1920-05-07 — Page 5

Page

FRIDAY, MAY 7, 1920,

STRIKE BREAKER PAILS.

UNFAIR PROSECUTION 15: RULED OUT.

Witness: No.

Mr. Smith: Personally, I don't think this Ordinance was meant as a strike breaking.machine. They should have given some notice

Mr. Lo, That is what I mean to submit.

concerned. He said that if they didn't want to come back at $18 a month. he didn't want them?

1

Witness replied that the men did. not turn up at the office at 10.30; they would not be received. Mr. Smith: The men should have. It is reported that Mr. Northcate given some-warning.

Mr. Lo: It is not so simple as said, "The men went to see Mr. Lo all that, as I hope to indicate in the to ask him to mediate and I refused case for the defence. They knew to see them, again." During the con all along. I was suggested to the versation on Sunday were they ever men whether they would leave or told that they were actually amenable not,

Witness was the cross-examined to criminal law if they did not give

month's notice?—They were.. by Mr. Lo, who asked:

If put it to you they were not They were.

a

Twenty five lift bays, participants in the strike among that section of the community, who were employed by the Hongkong Land Investment Company and the Hongkong Central Estate Company were discharged by Mr. N. L. Smith at the Police Court this morning on charges of leaving the service of their employers with out notice. During the hearing of the case it was shown that the men went before Mr. Mowbray S. North- cote, Secretary of the Companies concerned, who told them that if they did not care to accept the offer

In point of fact the letter of April of the companies of $18 a month they could leave. The magistrate 23 drafted in this amicable way was agreed with the argument of Mr. Le, actually suggested by you. who appeared on behalf of the men, wanted an increase and you suggested not satisfied with them at practically a moment's notice and pay them that this was consent to their leav-that a letter be sent?--F'did.

Am I not right in saying that you have always adopted a sympathetic attitude towards these men?

No.

Witness: I have..

Did none of them call on you

They

Is it not a fact that the practice of your employers has always been to dismiss these people if they are

I have been in the company I have never had occasion to dismiss any body...

ing. Another interesting point made When a few days later a blank re-only up to the time they work? by the solicitor стая that thefusal was passed to them a deputa- I cannot answer that question. Since Ordinance of 1902 was not meant as tien called on you of about eight à strike breaking machine, and that men ?-No. as the men considered themselves employed on a daily basis it would be unjust for the Ordinance to be enforced against them in a case where the only dispute was on the question of wages. The charges were dismissed without evidence for the defence being called.

Mr. Lo: Before I go on 1 should the officer came to serve the original like to meation one point that when summons on the man I accepted service on behalf of all the twenty six men for whom I was to appear. Apparently there has been some mis- understanding and one of the men has gone back to the country and I have no instructions on his behalf.

The Magistrate teak down the names of the defendants and wished

But since this case cropped up have you made any enquiries on this poin? No.

THE CHINA MAIL.

FIRE ON THE "IXION." shares, and thought he made a little

800 TONS HEMP DESTROYED,

profit at first he lost heavily toward the end of the year, losing several tens of thousands of dollars. Some- | time ago he had a deal in mercury, Talkoo Docks was the scene of buying for a rise. His biggest single not a little excitement in the small 1999 was several tens of thousands of hours of this morning, and through dollars in a Canson lottery. During out the best part of the business the past six or seven years he lost hours, up to nearly noon, as the result money from time 10-rime until his of a fire which broke out in Nos. losses gradually accumulated into his 8 and 9 holds of the Blue Funnel present debt of $140,000. Liner "ixon," Messrs. Butterfeld & Swire, Agents, which was lying alongside the dock. But for the difficulty experienced at first in locat ing the Ere, it would have been very As it was it quickly subdued. occupied the best part of two hours to put it out.

The first intimation that anyone had of the outbreak was when the cry of "Fire" was heard from coolies who word working overtime in the holds unloading a large cargo of Manlia hemp. Panic was soon reigning and there

The Ocial Receiver asked his

Lordship. Mr. Justice Comperts, the Acting. Chief Justice, to adjourn the application as there was a prospect #t present that debtor's relations would come forward and advance sufficient money to effect a compromise with the creditors, who were favourably in- clined to this course..

An adjournment was accordingly made sine die..

ARRIVALS.

The QHENGTU, Capt. Leiteb,

fran Swatow with 1,290 tons of general

argo and 4 bags of mail 336 tons, arrived yesterday at 3 pm

was a general rush to get to the LATEST SHIPPING NEWS. gangway, but this was soon checked by the officers of the ship. Huge volumes of emoke ascended from the hatches and tongues of flame Didn't you have any conversation

The reddening shot forth or discussion with them asking you

The alarm was quickly telephoned what you suggested. I am instructed

of the sky attracting a large crowd. that a few days later when they

through to the Central Fire Station. heard that they were not going to get an increase they saw you and with me when I tell you as a matter in

You are not prepared to disagree but some difficulty was experienced Backley, 3,353 tons, arrived yesterday at getting through to the 9am. from Singapore with: 477 bags of told their tale of woe and asked you

ûre fighters arrived about half The 1. WAKASA MARU, Capt. you could do no more and the only upon themselves as liable to be an hour later with three engines. Segawa, 1,804 tena, arrived yesterday at what could be done. You told them of fact that all these people looked station, with the result that the mall. thing was for them to do as they dismissed at a moment's notice. By this time the Sames had made 10am. from Shanghai with y bags of liked No. didn't use those words.. said if you are not satisfied you can write another letter:

а

Concrete Саде

There is one of the "defendants in the present case who was dismissed in 1914 and a new man taken on in his place. The new man was not satis

At all events the verbal reply gave them the impression that you were sympathetic, and you said, when you told them you could do no more, that they must choose their own means? factory and he was dismissed and the

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DEPARTURES.

of considerable headway and were bur ning furiously. The fireman led out. hoses to the ship and several streams of water were poured into the holds through the nearest The K SUNNING, (Capt. Benson). hatches. The efforts of the fireman sail for Shacabai at 6 s.m, to-day with insufficiency of the volume of water. The HSIN PING AN, (Capt. were, at first, ineffecttive owing to the 1,500 tons of general cargo.

Floats, at about 430 am, the fire to-day with 1.000 tons of general cargo. became more under control. The The .. TAISH ON, (Capt. Halkett). the burning hemp proved a great tons of general cargo. large amount of smoke given off by esiled for Shanghai at 4 p.m. with 1,333. handicap to the fire fighters. Within Aish, sailed for Manila st. p.z. to-day

The 9. YUENSANG, (Capt. Me an hour after the arrival of the Fire with 1,000 tons of general cargo. Ficats, the blaze was extinguished.

to know if the men were still in the No, that was not what I said."'; old man re-instated. He was actually With the arrival of Nos. 1 and 2 Fire Navik), sailed for Nowchwang at 7 ..

employ of the company.)

Mr. Wilkinson replied they were

not.

it

Mr. Smith said that he supposed this was the result of a strike.

Mr. Wilkinson replied that he did not know whether they could call a strike. The men refused to go to work.

Mr. Smith: Did they pot give notice asking for a rise of pay?

Mr. Wilkinson: Yes, on April 23. Mr. Smith: I think we had better take evidence...

Mr. W. J. Wilkinson then went into the box. He stated that he was employed by the Hongkong Land Investment Company and the Hong okong Central Estate Ltd. as overseer. All the defendants were employed by the companies as lift attendants.

Mr. Smith: How much do they get as pay, and is it fixed?

Witness: They get $16 a month. Mr. Smith: That is a flat rate, I suppose.

Witness: They all got $14 a month, but in March they got a rise of $2 and no complaint was made or

a demand for a further increase. On April 23 however, they sent in a letter asking for an increase.

Mr. Smith: It was about the time of the fitters' strike.

Witness: No, it was after the settlement. They asked for 32 per

cent and sent the following letter to

to the Secretary:

|

They said they were not satisfied paid his wages up to the time of but that was on April 26 after I had dismissal. If that is the practice of told them that there was no increase. They insisted that they were not the employers it would be unjust to satisfied and that they wanted an enforce the law against the employees Mr. Smith: The Ordinance says a increase. I told them if they were not satisfied they had better write in

again.

month's notice must be given unless a definite arrangement has been ar-

In any case that was not the im-rived at between the parties. pression they got. Do you know a man called Leung Tang. I believe he is a carpenter, but part of his duties before you came was to over see or superintend these lift boys. He bad disciplinary jurisdiction There is a carpenter called A Tang.

Mr. Lo: If that is the practice of the employers I think it would be absurd to ask your Worship to agree with them. My point is that if the employers abrogate to themselves the right of dismissing a person at a moment's notice and pay them up to He had some sort of authority over the time they work it would be only them subject to your approval?right that the men too should leave When I am away he is always in the employment at a moment's notice. office and acts in my place during my absence.

He was used by the men as a mouth piece I cannot say that. had my suspicions that this was going on.

If A Tang is called I am going to put it to him that he was personally cognisant of every step they took and knew they were leaving? That

Mr. Wilkinson: I told all these men after I received the letter that if they wanted to go they must give Ia month's notice before they left

the service.

Mr. Lo: At any rate the men didn't tell me this.

Witness: I personally fold every one that they could not leave without notice.

I also instructed

is what I am trying to find out. I them that it was not a case of a have asked the men whether A strike because the fitters gave notice Tang knew they were going to leave of a strike while they had given no and they told me "No." He also told me "No." I wanted to find out was talking to whether this man these people..

It is part of our case that he did

know and on the evening they stop ped work the facts of the case were known to A Tong?-I am not aware of that..

Do you know anything about two detectives turning up on Saturday?

do.

notice.

Mr. Smith: They have all been replaced now ?—Yes.

They won't be taken back?-No. No. If anything goes wrong with They are not skilled labourers? the lifts the Electric Company puts them in order.

The men have

Although no official explanation of the outbreak of fire has been, as yet, given out, it ia guessed that the lightedstump of acigarette, carelessly thrown down by one of the coolies, may have started it.

The firetien stood by, playing streams of water on the smouldering. herep until about 11.30 this morning.

•

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Superintendent Lane and Chief la spector Kerr supervised the activities under their command the men stood Co., Ltd." of the fire and police departments, and to the task valiantly, until the After the blaze was flames were checked.

extinguished, the de- luged hold" was pumped The Staff of the. Dock Company, and the officers' of the "Ixian," rendered Tery valuable assistance.

out.

About 500 tons of hemp, the value of which has not yet been! bability, will reach five figures, was ascertained, but which, in all pro- damaged by fire and water.

મ

KOWLOON BOWLING GREEN CLUB.

SEASON 1920...

OPENING DAY, SATURDAY, Sth MAY.

... Benassing

The Committes and Members will be

J. N. R. A.

Hon. Secretary.

KOWLOON BOWLING GREEN CLUB.

The acting Captain Superintendent of Police; the representatives of the Agents, Captain Inkster, in command At Home to their friends from 3:30 p.m. of the "Ixion," and other officials. ing, and inspected the damage done were present on the scene this morn- Dear Sir, In consideration of the

by the fire. fact that you have increased our

The damage done to the vessel itself wages by $2 we hesitate very much

nothing to do with the machinery, is not great, and it is not thought in forwarding you this letter. It

that her sailing will be delayed as a Mr. Lo: I don't think I need call result of the fire, for any occurs to us however that it might

They simply manipulate the lift.

great BOWLS COMPETITIONS, SEASON not be unwise to lay before you the

to your length of time: any evidence, subject Worship's direction, because it is in

1920. financial difficulties we are experienc⚫

The official report received from ing even with the present wages.

evidence that what took place be the Police with regard to the fire was place The prices of all commodities as

tween the manager and the men on that the outbreak took have You know

rizen to

Sunday certainly showed that the at 345 am in Nos. 8 Entry Liste close on 10th May, half as much again as before since

Mr. Lo: They were not in fact manager was a consenting party to and 9 holds of the ss. "Ixion," a the beginning of the war while our wages have not been increased suffi- arrested?-No, because when I went the men leaving. They could take it Blue Funnel Liner, lying alongside I can put every Taikoo Docks. The Fire Brigade ciently to cope with the change. Cox to 20 Li Yuen Street, which or leave it.

them in the box and two Fire Floats turned out and the boys use as a kind of mess, I With the present wages we can

to swear that the first they with the assistance of the Staff of hardly afford even the conventional found eight or ten men there.

ever heard of the wonderful 1902 the Dock and the abip's officers, two Chinese detectives necessaries of our class. This is had the

Ordinance was when I had occasion to succeeded in putting out the fire by not a misrepresentation on our part, with me who were given me by tell them what they were summoned Booding the holds. It is understood

authorities here the

to arrest

for. They were actually not aware that the cargo is insured. whom I pointed out. The fact that people of anyone

I saw the men and I spoke to that the criminal law of the colony compelled them to give such notice.

but

Д

true statement of facts.

What was their object?-Their object was to arrest the men.

The Magistrate: To arrest whom? These lift boys for leaving their employ.

I

one of

our class, Le. skilled labourers, are them. The detectives also spoke to They took it that the question of suffering in consequence of low wages may be seen from the recent/them. I told them what I was going notice was, a more formality and clamour among them for higher to do and I asked them to return to wages and the strike resulting there-work and there would be no further nothing else because all the people were under the impression when the We will from. Seeing that other companies trouble. The men said

employers practically hinted that if have realised the situation of their return to work, but we must go they were not satisfied with the $18 employees and have consequently round the town and look for the

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Members are. informed that the

GENUINE

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J. N. R. A..

PACIFIC MAIL: STEAMSHIP 'CO.

NOTICE TO CONSIGNEES.

8. 8. "CADDOPEAK."

From CALCUTTA via BANGOON, PENANG, SINGAPORE and SAIGON.

increased their wages by 325 per other people who have left work they could leave, They certainly did bags, exchange, mercury, shippingTHE above-mentioned roose! bavicu az- not think they should have given boreries, and shares generally, result-rived from the above mentioned Pozis cent, may we appeal to your kind We cannot start without them."

Mr. Le. That is exactly what they notice and it was a shock to theating in a debt of $140,000, explained Consignees of Cargo are hereby informed consideration for a further allowance?

when they were served with a stated. After that they were asked

the Bankruptcy that they must take delivery of cargo Trusting that this will meet with a

suramena. Secondly, I submit that if the appearance in favourable and early reply."

to go and see the manager on Sunday, the manager, or secretary, had taken Court this morning of Wang Yur Wan, from alongside, and all cargo impeding a Chinese salesman and buyer for discharge will be landed at their risk Mr. Smith: Was a reply sent to morning?-They were.

I understand you were present?a more sympathetic attitude on

Sunday morning and told them about Japanese goods shop, from which he and expense into the Pacific Mail Steam- I was Witness: A verbal reply was

Is it not a fact that later Mr. the law of one month's notice, advis received a salary of $15 per month ship Company's godowns at West Point, given. This letter was then brought in: Dear, We have the honour Northcote asked those who wanted them to accept the $18, and then and an annual bonus of from $1,200 and stored at Consignbes' risk.

give a month's notice, and in the to $1,300. meantime to 'discuss the matter of

that?

to stay on at $18 a month to stand on one side and those who did not on the other?—Yes.

st

*

No Claim will be admitted, after the

Consignees of Cargo are hereby, notified to beg inform you that we are very

Examined by the Official Receiver, that they must prodnos an Import Permit increase, I have no doubt that every Mr. J. D. Lloyd. Wong Yat Wan sigued by the Superintendent of the sorry for our wages not enough use for every month and you can't in-

thing would have been settled satis stated that he had a share of $200 in

Imports and Exporta, Hongkong, before crease us wages at present we And none of them stood on the tactorily. They were told they could a restaurant, share of $2,000 in bills of lading can be countersigned. all resign on May 1. You may side of wanting to go back?—Yes.

take the $18 or leave it and they another company, and share of

All broken, chafed and damaged goods employ other men. With thank

Did not Mr. Northcote say he could couldn't do anything else but leave $2,000 in a rice dealing firm in Ton-are to be left in the Godawas where they your kindness." The Company said replace them at a moment's notice it. I am quite in agreement with kin which was now worth, on his own will be examined on May 15, they could not grant the money. On He did:

what your Worship has so aptly ob computation-for he had not seen the 10, and May 14, at 10a.m. May 1 the men resigned en bloc. The And if they did not choose to served that the Ordinance was never actual returns about $40,000. In All claims must be pressated with la” » above letter was pushed into my accept $18 a month they could clear meant to be an instrument of per Hongkong he owed about $130,000ek of the steamer's arrival hert, after office post box. There was no notice out?--Yes. They were told to come secution against people, whose only through having had to pay the differ which they cannot be recognized. given and no mention whatever that up on Monday at 10.30.

quarrel with their employers was I think Mr. Northcote actually the question of wages which could ought goods and the price to which Goods have left the Godown, and all

ence, between the price at which he the men were dissatisfied.

Mr. Smith: They should have asked them, "Well, if you do not and should have been mentioned about leaving in the first choose $18 a month, what are you settled if the employers had only they subsequently fell. Besides-act Goods remaining letter.

going to do?" and did not some of tried. The employers have the upper ing for the Japanese firm he traded May 14th, will be abject to pour, Witness: If they had done that we them say "We are prepared to pull hand. The men are out of employ on his own account in hemp bags and should have made other arrange-Ticshas?"--Yes,

and have suffered sufficiently. I ask made $7,000 which he had still ro ments. On Sunday May 2, we had' They were to turn up on Monday your Worship to dismiss the sum-receive from the broker. He had Congees are requested to send in

also bought shares in a shipping busi-

their Bills of Lading for countersignature 23 of them brought to the office and morning-As a matter of fact I do m003. offered them an extra $2, making not know whether you are aware Mr. Smith discharged the defend ness, only to lose, and had made a

immediately. it $18 in all. They refused to that I myself had a conversation ants.

deal in sugar. As a gamble in ex-

Kasino MAIL 8,8. Co., change. he bought £20,000 from the it saying they wanted with Mr. Northeote and if he had That would have been a little been here I should have liked to put

French Bank in the hope that ex- As Operatora, C. S. Shipping Board.

J. ORAM SHEPPARD.- over 30 per cent on the original pay-it-to-him-whether the interview in JLL WALLA WALÍAS ? " double-crte change would rise but instead it

Acting Agent. Mr. Smith: None of them turned newspaper was correct, because it

the harbour but never, double-dropped. • About the beginning of last up after that.

Hongkong, May 7, 1920.- CTOSS you. "Phone No, 3516. year he started to speculate In

accept

$20.

seems to me correct as far as I am

amicably

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after

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