HONG KONG DAILY PRESS
WOMAN'S DAY IN PARLIAMENT
Entertaining Talk To Rotary Club
MISS PICTON TURBEVILLE
Ladies Day" at the Rotary Club tiffln yesterday wassa real Ladies' Day for a big crowd of members and their womenfolk thronged the Hong Kong Hotel roof garden to hear a brilliant address by Miss E. Picton Turkeville, a member of the Mai Tai Commission and- a former member of the House of Commous, on "A Woman's Day in Parliament."
MANY WOMEN ATTEND
The Chairman thanked His Ex- cellency for his attendance, and also expressed the thinks of the Club to the ladles who had made the gathering a success and to Ro- tarian Sherry for providing ampli- fters.
Rotarian W. O. Nodes of Lon don and J. W. Graham from Bings- por were welcomed.
Mr. Tam announced that the apeaker next week would be Father Byrne S. J.
BIG MAIL BAG
try to drag some information out of a minister who is reluctant to give the information away and a real duel goes on.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 1936.
ALLEGED PIRATES ARRESTED
Sequel To Piracy In
Local Waters.
BOAT RECOVERED
I recall the first question I asked in parliament with much tear and trembling. At a factory in my con- stituency men were working 12 hours shifts and during the change of shifts had to work 18 hours. My question was "How long do the men there work?" and the Minis- ter answered "Twelve hours, and Occasionally for a slightly longer period." I then asked "Is the ml nister aware that that alightly long-Lyemun er period is 18 hours? and the whole thing was out. Within a fortnight the men were working eight hours. It could not bear the searchlight of publicity.
After question time comes the speeches of the day before the Commons audience which has been described as the most chilly and nerve destroying in the world.
MIXED METAPHORS There are really delightful speak- The first thing you notice afterers in the Commons but the ave being elected to Parliament is the rage speech-Well I can remember size of your postbag. It increases better at meetings of the Mothers almost 10 times. A women's or- Union and Y.W.C.A. It is no use ganisation write and you are over-pretending that the standard is
Many of high. And some of whelmed with letters.
the meta- them are pathetic, asking you to phors find employment, often for a miner
I can recall one member declar
in the who has turned, 40, and I can telling "It is only a fleabite you that in England to-day it is hopeless for a miner over 40 to find
work as a miner."
Then there are letters asking for help in nnding accommodation, often from couples who wish to marry. I recall one letter from a girl-no, she must have been a
It was some time since that news was heard last of pirating in local again and a daring piracy in broad waters, but sea-robbers got busy daylight took place just outside
Pass at about
noon on
CONCERT FOR CHARITY AT RECREIO
Varied Programme Given
OPERATIC ITEMS
||
Variety was the keynote of the concert, arranged by Mlle. Maria Margarida Gomes and in aid of the Calza Escolar for the education of
poor Portuguese boys, at the Club
de Reczela last night.
Y
Sunday last when a cargo-boat,
There was a large crowd present, bound from this Colony to Hau- including the Consul for Portugal, mun Village was victimised. Four. Senhor Alvaro Brilhante Laborinho. men armed with revolvers and knives boarded the boat which was eventually taken to an unknown place where the boat-people were detained for a day.
Operatic excerpts comprised quite a large part of the program- me. One of the most popular was the melodious and well-known sex- tette "Chi Me Frena" from Do- nizetti's "Lucia Di Lammermoor," which was excellently rendered by Mrs. Felicia Fernandes, Miss Ed- wina Rogers and Messrs. J. Mac- kay. A. J. Rodrigues jun.. Carlos Chan and Jose d'Almeida, with an orchestral, accompaniment.
According to a report made by Chu Tam-shing, the 35-year-old master of the boat in question, he arrived at Shamshulpo at 10 p.m. on May 26 with a cargo of goods from Haumur Village for the Kwong Yu Hng Firm. On May 31 02 5 a.m. Chu Tam-shing left Shamshuipe with three fokis on board and salled for Haumun Village. taking with him a cargo of 20 tins of kerosene. 10 cases of matches, four boxes of sugar, four yards of cloth, two packets of Harci" needles and three bars of soap to
the total value of 381.92.
A small Hoklo boat was follow-
Mr Rodrigues's fine tenor voice the popular was heard later in
arias, E Lucevan te estelle" from Puccini's "La Tosen" and "Vesti la glubba" from Leoncavallo's "Pag
+
occan" and another "It is the last
VOCAL ITEMS straw but it will not bear fruit." (Laughter). Another one, which I
Other vocal items were Schu- did not hear but which Lord Snelling his boat for half an hour and bert's "Ave Maria" by Miss Puz vouched for was "You have drawn a
as it reached Lyemun Pass at noon Lacayo and Pallone's "Barcarrole" herring across the trail, but last
on the same day, the former came and "Charmant Oiseau" from Da-. night
it came home, to roost." alongside with six men aboard it. vid's "Perle du Bresil" by Mrs. Ed- (Laughter),
Four of these men who were arm-wiha Rogers (coloratura). ed with revolvers and knives
A comedy note was struck by boarded Chu's cargo-boat and Messrs. J. J. Ferguson, D. A. Nooy, while one of the armed men stood. C. M. Grenham and W. Simp- guard the others tied up the crea
son in a burlesque about the croon- with ropes. The boat was taken
ing Guardsinan and later Messrs. to a place unknown to *ts crew and all its cargo was taken away. Grenham and Simpson yielded to fokis popular demand te tell further of were allowed to leave at 9 pm Polovsky, the Beautiful Spy.
the evergreen adventures of. Olga
on the same day in their own boat and they proceeded to Shau-
Sulter, who provided kiwan and reported the matter to the flute obligato to Rogers's song. the Police.
also heard in a Bute solo, Schumann's ""Intermezzo” was ren.
In Introducing the speaker M- Tam said it was a real privilege as Miss Pleton Turbeville was a mem- ber of that awe-inspiring body, the Mat Tsai Commission. Before that, he said, she was a distin- | woman-who had been engaged for I can recall many Commons cele- guished social worker and at one
11 years but could not murry be-
brities-Jack Jones, who discussing time a member of Parliament. It cause she could not and a house.
the flight of the pound crisis sald was largely on her life in Parlia-I rather suspected that the young" "The pound has flown from me ment that she was going to speak.
man was not so keen on the mar-
ever since I was a boy," and Miss rlage, but I made inquiries and Margaret Bondfield, cabinet ml- found that he was.
nister and Privy Councillor. It is a Then there are letters from ex-, fine thing when a woman can rise soldiers who claim they have been from a humble shop assistant to unjustly treated as regards pen- slons. These require a lot of work and I recall one case which took me six months of seeing committee after commmittee before I was satis- fied.
THE SPEECH
Miss Picton Turbeville said:
I deem it a high honour to be asked to speak to you. I will not pretend it is the first time I have apoken to a Rotary Club meeting for I have done that several times, but I have often found them some what grim because they did not allow women to be present at though they had a woman speaker. 1 must compliment you on being a little less grin.
Members of Parilament reply to every letter. if they are wise, out there is only one type of letter tha goes straight into the waste paper basket and that is the one informing you that if you will tell' Mr. Ramsay MacDonald to study the Pyramids of Egypt. he will
such a high post. (Applause), recall her standing at the historic desk, marked by the signet rings on the thumping hands of Palmers- ton, Disraell and Gladstone, from 3.45 p.m. to 10.15 am. resisting ex- tremist members who were trying. She to drag concessions from her. was always calm and cool and when even her opponents she retired cheered her. (Applause).
SPEAKER THANKED
Mr. R. H. Kotewall said: I have heard good speeches at
The master
and his three
ALLEGED PIRATES ARRESTED
Three of the men alleged to be
members of the pirate boat were recognised by the master of the vict.mised boat, who had them ar- rested. The master was walking along the Praya at Shaukiwan on Monday when he saw the men.
The boat which was used in the piracy has also been located and
Mr. Jack
was
dered by Mias Muriel McCaw, an accomplished planist.
TWO PIANOS
Another plano item was the first movement of Beethoven's Concerto in C major on two planes, with Miss Adelina Xavier on the first instrument and Mlle. Gomes on the
Laughter)." know what to do in the next crisis.meetings of the Mothers Union and seized by the Police, who are now second.
The title of my address is a "Wo- man's Day in Parlament." It was my privilege to sit in Parliament from the spring or 1929 to the au- tumn of 1931 and then when the elections came in 1831-how shall I express it-my constituents were not quite so intelligent as they had been in 1929. (Laughter). That is the only way I can express the dis-swered and aster of a defeat at the polls.
Some of my colleagues in Parita- ment have taken me to task for calling this speech a "Woman's Day" saying that a man's day is the same as a woman's. But I beg to differ a little
.
My memory 19 long and it goes back to a year that not many of you will recall. In 1913 1 a wo- man showed herself in the pre- cincts of the Houses of Parliament, even with a hármless little bag, she was turned back. That was the year when the suffragettes led by Mrs. Pankhurst were energetic in a crusade for women's franchise and woman was not allowed even within the outer lobbles of the House.
COMMITTEE WORK
All these letters have to be an- take up much time. The morning generally are occupied in sitting on committee. The sec- ond floor of the House is a row of committer rooms and most com- mittee work is done in the morning. Many of them are long and I can recall sitting on one committee for two years discussing conditions in Kenya.
the Y.W.C.A. but I have never heard a better speech than the one that has just been delivered, here or elsewhere, so rich was it in
anecdote, both serious and amusing, and so eloquent with its fów of language.
Miss Picton Turbeville's talk is also more welcome because it is so timely, for some of you may know that recently the question of eplist- ing the co-operation our folk on the committees of some of our public institutions, such as the Po Leung, Kuk formed the subject of private talks.
women
People often say that legislation. ir. England passes too easily and that there is too much legislation, But that is not the case. My fear The right of women to have a is that if there is trouble in Eng- share in the social and political land and we have not time to deal affairs of the nation te now an with it, it will be because our pro-acknowledged and accepted fact in cedure is so slow that we cannot England and Miss Picton Turbeville has done very much indeed. by sit- bring our laws up to conditions of the 20th century.
I was once a ting in Parliament, to establishing member of a committee discussing a
that right. certain law and found, that the original law had been passed in the days of Richard II and nothing new nad been added since."
pursuing further inquiries in the matter. The goods pirated, how- ever, have not been recovered,
CHINESE WEDDING
PIH-MOK
At the Registrar's Office yester- day. Supreme Court, the wedding
of
Mr. Pin Hao-chung (Raymond)
the well-known local jockey and Miss Mok In-ngoh Gloria) took place. Mr. M. f. Abbott officiated and the wedding was witnessed by the bride's father, Mr. Mok Kon-
sang,
of
formerly compradore Messrs. Butterfield and Swire and Mr. PihHao-ming, the bride- groom's brother.
24
The bridegroom, who is a gra-
There was a fear some time ago WOMEN'S FRANCHISE
that women by their very nature
The bride, is the daughter of But a lot has happened since
might be unsuitable for the rough Mr. and Mrs. Mok Kon-sang. She.) then. Franchise has made an
and tumble of politics but that fear
is a graduate of St. Stephen's Girls' enormous difference. There are A Bill Parliament goes first to has been dispelled by the creditable College and undergraduate of the two diferences between men and the first reading which is purely and successful part they have University of Hong Kong. She is women members of the Commons. formal and then passes to the sec- taken in the House of Commons also Basketball Captain of the Uni- The first is the psychological dit-ond reading and a big debate which and County Councils. Women's versity of Hong Kong. ference between the men, many of may take two or three days." After preponderance at the polls in Eng- whom have had fathers and grand- the second reading comes the com- land would suggest that the balance duate of the St. Francis Xavier's fathers in the House before them,mittee stage that is so long. The of political power would incline to- Collexe in Shanghal, is the son of
bill may have 133 clauses but not wards them but I believe that it is Mr. and Mrs. Pih Lee-fong. He The real difference however 15 a line; a clause, a sentence or a their wise moderatism
that ac- a well-known rider in Shangbai that we are 14 women among 600 word is not challenged by the op- counts for the present ratio in the
and Hong Kong and, at present, men. Of course the time may come position and studled carefully. Commons.
Yet I should not be tops the jockeys' list in the first when the ratio will be 14 men to However slowly it passes through surprised if one day Parliament has half of the racing season in Hong 600 women. (Laughter). But I do the committee stages, the opposi- 50-50 representation and we see a Kong. He is Secretary of the belleve that we get complete service tion is not always troublesome, for woman as Prime Minister.
Yeung Fat Company, well-known only when men and women are sometimes very useful suggestions
local building contractors. working together shoulder to and improvements are suggested. shoulder,
and we new women.
HONG KONG WOMEN
It is also possible that woman's
I recall one bill taking six months suffrage will come to Hong Kong. in the committee stages.
| I would be one to welcome it. INTO THE LORDS.
If ever the time should come Then comes the third reading when women are eligible for our and the Bill goes to the House of Urban Council; then I should vote Lords where the same thing hap- for a woman. pens all over again.
At the opening of the day comes the most interesting time-ques tion time, the charter of British liberty, one of the nest things in
I have to-day dulged in the contemplation of the pleasing pros-. pect of a woman member of our Legislature one day repaying Miss Picton-Turbeville the compliment
One of the most popular items was an exhibition of traditional Portuguese songs and dances by the Grupo de Amadores da Liga Portu- guesa de Hong Kong, which was. performed with picturesque scenery.
This was followed by another Portuguese item, a one act comedy performed by Mrs. Deolinda Alves and Messrs. Bebastiao Pinna, Januario "Almeida and Gaspar Alves.
INDO CHINA
FLEET WILL
KEEP RUNS
Laying Up Is Not Contemplated
SMUGGLING MENACE
Laying-up of ships in the Indo China fleet is not con- templated as yet, declared an official of the Company yes. terday,"
"
Smuggling in North China has made serious Inroads into the freights of coastal vessels and seven ships of the China Naviga- tion Company's feet are to be held After the wedding ceremony a Room of the Hong Kong Hotel. reception was held at the "Grup for an indefinite period.
"Our Ireights have also been hit Later in the evening, a dinner will hard recently," déclared an of- be given at the bride's father's re- ficial of Jazdine, Matheson, agents for the Indo China Steam Naviga- sidence, No. 77 Robinson Road.
The newly-wedded couple will tlon Co. Ltd yesterday, "but for- shortly be leaving for a honey-tunately we do not contemplate moon tour to Shanghai, Tsingtao having to put any of our ships off and Japan.
their runs just yet."
#
What I am going to say now I would say even were I among male colleagues, and that is that women members of parliament work much harder than men. If a committee "is being formed, and there are scores of committees, the chairman is almost certain to have a woman on it; and as there are only 14 wo- men, we just won't go round. Many a man goes through a session with out serving on che committee. our constitution, when the search
In standing for Parliament I am light can be turned on all govern- bound to say that I found my name ment departments. There is not a a hindrance. (Laughter). If you single government department that are going in for politics, take a does not come under fire during By à further stretch of the Imaging That day will come, though I may
question time. Many an evil has tion, I have also conjured up the not live long enough to see it. been checked by a question being no less pleasing vision of a woman On behalf of all present I tender asked in Parliament at question ruling over us as our Governor. to Miss Picton Turbeville out time, I have often been a member. 5(Crles of "Shanie"), And why sincere thanks for her taĺk.
short name. My constituency was an agricultural one and I well re member hearing dear old med stumble aver my name.
which she has paid us to-day, by not? Women are already our addressing a Rotary Club in Eng-rulers in the home. Why shouldn't land on * Women's Day in the one of them be our chief rufer in Legislative Council of Hong Kong. the community? Mark my words.
The seven B. and S. ships to be tied up are the Luchow. Langchow,
Yingchow, Kangchow, Cheklang, Chengtu and Chungking. About 40 European officers and engineers will be affected.
Official reason for the tying-up
of the ships is the depressed state
of trade but it is understood that
this has been caused largely by the smuggling in North China.
FORMAL
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for
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