17
months of the previous year, or failing that for the
last preceding month". Amounts claimed are as follows:
1923 $164,310 1924 $247,990 1925 $231,217
1926 $223,356 1927 $68,430 1928 $5,905.
Amount to be claimed in respect of the
recent suspension during the struggle for Canton between
Nanking and Kuangsi has not been calculated.
( 2 )
Demurrage of wagons.
This is based on
Article 7 (a) of Schedule C. of agreement which
reads as follows "for detention of every wagon over
the above mentioned hours a charge of $3 for each
four-wheeled and $5 for each eight-wheeled shall be
paid for each day or part of each day in excess of
the above-mentioned hours". Amounts claimed are
as follows 1923 $24,431 1924 $22,869 1925 $9,089
totalling $56,388 Claims for demurrage since 1915
have been settled regularly amounts being small.
Claim up to October 1923 was presented to
the Managing Chinese Section by the Manager of the
British Section on December 13th, 1923. Manager of
Chinese section repudiated liability which he placed
with the Provincial Government. Since that date no
further claim has been presented owing to the continual
fluctuations of authority in Canton and the constant
lack of funds of the Chinese section but (? record)
has been kept of indebtedness. A full report is
contained in my despatch No. 253 of 17th May copy of
which is being sent to H.M.Minister. No communication
on the matter appears to have been made to you
previously doubtless owing to the instability of the
situation