FLYING CLUB'S FINANCES.
IN VERY PRÉCARIOUS CONDITION.
APPPEAL TO GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL FIRMS.
According to the report of Mr. A. Ritchie, the Treasurer of the Hong Kong Flying Club, unless the income of the Club is doubled, the question of closing down the Club will have to be seriously con- sidered. A gloomy view is taken of the future of the Club in the
Anual report just issued,
The annual meeting of the Club is to be held on Friday ext wook and this question will in all pro bability come before the members,
HONG
KONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 1931.
HONG KONG STOCK CORRESPONDENCE.
MARKET.
YESTERDAY'S TRANSAC
TIONS.
The market was fairly steady shares of many counters" chung ing hands at slightly improved rates
Bank's
enquired for 22,075
aro
Et.
The Insurance section command- ed greater interest, and Cantons are asked for at the improved rate of $1,490, Ohina Fires advanced 850 to 8800. There were sales of Unions at 8508, and Underwriters and Hong Kong Fires showed litt change. meurenta quedan Steamboats wore in demand at a rise of $1.75 to $282.j
Wharves had buyers at 8168, with sales reported at $163. ...
+3
Providents (old) found buyers at 86, sellers requiring 80.104.
"Hotels (old) were a shade weaker at 17 buyers, sellers anking
J
Humphreys (old) have buyers at 822.
Wing Commodore's Report. The report of the Hon. Mr. W. E. L. Shenton, Wing-Commodore of the Club, estates, inter aliä:~
From a perusal of the reports of the Flight and the Finance Com- mittees it is apparent that our or ganisation and undertaking in all that can be desired save that, and it is all important, wo lack a auf- cient number of machines to onable us to cope with the many members | 817.23, who desire to avail themselves of the facilities which our Club offers. The root cause in universal in this Colony at the present time-the fall in value of the dollar. When the formation of the Club was in its early stages, a careful calcula. tion was made as to what finance would be necessary to auccessfully earry on the Club and His Excel Jengy Sir Cecil Clementi and those assisting him camo to the conclu- sion that if an initial grant of $60,000 was made by the Govern ment and an annual subsidy of 850,000, thosi sums, coupled with the earning power of the Club, would be sufficient to enaure: the Club's succGIS,
That Low Dollar. Unfortunately, when these cal- culations were made, the dollar. was worth two shillings, with the result that instead of being able to acquire four machines, which I
am advised is desirable for the auc- cessful operation of the Club, we have only been able to possess two machines at any one time, and in addition to this, owing to the con- dition of the aerodrome, it has only been possible to do solo flying on a land plane since Jure of this year; thereby causing considerable delay in the working of the Club. Owing to the fact that the men bers of the General Committee have their daily vacations to fulfil it. has been found difficult to keep a satisfactory control over the Club generally, but this has been over come by the generous assistance of Mr. AJ. R. Moss, the Director of the Aerodrome, who, with the permission of the Government, has taken over executive contrat under the General Committen with most excellent results.
No Help from Air Ministry, Whilst in England, I placed my self in communication with the Air Ministry in the hope that they] might sed their way to prcent un with two machines, or in some other way help us along. Although they received me with every courtesy and ovinoud great interest in our Club, they regretted that they were unable to assist us. I then appli- ed tc. the Air Ministry for permie- sion to give the Volunteer Defence. Corps Sestion instruction in two machines which were being sent out to this Colony to be used for in- structional purposes by the Royal Air Force, but I regret to say that I was again unsuccessful.
It would be a thousand pitica now that we have crganised tho Flying Club and got in into cam- plete and satisfactory working or der, if we have to abandon it, but it is apparent from the Financa
Realties at the slightly improved rate of $10,05 sustained the support of Wednesday.
Ewos were enquired for at Tls. 14.15, sales resulting at Tls. 14.25.
Trams were again in demand at uncharged quotations,
China Lights changed hands at 829.13, and Hong Kong Electrics ]
were done.
nt 881.50. Telephones (ex div.) advanced to 846.50, with the part-paid shares finding buyers at 834.75.
China Sugars were done at 80
cents.
Cements were quiet at $19.50, Dairy Farms had sales at $32.75 to $33, with buyers offering the
former rate.
Watsons were sold at $16.50. Lane, Orawfords (old), were done at $8.20, and the new shares at 87.85.
There were sales of Constructions at $13,
All letter intended for publicu. tion must be accompanied by the
name and address of the writes not for publication, unless an desjes ed, but as evidence of good faith. ED.]
THE REV. FEATHERSTONE AND THE MUI TSAI.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HONG KONG DAILY FEESS."K
DEBTOR.
of them under the direction of a BANKRUPTCY COURT totally inexperienced young girl, who knew not oven the first rudi- ments of teaching. Even at that, haphazard manner-Yours, cio, the work was carried on-in a very
LIBERATOR
· [TO THE ENITOR OF THE
DAILY PRESS."]
HONG KONGO
CRITICISMS BY OFFICIAL
* RECEIVER.
DEDUCTIONS FROM SALARY
FOR CREDITORS.
Sin,It is diffult to read the system should be abolished and it the sum of, 8350, a' mônth from the
Official Receiver. (Mr. E. L. Agassiz), An application was made by the
for an order that after setting aside salary drawn by Chan Shiu Tsun, chief Chinese clerk in the China Underwriters, the balance should a set aside for creditors Debtor appeared again at the Bankruptcy Court yesterday before the Chief Justice (Sir Joseph Komp). Mr. Agassix alleged that debtor was living on scale unjustified by an undischarged bankrupt.
Mr. C. Bulmer Johnson, who ap- peared for the debtor, opposed the application,
Expensive: Living.
SIR-In their heart of hearts the enlightened Chinese of Hong Kong are agreed that the mui trai is rather surprising to and that the Views on mui tent system in Hong Rev. W. T. Featherstone sought on ong as presented by the Rev. W the 25th of June in the year of Our Lord 1031 in the Church of St. Featherstone in your columns on
Martins-in-the-Fields to mitigate July 31 without repressing a sense the evils of a Chinese system of of disappointment at some c! the which pukka Chines are ashamed The logic of this, divine is peculiar. orroneous statements and infantile Because he had stayed in and visit- blogio. His address might pad severni Chinese households and muster with an audience in the observed that the mus this there Church
were not cruelly treated, he con of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, cludes that the system is not so Trafalgar Square, where people are bad. He has apparently overlooked obviously less informed on the sub the fact that these households ject than those of us right on the graced with his, sanctifled presence spot. It has the characteristics of Hong Kong and Formoen and that
are those of his wealthy pupils' in: all hide-bound and unreasoned con- even the commonest form of abuse servatives, and the Reverend gentle of the mu tai in making them to attend their masters and mistresses
Mr. Agaaziz snid it was true that, man strains after the appearance up to the small hours of the morn-probably, the case was made better more than the reality of things.
At the very outset of his address, visitor whose hours are, possibly creditors wore brokers, who must ing cannot be noticed by a foreign for debtor by the fact that his the Beverend gentleman would better. Surely, to see & fow well- strive to justify the perniciousnourished mania in a few have been aware of his financial it is the result of force of cir- not entitle one to conclude that the to gamble and gave him credit. ayaten by the stock argument that wealthy Chiness households docs position and yet they allowed him cumstances over which people have mi tai system is not so bad, after His submission was, however, that no control," and he left severely the Anti-Mui Taai Bociety had alone the abuses inflicted on these widely published a vigorous mani that course of conduct on the part poor victims of "forco-al circum- festo condemning the same system of the creditors did not relieve stances." Poverty may be always in no uncertain language almost with us, but we certainly enn exer. cise some control over kidnapping sermon with which the Rev. Fea-curred.
ten years ago. Furthermore, the debtor of the obligations he had in- trafficking and cruelty to, as well as sweating of, children, if not in in St. Martins-in-the-Fields is full
therstone regaled the congregation "He is living," I submit, "in Cantón, at least in Hong Kong, of inaccuracies, of which one the greatest comfort and is not put Can Mr. Featherstona blink bis example should suffice. It lies in ting himself to the slightest per ayes to the fact that had it not been the claim that Mr. C. G. Andersonsonal inconvenience.. His children for the persistent agitation against the first Hon. English Secretary of tha mui cani system during the past the Anti-Mui Tani Society (1991 system of vigilance, such as we have Diocesan Boys' School, of which the eight years, would there be such a 1929) was an old pupil of the now set up and protection provided Rov, Featherstone is principal. Mr. for mi fan and children in Anderson was never a pupil of the voice was ever raised against these educated in Quoca's College and the general 7 In other words, if no Diocesan Boys' School. He was evils, the Home for Slave Girls, the Hong Kong University-Yours,
Society for Protection of Children and the Juvenile Court might not Kong, perhaps for another decade have come into the ken of Hong
registration of mui teni and more or more. Nor would there be any
Afternoon's Transactions,
consistent penalties meted out to The Stock Market in the after-cruelty to their slave girls
offenders for ill-treatment and noon continued fairly atoady, and there were changes in the quota tions for several stocks,
Canton Isaprances improved to buyers at 81,500 and Underwritera to 85.70, with Hong Kong Fires showing a buying rate of 81,410 *** There were sollers of Steamboats nt 928.75.
Wharvas showed a slight advance at $162.60 buyers. -
+
Raubs were quoted at 330 buyers. Providents (old) had buyers at 80 with sales resulting at 88.10.
Hotels (old) were sellers at the Settlement boing reported at 817.10, the "outside" quotation for this Sgure.
There were sales of Landa at the new shares. having buyers at 801.50, and Humphreys (old) at 822, $21.40.
Sales of Realties were reported at $10.75.
Ewoa showed buyers at Tis. 14.18. Trams advanced to a buying rate of 821.50 with sellers asking $21.80. 890.15 to 828.35 sales,
China Lights were returned at
Telephones (fully paid) showed a slight improvement with a buying quotation of $48.75 and the part raid shares a selling figure of $38, with sales at 834.75/238.
Cements (combined) had buyers at 810.50 with sellers asking 810.75,
Dairy Farms were done at $33, buyers offering 832.00.
Watsons had sellers at $10.50 Constructions were, buyera.at. the
Committee's repart that unless sub-improved quotations of 813. stantial further financial assistance is forthcoming or wo can acquire At least three more machines, the future of the. Club is uncertain. from subscriptions and flying foes I have appealed to the leading provided facilities for flying would firms of the Colony for assistance be freely offered. The Club at pre- which I hope will be forthcoming sont has one machine only in com- because I have evory reason, to mission and a potential claim for think that if we can raise a ma the insured value of a spend mo ching on our own initaiative wechine. These are hopelessly insuffi may hope for some further Gov cient for the present membership so ernment assistance, 201
that any policy adopted to obtain In addition to giving instruction funds from further membership in aviation to the dying members subscriptions would lead nowhere. of the Club, we have made a special feature of the Hong Kong Volun teor Defence Corps Flying Section, which has been enthusiastically taken up by them and ahcws every sign of succord. -
refresh his faulty memory on these Mr Featherstone needs only to points from files of the focal Pross from 1998 onward.
has been repeated with nauseating Then, again, the stock argument frequency that the mui tsaisin the wealthy Chinese households are well than is the poverty-stricken sur- fed and are apparently better off roundings of their parents. mitting that to be entirely true;.
Ad.
is it right, in the Arst place, to make these girls slaves against their will? Why can't these girls be em- played in the household as servants at a proper wage instead of being bought and sold outright at "s price? Granted also that some are before the agitation started, to pro well treated, what law was there, tect those mu traie against "ill-" treatment and truelty? What about. these cases of extreme brutality1 Was there any one to help them,! and to bring the offenders to justice? The fact is that flagrant' caes of ill-treatment went unpunish ed. In these days; there is a decid- od firmness in the enforcement of the law.
etc..
ANTI-HUMBUG,
Hong Kong, August 6, 1931.
MUZZLING ORDER RE-IMPOSED.
FULL RESTRICTIONS AGAIN
IN FORCE,
Owing to occurrence of a case of rabies in Kowloon, it has been found necessary to re- impose in full the recently suspended regulations for the control of dogs."
All dogs must now be muzzled or led when outside the owner's
dogs between the How Tex- pramisss and all movement of
xitories, Kowloon and Hong Kong is prohibited except with the written permission of the Golonial Veterinary Surgeon.
BOATS.
TWO DASTARDLY OUTRAGES.
are being educated at expensive to be earning their own livings, in- schools at an age when they ought
stead of living on creditors. My submission will be that debtor is determined not to make any further effort to meet these liabilities.**;
Continuing, Mr. Agassiz qoid debtor had paid $150 a month for four years and had now taken up the attitude that be was not going to pay any more. Owing to a de fect in the local Ordinance, it was not possible to obtain an order to attach a portion of his salary as could be done. at Home. At pre sent debtor was in a position to sit, down and say that he was not going to pay anything more, and that was the attitude he had adopted.
20 Per Cant, or Creditota Although I have no sympathy with the creditors in this case, I feel that people ought not to be allowed to dash into bankruptcy and avail themselves of the very substantial protection which is offered by the Bankruptcy Law of this Colony, without, at any rate, suffering some slight personal in convenience.
The Official Receiver concluded by remarking that he was asking for a dividend of 20 per cent. only, and the order asked for was a very proper one under the circum. stanceses
Mr. Johnson pointed out that debtor had paid $100 a month for four, years and ten months, making a total, paid of $8,700. He said it could not be disputed that he had been guilty of rash speculation but the procedure of the brokers, in dealing with a Chinese without any other security than his salary, amounted almost to enticement. The brokers had made no enquiries and did not seem to care.
that those who have been trying to
In passing, it may be mentioned BOMBS ON CANTON condens and gloss over the mui, tsai system argue like those who sup ported slavery in the days of Wilberforce. It was stated by the Liverpool and Planter party that not only Colonial prosperity but
Debtor, he said, could not possibly the commercial existence of the
keep up his social position and busi nation was at stake, and that
Two alarming bomb outrage in Competition was very keen in the ness abilities on 8350 a month. "the slaves offered for sale were which two people were killed and criminals and captives who would twelve injured are said to have keep up a good appearance and insurance line, and debtor had to a caten if they were not bought," taken place during the past few entertain to a certain extent, in That the sleeping apartments on days at Canton. The first affair order to get business. As debtor's with frankincense and that the the tug Yang On, after that vessel peses must obviously have increas board the slave ship were perfumed occurred on Monday last on board children grew up, his family ex- slaves were allowed to disport them- had made the return trip from Shiu-ed, and he could not now afford to selves on dock with musio and bing and had tied up at a pier on dances of their native land. When the West Bund at Canton Themake further payments. as a matter of fact, the alaves were boat was carrying a full complement
Mr. Stuart's Views. packed like herringe and that never of passengers and much valuable ing condensed into so little space.ing, before the passengers had dis gave evidence, stating that debtor was there so much human suffer cargo, and immediately after berth-tor of China Underwriters, Ltd., Mr. H. R. Sturt, managing direc
Similarly, the supporters of the embarked there was a violent or had been receiving a salary of $450 miui tarz system would have us be plosion under a staircase near the since 1924, and entertaining was lieve that the girl slaves in South passengers' cabins. It was found one of debtor's business points Chine would be drowned or starved, afterwards that the affair was which called for expense. Witness if they were met bought or sold into caused by a fuse bomb, Altogether stated that if debtor's salary, was prostitution. No wonder Emerson some six people were injured, some reduced to $350 a month,, his busi- says that" conservatism tends to of the wounds necessitating the re Treasurer's Report.
universal, seeming and treachery, moval of the unfortunate people, to
ness was likely to suffer. believes in a negative fate" The Treasurer report states:-
hospital, disang padament st
In answer to the Official Receiver, After applying the Government
Referring to the book, "Child
A Bandit Gang,
witness agreed that business had. Maintenance, Grant of, $30,000.00,
not suffered, to any marked degree There seems little doubt that the Teverend gentleman said that it on a steam tug, this time on the February, 1928, to November, 1930.
Slavery in Hong Kong, the The second incident also occurred when debtor paid $150 a month from for the year 1030, there is n de original Government Grants in gives an exaggerated, and unfair Tai Shing making a trip from Debtor, giving evidence, said that Bicit of 88,088,00 on Working. Ac dollars were based on an exchange description of conditions there Canton to Tungkuan, The vessel he had borrowed the sum of $1,900 count, and from a study of the ae-level of approximately 2 to the (Hong Kong)," He merely left the hand reached Paohow on the outward from the compradore, Wong Ngai counts, which cover the effective dollar but as the netual cost of working of about six months only, aircraft and the principal costs of glittering generalisation, at that journey and put in at this small Tong, in order to keep up his pay- it will be clear to members that the operation of same are entirely on Featherstone over took the pains to when a similar bomb explosion
I wonder if the Reverend Mr. village to pick up more passengers ments Club cannot be maintained on its a sterling basis and are now to read the book through and verify happened again near the passen debtor's discharge be suspended His Lordship directed that present, income for a completo year. be mot at an excliange rate of sp for himself where the exaggerations gers cabins. As stated above two until he had paid a dividend of 18 There would haprar to be little proximately 1/-, the insufficiency of lie, hope of ourtsiling expenditure if funds is self explanatory.
The Rev. Featherstone also remember wats offering from serious stommancing of the first day people were killed outright and per cent, by payments of $50 a the chiccts of the Club are to be Unies were and means are found"terred to Ming AM Tits as injurion: It is said that the bombs of next month His Lordship "ox pursued seriously and efficiently. to double the Club's Income, the ing the frus interests of the mu were placed on board by members plained that debtor had already Increased membership would question of closing down must be tani at heart. All that Miss Pitta of a gang of bandits who have repaid 13 per cent, and he would have normally produce, further income seriously considered in the near did for the map trai was to organize eently been trying to extort money to bring the total to 15 per cent (Continued as foot of deze column) futuro:
a class for them, a mere handful from the tug owners of Canton, before he could be discharged.
Semua itu
Two More Machines Required;" It-would appear that the only remedy los in an application to Government to substantially in crease the Maintenance Grant, at the same time, if possible, te fur nish a supplementary Initial Grant for the purchase of at least two additional machines,
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