to put it mildly, to the minority group. There was patient endurance when the minarity agreed to consent to a postpone ment of this meeting from Decem. her 3 last till to-day in order that negotiations for.
Insufficient Supervision, compromise might take place. The counsel of
I can say without fear of con- moderation on the part of the tradiction from the Board, and I minority directors was rewarded in
am sure without contradiction from the end with the intimation, on any of you who know the facts of February 6, that "any change in the present system of farming of theSteamboat Company's steamera may lead to eventual breaking-up of the existing Pool Agreement be- tween the Steamboat. Company and the China Navigation Company," But we are told that there are agreemente legally binding on both Messrs Butterfield & Swire and the Company until December 31, 1936."
Sir Robert has dramatically pleaded with us that the company might be captain of its own ships and master of its own destiny." What a fitting paraphrase of Wil- liam Ernest Henley's lizes:-
"It matters not how strait the
gate, How charged with punishments
the case, that the plain truth of the matter was that there was in suficient supervision in the Com- paay's management during the years that the Company was run ning on its own account. (Hear, hear, and loud applause.)
If there is no slander or libet, and I say so with all sincerity, was it not that the Company was systematically robbed of half its earnings or profits? If the Com- pany had had better supervision and had run the steamers on its own, do you mean to say that we would not have the same results, and is there any reason why, we should not have got sa good or even better results?
:J
would we get to The farmer is a nice man, but where are we going to the only paint my col- leagues do not seem to appreciate is this: Is there anything in the Company to make him interested in the Company, to make him go on heing an angel. (Laughter.)
This year the minority directors had to fight very hard as to whether we should ask for tenders at all, and the result was we should get tenders, not that we should have them in the competitive sense, but as a lever to bargain with the
present farmer..
Hints of Romance.
Sir Henry Collan said he wished to thank Mrs. Southern for the picture she had given them of one of the most delightful Agures in literary history. She had referred to the joy that Jane Austen took altered might refer to the nature in her work, but her words slightly
of her works. Joy radiated from
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PETER DAWSON WHISKY
practically every thing she wrote. No greater tribute could be paid she wrote happily and made others to Jane Austen than to say that
happy in reading, her. Any fool can be unhappy," "but it takes brains to be happy.
"I sometimes think," he tinued, that our whole system of Of romance in her life there were education is at fault; the most im- one or two hints dropped in her portant factor is omitted. I some. letters, and in those of her nephews times think that in every school besides the evidence of the novels in and university-there should be a which the sympathy that she felt teacher of happiness.
People for those of her heroines who bad think happiness comes naturally-it unhappy love affairs was apparent doesn't. What comes naturally is
• She wat so intensely human,"
the persuit of happiness." In con. anid Mra. Southorn, "that I am elusion Sir Henry said, "If I were convinced that she loved once in not such a devotee of Jane Austen her life." There was neither malice the eloquent and humorous way in nor primness about her, in fact which Mrs. Southern has champion- Mrs. Milford writes to the effected her would have started me read- that Jane Austen was the gayest, ing her at once."" (Applause.) prettiest, band-hunting girl she
most mischievous, hus- A lady in the audience drew at- ever met. tention to Jane Austen's intensely For the first 25 years; her life moral outlook, and the way in A shareholder: Shame!"
flowed on peacefully, She went to which it had coloured her novels. Although he knew, that there was balls with ber beloved sister. The humour, she added, seemed another tender coming forward, Cassandra. Her books were full of gradually to mellow in the later the present farmer wrote a chit, balls, and many were the pleasant books. not on am willing to continue my tender these functions threw on the cus season, will be given in April 1, printed form, to say "I sidelights that her description. of The next, and final lecture of the on certain terms," lieve me, he says: "Yes, I am
and if you be- toms of the day. In 1801 her father in the Cathedral Hall at 5.30 p.m., prepared to go on subject to ad- Bath. After his death in 1805 links between the East and the retired and the family moved toby Father MacDonald, on "Literary justment every year." There is they divided their time between West." nothing binding on him if the ten- Southampton, Lyme Regis and der was subject to adjustment. He Bath, and the last eight years of The Chairman's description of says "if the Venezis comes on the the farmer and here again I speak run, handa of, I am not going on childhood, in Hampshire.
Jane's life were spent, as was her FACTORY FIRE IN KAIPING. I am the master of my fate,
without any mental reservation with the farming." If the farming that I have no other feeling for contract has to be suspended dur
The Novels, I am the captain of my soul."
BIG DAMAGE REPORTED. I plead with you, Gentlemen, in makes you feel that if there ever the Company has to bear the loss Mrs. Soutborn said that most of him than personal friendship-ing the running of the Venezia, Turning to Jane Austen's novels, the words of
James Benjamin was an angel dropped from heaven, while the farmer is clear.
According to the Chinese Press, Kenyen, to Be the proud captain this is the man. (Loud laughter.)
Pride and Predudice" was proba serious fire and explosion occur. Gentlemen, before you vote Iably written before the author was red recently in a big Ere-cracker still of thine own fate." Are we
Year after year he preserves his ask you to consider this very simple 21, but "Sense and Sensibility" going to be so deaf to Sir Robert's strength, he pays money on the question "Is it reason and case which was started later was her fre broke out in the factory at
factory in Kaiping district. appeal, so indifferent, to our own wharves, on the steamers, on the for anyone to act in the angelic first published work. In 1803 & about 9.30 pm, being caused by a interests, so subservient to the staff, for so personal reason but manner painted by the Chairman ?" dictates of others, as to ignore the only in the interest of the Com- If not vote for us.
publisher bought "Northanger worker carelessly throwing a cigar. logical advocacy of our cause and pany! In it sense, gentlersen, I.
Abbey" for £10 but did not print ette end into inflammable sub- fail to support the authors of the ask you? (Laughter.) If it was RESOLUTION CARRIED. it. Her novels were not widely read stance. The flames 'spread with resolution before us by denying worth his while to build these The resolution, on being put to by the gay world of her day, and alarmingly rapidly and the whole them dur loyal support, and with steamers, to spend money on these the meeting, was carried by 12 the herself was only known to a city was roused. bolding from them our rot that wharves, if it was worth his while votes, the numbers being 24 in small cirde, Towards the close of The are was not got under con- will help them to emerge trium- to be friendly to the Company, favour and 22 against.
her life she received her only mark trol until 8 a.m. the next morning, nhant from a contest to which they what does it mean? It means that The Chairman announced that in of destination. This was in 1815 eight shops, besides the factory, have devoted so much anxious time, he is making a good thing out of view of the fact that the Directors when she was nursing her brother being destroyed. The total loss to and laboured with such unflagging the Company. (Laughter and ap did not approve of the resolution, in London. The doctors who at property was estimated at a mil- zeal. in order that the Company plause. Can you picture what and in view of the fact that a num.fended him, on learning that Jane lion dollars, and over $100,000 ITS aight assert its independence and would have happened hut for perher of the shareholders shared the was the author of Pride and Pre-worth of explosives went up. shake off the tyranny of a relentless sons like Sir Robert who, in spite disapproval, the poll would be dudice," told her that the Prince casualties are reported During force. I cannot for one moment of ill-health, come forward in the taken. He announced that the poll Regent was a great admirer of her the confusion, prisoners in the local imagine that we can do otherwise interest of shareholders, Where would be taken on June 24, 1900, novels and kept set in each of guol broke free and four of them than vote wholeheartedly for the (Continued on next Colúmn.) between 10 am, and 4 p.m.
his residences. She was, on her succeeded in making their escape..
the scroll,
The
No
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