THE HONOKÓNG TELEGRAPH, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1938.
Life Begins at 8:01 NEW
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Important 33
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Music hath charms
1.
Sunday Classical Concert
at Repulse Bay Hotel Under leadership of Geo. Pio-Ulski
Programme for Sunday, 16 Oct., 1938.
1 p.m.-2.30 p.m..
PROGRAMME
Semiramide. Overture
2. La Corrida
3. Goldsmith's Daughter. Waltz
4. La Traviata. Selection
0. Mazurka
5.
Ballet Exypilen
Neapolitan Nighta
For Reservations
...Rossini.
Valverde. ..Fetras. Verdi. .Litigini. Glinka.
Zamecnik,
THIS IS THE
VAUXHALL CANTONAL SYSTEM
TWELVE-FOUR
NOW
HERE
THIS CAR INVITES YOUR INSPECTION,
We shall be glad demonstrate.
to
HONGKONG HOTEL GARAGE
Stubbs Road. ..Phone: 27778-9.
Scene at an open-air Parlia- ment in the Canton of Ap- penzell, Switzerland.
T
From one and of the world to the other the words "Cantonal System" have been on everybody's lips. The adoption of this sys- tom in Czecho-Slovakia many people think could solve the problems of that unhappy country.
that harmony can reign among different races.
Hore BETSY MACKENZIE, News Chronicle Geneva Correspon- dent, tells you what the Cantonal System is, how and why it works.
The five exceptions are the The Federal Assembly Cantons of Glarus, Inner and Outer Appenzell, Upper and Lower Unterwalden, which still
Is the legislative body. It maintain the ancient form of consists of two parts; 44 depu- The secret of Swiss national government known as "pure ties chosen by the Cantons, two
practice there are 20 laws, clect
and enlled the
their officera
carry on their own government.
with
(Parliament)
unity undoubtedly lies in the democracy" cantonal system. There are 22 Landesgemeinde. This consists from each Council of State, and Cantons, six of them known as of the people meeting at least representativca clccted by the "half cantons," which were split once A year on a Sunday in people one to every 20,000 votera owing to internal dissensions, so spring, who enact their own with one for every fraction over, that in
and called the National Council. It Cantons.
remains in office for three years Modelled on the United States
and has large executive powers, constitution in 1848 the Swiss
controlling foreign policy and legislature was brought up to
finance, supervising HE peace of Europe date in 1874; the Cantons are in In the hands of the Federal State
head- Federal administration of the and the world is the same relation to Berne as Administration,
the menaced to-day as a
American States are to quarters in Berne, lies the power Federal Court and exercising Washington.
to make war or peace, to dictate powers of pardon. result of a political theory
Ench Canton is sovereign in all foreign policy, carry out in- that groups of nationals of
The Federal Court on ternational obligations all that does not infringe one country cannot exist in Federal authority. It is respon. member of the League, impose Is composed of 24 members. Thongkong Telegraph, freedom and prosperity out- Rible for its roads, canals, agri- tariffs and regulate postal, tele- elected every six years by the side their country of origin. culture, welfaro of the people graph, telephone and railway Federal Assembly and adminis- ters justice in Federal matters. There is a standing. refuta- and imposes taxes on income services.
The Federal Government is If disputes arise between the tion of this theory in the and property. It has its own
Cantons they are settled by the law courts, although a unified composed as follows: heart of Europe.
penal code was adopted last May The Federal Council
Court. Switzerland, with its 4,000,000 by a national referendum, which, inhabitants, surrounded by however, has not yet been en- mountains, where German is forced. spoken by 71.9 per cent., French Geoffry
The
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1938.'
MEETING THE COST
The first Hongkong Budget under the gubernatorial ad- ministration of Sir
in
Except for five Cantons, the 20.4 per cent., Italian & per cent.. legislative body is known as the Romanche, a péculiar Latin "Grand Council," an excellent tongue now officially recognised training school for would-be as a fourth language, by 1.1 per politicians, which sits for three cent, and other languages by or four years, draws up its own .6 per cent., is a living example laws and acts as advisory body
to the Central Government. Its members draw no salaries, are
venue,
Northcote would appear, on first impressions, to present ja somewhat gloomy preview of
the future. Expenditure 1989 is expected to soar by over six million dollars since Decem-
the fact remains that elected by the people of the Can- ber last year to an all-time re-Hongkong cannot default on cord of $38,502,760, leaving at this obligation which, unfortun- ton, and elect a president who is
A member of the the end of the year a deficit, if ately, will increase year by year
Assembly at Berne. the revenue grows unless certain commendable proposals Secretary of State for the by His Excellency are carried Colonies will agree to a more out, of approximately $2,800,000 equitable basis.
R$
Of the remaining 83 per cent. to be met from the Colony's of the Colony's revenue, ten per surplus balance. The Financial cent, is required for Civil Ser- Secretary, whose clear exposi-vice Pensions, another item which, as the Financial. Secre- tion of the financial position of
yesterday, tary pointed out the Colony is refreshing after must increase for some years to previous uninformative state-come unless the Colony is to default. Additionally, approxi- ments laid before Hon. Council-mately 13 per cent. of the lors, foresees n $10,000,000 an- nual Budget in the not distant future.
revenue will be required next year for the Police Department
another item which cannot be reduced in view of the difficul- ties, peculiar to this Colony, which are encountered in pre- serving peace and order.
In one respect, the cultivation in Hongkong of what can be called, Dollar Sense," for
It will be seen, therefore, that want of a better expression, is approximately forty per cent, of Romewhat unfortunate. Re-the Colony's total expenditure is duced to pounds, shillings and taken up under three headings -Military Contributions to the pence, A $40,000,000 Budget Imperial Government, Pensions such as the Hon. Mr. S. Calne to Civil Servants, and the Police envisages means that the Department, leaving sixty per Colony will be called upon to cent. for other services, includ- ing the enormous salary bill
expend approximately £2,500,-for Civil Servants, Education, 000 per annum, or, on the basis Charity, the Harbour and Fire
FRANCE
GENEVA
Federal
(Cabinet)
ភេទ
a
(a) Is the executive body, (b) Consists of seven mem-
re-
There is no Senate in the bers of different political Federal Government and in partics, elected by the sharp contrast to the United Federal Assembly,
States it has two Institutions for which distinguish the Govern- ment of Switzerland, namely, to the "Initiative" and the "Re- he ferendum," This is a machinery which allows the people to ex- press their own choice at the (d) The Chairman is the Pre- polls. The whole Swiss elec- sident of the Confedera- torale is estimated at 28 per tion.
cent, of the population, as only
(c) Each member sits three years, but la cognised in practice hold office as long as wishes,
VALAIS
of the present population, some-Departments, the Medical De GRIN AND BEAR IT thing like £2 per capita.
partment, Prisons, Magistracies,
Under the circumstances and Loan Redemption. Public
Works and other essential ser- pessimism seems somewhat un-
vicca must also receive their Justified. Many cities through-quota of the Colony's insuf- out the world with far less ficient revenue. population or responsibilities
In view of the situation out- than Hongkong are budgetting lined
Council in Legislative for expenditures that exceed yesterday, increased taxation those of this Colony two, three.seems inevitable within a few even fivefold. It should be yours, Hongkong citizens would borne in mind that approxi-hardly bo justified in complain- mately seventeen per cent. of lug when the occasion, which had' been deferred to the Hongkong's total revenue is re-extent that sound administra- mitted to the Imperial Govern-tion of essential services was jco- ment as this, Colony's con-pardised before the present
created tribution, to Imperial Defence. [ "boom"
by Sino- Additionally, Hongkong must Japanese hostilitics, arises.
The Colony's capacity for And not inconsiderable making more generous contribu- sums annually for Air Raid Pre- tions to the exchequer, has only cautions-the million dollara been fully tapped in one direc mentioned in yesterday's state- tion, the unfortunate to excep- ment in Council is, it is believed, tion being those whose inability far below the minimum mone- to bear the brunt of the cost of tary requirement laid down by administration is genuine. The Hongkong citizen who can best the Colony's advisers on A.R.Pafford to pay taxation has, in -and for maintenance of its past years, had to dip only The own defence forces-the Volun-lightly into his pocket. teer Corps and Naval Volunteer methods of raising additional Reserves. However much taxation, when it is required, on THE HONGKONG & SHANGHAI HOTELS, LTD. may protest at what seems an a basis more equitable than that excessive taxation by the Im-obvious that it is unnecessary to at present employed are so
perial Government on our re-mention them here.
phone 27775.
REPULSE
BAY
HOTEL
also
we
R
AARGA
UCERNE
UNTER-
WALDEN
By Lichty
© “Confidentially, these big figures, don't mean a thing-you ··fust-
get better, serviço this way)**·.
men over 20 have the suffrage and women are excluded.
By means of the "Initiative"
| 50,000 votera can introduce a Bill which must come before Parliament by means of a re- ferendum. Every Bill must be. submitted to the people, so it is voters. no wonder that Swiss generally go to the polls every Sunday.
Notable referenda which were. accepted by the voters in 1937 and 1938 were the adoption of Romanche as a fourth officially recognised language; the ban on Communism as a party; and, the new penal code, in spite of stern opposition from 10 Cantons. An "Initiative" to ban freemasonry' in Switzerland was rejected by a large majority.
Once a country torn with in- ternal strife due to its wild mountain tribesmen, Switzer land is to-day a pattern of clock- work government. Never since 1874 has the country been so united. Hitler's seizure of Austria has done much, and in no other country in the world has such a determination arisen to keep united. This is shown by the enormous expanses to be borne and sanctioned by people to rearm.
the