THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1938.
Life Begin
LONDON DRYI
Vastarted bat
LS WATSON À CA, LE
le Aguate For Hong Kong and Greta (
NEW
THIS IS THE
VAUXHALL CANTONAL SYSTEM
TWELVE-FOUR
NOW
HERE
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Suts you in the right spirit
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Music hath charms
1.
8.
Sunday Classical Concert
at Repulse Bay Hotel Under leadership of Geo, Pia-Ulski
Programme for Sunday, 16 Oct., 1938.
p.m.-2.30 p.m.
PROGRAMME
Benthamide. Overture
2. La Corrida
Goldsmith's Daughter. Waltz
4. ·La Traviada. Belection
0. Mazurka
Ballet Eryptien
7. Neapolitan Nights
For Reservations
phone 27775.
REPULSE
BAY
HOTEL
Rozalni .Valverde.
..Fetras. Verdi. .Luigini, .Clinko,
.Zomernik,
We shall be glad to demonstrate.
HONGKONG HOTEL GARAGE
Stubbs Road...Phone: 27778-9,
The
Scene at an open-air Parlia- ment in the Canton of Ap- penzell, Switzerland.
T
From one end of the world to the other the words "Cantonal System" have been on everybody's lips. The adoption of this sys- tem in Czecho-Slovakia many people think could solve the problems of that unhappy country.
Hore BETSY MACKENZIE, Nows Chronicle Genova Correspon- dent, tells you what the Cantonal System is, how and why it works.” that harmony can reign among The fivo exceptions are the The Federal Assembly different races.
Cantons of Glarus, Inner and
(Parliament)· · Outer Appenzell, Upper and
Lower Unterwalden, which stil! 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 tics chosen by the Cantons, two unity undoubtedly lies in the democracy"
and called the
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 representatives elected by the a year on a Sunday in people one to every 20,000 voters "half cantong," which were split onco
enact their own with one for every fraction over, owing to internal dissensions, so spring, who
25 laws, elect their officers that in practice there are
and called the National Council. It carry on their own government. remains in office for three years Cantons.
☆
Modelled on the United States
and has large exccutive powers, constitution in 1848 the Swiss
controlling foreign policy and legislature was brought up to
finance, supervising In the hands of the Federal State HE peace of Europe date in 1874; the Cantons are in
with head- Federal administration of the and the world is the same relation to Berne as Administration,
exercising the American States are to quarters in Berne, lies the power Federal Court and menaced to-day as a Washington.
to make war or peace, to dictate powers of pardon. result of a political theory
Each Canton is sovereign in all foreign policy, carry out in- that groups of nationals of
on ternational obligations all that does not infringe one country cannot exist in Federal authority. It is respon- member of the League, impose
as A
The Federal Court
Is composed of 24 members.
Hongkong Telegraph. freedom and prosperity out- sible for ita roads, carais, agri- tariffs and regulate postal, tele- elected every six years by the
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1930.
in
(Cabinet)
(a) Is the executive body, (b) Consists of seven mem-
side their country of origin. culture, welfare of the people graph, telephone and railway Federal Assembly and adminis tera justice in Federal matters. income services, There is a standing refuta- and imposes taxes on
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:
Court. heart of Europe.
penal code was adopted last May The Federal Council inhabitants, - Switzerland, with its 4,000,000 by a national referendum, which, surrounded by however, has not yet been en- mountains, whero German is forced. spoken by 71.9 per cent., French Except for five Cantons, the 20.4 per cent., Italian 6 per cent.. legislative body is known as the Romanche, a peculiar 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 Its to the Central Government. members draw no salaries, are elected by the people of the Can- ton, and elect a president who is
venue, the fact remains that Hongkong cannot default on this obligation which, unfortun- ately, will increase year by year
revenue grows unless the Secretary of State for 'the to a more Colonies will agree equitable basis.
MEETING THE COST
The first Hongkong Budget under the gubernatorial ad- ministration of Sir Geoffry
Northcote would appear, . on first impressions, to present a somewhat gloomy preview of the future. Expenditure 1939 is expected to soar by over six million dollars since Decem- ber last year to an all-time re cord of $88,502,700, leaving at the end of the year a deficit, if certain commendable proposals by His Excellency are carried out, of approximately $2,800,000
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
tary pointed out yesterday, 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 a $40,000,000 an- revenue will be required next nual Budget in the not distant year for the Police Department another item which cannot be future.
reduced in view of the difficul In one respect, the cultivation tics, peculiar to this Colony, in Hongkong of what can be which are encountered in pre-
serving peace and order. called, ' 'Dollar Sense," for
It will be seen, therefore, that want of a better expression, is approximately forty per cent. of :somewhat unfortunate. Re-the Colony's total expenditure is duced to pounds, shilling, and taken up under three headings --Military Contributions to the pence, $10,000,000 Budget Imperial Government, Pensions such as the Hon. Mr. S. Caine to Civil Servants, and the Police envisages
the Department, leaving sixty per Colony will be called upon to cent, for other services, includ- ing the enormous salary bill
פי
means
that
expond approximately £2,500,- for Civil Servants, Education, 000 per annum, or, on the, basis Charity, the Harbour and Fire
4
member of the Federal
Assembly at Berne.
GENEY
There is no Senate in the Government and in bers of different political Federal parties, elected by the sharp contrast to the United Federal Assembly,
States it has two institutions
re-
(c) Each member sits for which distinguish the Govern- ment of Switzerland, namely, three years, but is
to the "Initiative" and the "Re- cognised in practice
ferendum." This is a machinery hold office as long as he which allows the people to ex-
wishes,
press their own choice at the (d) The Chairman is the Pre- polls. The whole Swiss cleo- sident of the Confedera- tornte is estimated at 28' per tion.
cent. of the population, as only
of the present population, some-Departments, the Medical De GRIN AND BEAR IT
thing like £2 per capita.
Under
or
partment. Prisons, Magistracies,
the circumstances and Loan Redemption. Public Works and other essential ser- pessimism seems somewhat un-
vices must also receive their justified. Many cities through-
the Colony's insuf- quota of out the world with far less ficient revenue. population responsibilitica
In view of the situation out- thap Hongkong are budgetting
lined in Legislative Council for expenditures that exceed yesterday, increased taxation those of this Colany two, three, seems - inevitable within a few cven Gvefold. It should be years, Hongkong citizens would horne in mind that approxi-hardly be justified in complain- mately seventeen per cent. ofing 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 jeo ment as this Colony's con-pardised before the present
created tribution to Imperial Defence."boom"
by Sino- Additionally, Hongkong must Japanese hostilities, arises.
The Colony's capacity for also find not inconsiderable making more generous contribu sums annually for Air Raid Pro- tions to the exchequer has only cautions-the million dollars been fully tapped in one direc- mentioned in yesterday's stato-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.P. afford to pay taxation has, in and for maintenance of its past years, had to dip only own defence forces the Volun-lightly into his pocket. The teer Corps and Naval Volunteer methods of raising additional Reservea. However much we taxation, when it is required, on at presont employed are so excessive taxation by the Im-obvious that It is unnecessary to perial Government on our
mention them here.
THE HONGKONG & SHANGHAI HOTELS, LTD,may protest at what seems ann basis more equitable than that
19:15
"Confidentially, these big figures don't mean
get better kernios"this way!”
By Lichty
men over 20 have the suffrage and women are excluded.
By means of the "Initiative" 50,000 voters 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 no wonder that Swiss voters, generally go to the polls every Sunday,
Notable referenda which were accepted by the voters in 1987 and 1988 were the adoption of Romanche as a fourth officially, recognised language; the ban on Communism as a party; and the now penal code, in spite of stern · opposition from 10 Cantons. An "Initiativo” to ban freemasonry in Switzerland-was rejected by a. large majority.
Once a country torn with in--. ternal strife dúo to its 'wild. mountain tribesmen, Switzer- land is to-day a pattern of clock- work government. Naver sinca 1874 has the country boon so united. Hitler's seizure of Austria has done much, and in no other country in the world has such a determination arison, to keep united. This is shown. by the enormous expenses to be borna, and sanctioned by the people to rearm.