30
J. S. & S. LTD.
·
- 3-
27.9.32.
admittedly penalised the occasional caller, the regular trader, who maintained his Service whether cargo was plentiful or scarce, deserved more consideration than
the occasional caller.
We are informed that the Government in reply to this last communication stated that it had nothing further to add to its letter of 15th July.
We submit that, in view of the very depressed state * of shipping, it is not unreasonable to press for at least the restitution of the scale of light dues in
force previously to 1st January 1931; also that the
burden falling upon the regular caller should be lightened by the introduction of a system of compounded fees, such as obtains in China and Japan.
With regard to the Hong Kong Government's contention
that a reduction in the scale of light dues would no
doubt necessitate a corresponding increase in some other
form of taxation, we venture to suggest that, instead of
possible contemplating the need for such an alternative, the
Government should, especially at a time like the present
when trading conditions in the Far East are so depressed
and uncertain, direct its attention to a reduction in
expenditure, the corrective which has been and is being
extensively applied by all private concerns in the ir
efforts to balance their budgets.
His Excellency the Governor in his remarks to the
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