1930-03-18 — Page 1

The

Court

***Business Manager.

ASAHI China Mail

BEER

Just the very brand...

MITSUI BUSSAN KAISHA, LTD.

30 1 2

\BLISHED

1846

No. 27,439 HONG KONG, TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 1930.

1RAMS OR BUSES?

INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS FORECAST TRAMWAY COMPANY MEETING

Mr. B. D. F. Beith, Chairman of the Hong Kong Tramways, Ltd.,

made an interesting statement at the annual meeting, held in the Board Room of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Co., this morning. as to current rumours as to the acquisition by the Tramway Com- pany of the Hong Kong Hotel Motor Garage business.

He said that preliminary negotiations with such an acquisition in view were commenced a few days ago, and it is proposed, at an

a full statement of the position, and to consider "certain proposals."

TRAFFIC RECEIPTS DOWN

BRITONS

CHINA

TO-DAY'S DOLLAR. — The closing rate of the dollar on demand, to-day was 1/5 13/16,

PRICE $3.00 Per Month.

IN NAVY ESTIMATES BOMB EXPLODES AND REDUCTION ON CANTON BOAT:

THEIR SAFETY AT TREATY PORTS

TIENTSIN CITED

RESIDENTS OBJECT TO WITHDRAWAL

London, Yesterday.

оо

Dainty Eyeglasses -N. LAZARUS

Ophthalmic Optician 18, Queen's Road Central

ANOTHER FATAL FIRE

BRITAIN LEADS THE WAY IN CHINESE PASSENGERS STAMPEDE MOTHER AND SON BURNED TO

FOR SAFETY

DEATH

MADDENED CROWD KOWLOON CALAMITY

LIMITATION

SINGAPORE BASE

JUSTIFICATION FOR FURTHER SLOWING DOWN!

PEOPLE FIGHT TO JUMP THROUGH PORTHOLES

THREE PEOPLE RESCUED BY FIREMEN

tion.

CIVIL WAR AGAIN

|FENG AND YEN JOIN FORCES

TROUBLE MAKERS

YEN'S "HOLIDAY” A MERE BLIND

Canton, Yesterday. That the Northern situation has

between the National Government The fire, like the Kennedy Town and the Shaal Clique togeiber with

London, Yesterday.

Canton, Yesterday. Another conflagration occurred in The First Sea Lord, Mr. A. V. With its poop and lower decks the early hours of this morning, Alexander, introdusing the Navy erowded with a motley crew of human when the whole of two floors of 196 In the House of Commons at estimates, said that the reduction ity, madly gesticulating and shouting. Shanghai Street were badly burnt. early date to take the opportunity of placing before shareholders question time Mr. A. A. Somerville inadequately expressed the magni-all unconscious of the peril that was The adjoining flats, Nos. 191 and again become critical and that war

asked whether Mr. Henderson were tude of the Admiralty's efforts to-close at hand, the passenger boat Kao 198, were also involved. satisfied that the safety of British ward economy. No other Power min was at 12.30 am, this morning the subjects was assured at all the had voluntarily made such reduc- scene of what might have been a ter-

His Majesty's Government rible disaster. The Kac-min, which is disaster last week, was responsible its ally--the Kuominchua-is an treaty ports of China.

noted with greatest satifaction one of the maual type of native passen. for the loss of two lives, a woman event that can hardly be averted, is ger boats that are towed by ateam and a boy, who is said to bo her significantly indicated by yester- Mr. Henderson replied that he

of the re- that in the general world outlook, launches to inland cities, was prepar son, namely: had received the text the way from Lee Gardens to Ar- solution passed at a meeting of there was justification for further British subjects at Tientsin, atating slowing down the rate of naval Our expenditure senal Street.

that the withdrawal of the British construction. Long-Promised Road

town was must be related to our future needs, Every speech from this chair for battalion from the past seven years has contain inopportune at the present time. which could not be ascertained

Mr. Henderson stated that ed a reference to the long-promis. battalion

at was still stationed eded 100-foot road between Cause Tientsin and would be kept there The strength way Bay and Quarry Bay, but very

for the time being. little, progress has been made dur- ing the year under review, and it of the British military forces in China was in accordance with the has eventually become necessary recommendations of the military

Turning to traffic receipts, the Chairman staled that for the year 1929 they were less by three lakhs been than in 1928. Efforts had made during the year to obtain au- thority to run the Company's buses on less unremunerative routes, but had not met with much success.

The Chairman sounded a note of warning on the vexed question of trums v. buses, as from an economic standpoint, quoting several cases of traction companies who had chang- ed over frum trams to motor-buses with not very satisfactory results.

Had the 27,000,000 passengers carried by the Hong Kong trameurs lust year been carried at the same fare by mator buses, he said, not only would the Company not have had seven lakhs profit, but they would not have made enough profit to pay a dividend.

to double considrabie stretches of our old single track in addition to straightening out a snake-like length between Quarry Bay and Ming Yuen.

Altogether, since I last address- ed you, we have doubled about a mile of the old single track on the Shaukiwan section, and have extended the track by about 380 yards from the old Shauliwan ter- minus to Shaukiwan Village. The doubling referred to was render- ed absolutely necessary by the great increase in the number of hot passengers who on every afternoon in the bathing season- desired to patronise the bathing benches between North Point and Quarry Bay. With a single track we were unable to cope satisfac- The Chairman, la moving the adoption of the Report and Actorily with this traffic. counts, said:-

Turning to the acquisition of the Kai Tack Motor Bas Company, the Chairman stated that receipts so far had not been as satisfactory as Kad Some changes been anticipated. might be necessary as regards the

fares in Kowloon.

Chairman's Speech

Gentlemen, The Report of the Directors and the Statement of Accounts for the year 1928 are in your possession and I will, with your permission, take them read.

09

In my speech a year ago I call- ed attention to the decline in the the last traffic receipts during quarter of 1928 and after explain- I said "should ing the causes these adveree factors continue shareholders will realise that the tramway receipts in respect of the present year will be less than dur- ing the year under review,"

·

Buses v. Trams Before touching on the Accounts feel it my duty as your Chair- mart to sound a note of warning on the vexed question of "Buses" versus "Trame” es from an econo- mic viewpoint.

In some quarters the view has

expressed that been panacea for our present diminu- tion of profits is gradually to sub- stitute motor buses for tramcars. This, In your Board's opinion, is

Q

Bore

fallacy pregnant with alarming The public and possibilities. others quite naturally may regard eir views on this subject an bias-

the fact that the Company's main source of ret nue is derived from electric traction, but when I tell you it is estimated that had the 27,000,000 passengers which our tramcare carried last year been carried (at the same fares by motor buses instead of tramcars, not only should we not have had over seven lakha profit but we should not have made sufficient profit to pay any dividend. trust,, therefore, that you will agree with me that the matter merits a thorough and full inves tigation, and I make no excuse for the four rather lengthy references which follow:-

It is my unplasant duty to in-ed, and prejudiced by reason of form you that those adverse fac- tora have continued with a result that our traffic receipts for the year 1929 are leas by nearly three lakhs than for the year 1928.

Efforts were made during the year to obtain the necessary au- thority to run our buses on loss unremunerative routes of the Colony, but I regret to say with out meeting with much success. We have, however, commenced a new motor bus service between Blake Pier and Taikoo East Gaté, Queen's Road East, vin

and Leighton Hill Road, and although this service in itself is not re- munerative It provides a much felt need and affords greater fack lities for our patrons living in the outlying districts of Quarry Bay, which can now be reached by bus in very much quicker time than by tram.

Changes to Cars

(a) The Anglo-Argentine Tram-

ways Co., Ltd. (which com- prises the greater part of the tramways of Buenos Aires) Is one of the greatest tramway concerns in the World, operat Ing as it does nearly 3,000 vehiclen over 420 miles of track. They commenced oper- ating a service of motor buses in January, 1927. The Chair man of this gigantic system

: ....(which carries over 550,000,-

advisers.-Reuter.

the

One

an American technical jour- nal.

"Receipts of the Third Avenue Railway. New York, are bo- from bus operation tween G$5,000 and C$6,000 a day. These bus receipts aro not included

in the receipts

of the railway system, only the net from bus operation appearing in the income state- - ment. During the past year there were extraordinary ex- penses due to the installation of new lines and equipment, The bases are being depre- cinted on the basis of a five- year life, which takes care of the equipment notes issued for a larger part of the buses. Under these conditions, the bua operation showed a de- ficit of G$287,775 for the year."

Li Sam-ku (49);

day's Tientain telegram that Feng Yu-halang is reliably reported to have left Taiyuan and already Wong Kui-lau (9).

arrived at the Tungkuan Pass on Their bodies were found in March 10.

This news; if correct, cinerated after the outbreak. It is an understanding

which could not be ascertainad STOP PRESS conjectured that the woman, beias means that between Flag and has

ference were announced.

He de

precated the public discussion of conference questions and to-day hoped that the feelings of pessim lam in that connection would prove unfounded.

The Singapore Base

Referring to the Singapore base. Mr. Alexander said that con- alderable slowing down of the work, had been found possible without prejudicing the ultimate decision. Otherwise the net ex- penditure for 1980, after allow. ing for contributions from the Dominions and from Colonial sources, would have been thrice that of 1929. The final decision us to the future of the base would be taken as soon as possible after the Naval Conference, and after consulting the Overseas Govern- menta-Reuter

"Doomed to Failure"

London, Later.

In the House of Commons it

was agreed that the votes for

Tokio, Yesterday. While officials continue to be extremely reticent regarding the prospects of Japan's aceptance of the latest terine proposed by the Japan-American agreement, the circulation of conflicting reports thereanent appear to indicate a strong difference of opinion be tween the Navy Office and the Foreign Office in spite of recent official assertions to the contrary. A semi-official statement emanat- ing from the Navy Office takes strong exception to the proposed strength of both eight-inchers and submarines. It asserts that "tho Navy by no means accepts such a proposal."

Enquiries in official sources, how- ever, have brought forth a fet de- nial that this represents anything more than the personal view of certain officers-Reuter.

share the same fate.

blind, could not possibly find a Hsi-shan to force the issue with the way of escape, and that her son had Government, So long as Feng was no option but to stay with her and normally kept a prisoner at Taiyuan, there was always the hope that Yen The fire broke out shortly after would not precipitate matters to the three o'clock in the Ting Choi-kwai extent of risking a war with Nan- joss stick and candle shop. Fed by king. Hence the release of Feng the joss paper the flames took can only be interpreted as evidence great hold and spread rapidily, but that Yen has at last come out in his within 巍 short period all the

true colours and definitely broken Inmates were aroused by Mr. off the link in the chain that has Li Cheung-hing, a member of the held the Shanai party with the Police Reserve, who resides at 195. National Government.

Such is the first floor.

general comment of the vernacular press.

When Mr. Li attempted to run down the stairs he was confronted by thick clouds of smoke and

Taiyuan Conference

Peking, Sunday. tongues of fire, that eventually The last military conference at destroyed the usual

wooden Talyuan on March 13 was attended staircase.

to managed escape,

but

الح

198

about good

were

2. That the present north-western altuation as affecting the 2nd and 3rd Concentration Army be maintained;

3. That Chao Tai-wen be appoint. ed to the command of the 3rd Concentration Army to direct the rehabilitation of Shansi, Charhar, Hopei and Suiyuan provinces; and

4. That the problem of disband.

ment be studied.

The Northern Situation

Tientsin, Sunday.

The Shanal troops under General

Cut off by this, Mr. Li ran to the upper floor, and by going by Yen Hai-ahan, Feng Yu-hsiang, Chao Tai-wen, Kuominchun repre on the open verandah he gained

senatives Liu Chi and Teng Hel-cbé access to the next house. He ran

and 14 Shansi divisional comman down the staircase of the two floors

ders, according to report, having and gained the street, where a large crowd had already gathered, Passed the following resolutions

tem- 1. That Yen Hsl-shan is many blowing Police whistles.

porarily to delay his trip It was not till 8.51 a.m. that the

abroad; the personnel of the Navy and ing to leave the wharf on the Bund, Kowloon Fire Station received the Three engines, under some other items, apart from the midway between the Western Hotel and "Fire Call." asseverations of the Naval Conthe Missions Building when suddenly Mr. G. Saunders, Station officer, and an infernal bomb exploded at the bows his assistant, Mr. Woollard, pro- ference, were doomed to failure of the boat. The noise caused by the ceededed to the scene, being joined (d) The Institute of Transport re The speakers in the debate on explosion sounded like the fire of there by two engines from the

cently awarded its coveted the naval estimates, refrained 10-inch gun at least the people in the Mongkok Fire Sub-station. Graduate Silver Medal to a

from raising Conference pro-vicinity of the explosion thought so.

By this time the fire had taken a Mr. A. A. Jackson of Notting-

blems. Mr. Churchill, on behalf Pandemonium Resigned

good grip of the whole building, but ham for his paper "The Rail.

of the Conservatives, reserved

Immediately pandemonium reigned the firemen worked heroically In re- less

Its Trolley System.

the completest liberty in re among the passengers, who, losing their scuing by mean of the life line and Sphere." The last paragraph examining the position later. hends, began to stampede wildly for ladder three inmates of the house.

No. tenanta of of that paper is as follows:-

Mr. Alexander, replying to safety-many Jumped overboard, but The and "For ploneer work,

criticisms, said that the Govern- fortunately they were rescued by boats

first floor, numbering

make operation over light traffic

ment took no steps as regards which were alongside the Kao-min. routes with relatively few

naval policy without a full con- Many others succeeded in scrambling 80,

to the wharf, suffering more or lean their stops, connecting main ther-

sultation with the experts-njary. But the scene of Indescribable naturally forced to leave their be- Fu Teo-yi, a portion of whom had oughfares, also for operation

confusion was in the large open cabins longings to the mercy of the flames. recently been withdrawn from the generally where the traffic de-

in the 'tween decks. Here the people

The ground floor of No. 198 was Shantung Territory, were observed mand necessitates the provi

went mad to get to the narrow exits, also badly damaged by fire and suddenly to move back to Tehchow sion of less than 400 passen-

which could only admit two or three at water. The whole shop, which was on March 15. The work of the London Naval a time. There were cries of "save occupied by a dentist, was charred. The Shansi forces, who have con- in one ger seats per hour direction the motor bus is un-Conference is likely to be restrict-liven" among the

A stationery shop at No. 198 also centrated on the Tsin-Pu and Ping- or jump aaaallable; its adoption for ed this week to informal inter-fought to get to the exits

To Decelve the People such services all over the views between the members of the through the windows. It is here where suffered some damage, but thanks Han lines, number about 120,000.

most of the casualties occurred. Ac to the good work of the Fire country is convincing proof.different delegations. No plenary cording to our representative's inquiry, Brigade, the flames were prevented Where traffic warrants a ser-acssion is in prospect and the pro-only one man was known to have been from spreading to these premises. vice giving between 400 and blem of adjusting the tonnage filled but there were many casualties Had the latter caught fire the flames shan to go abroad is said to be 1,000. passenger seats per Agures of the five powers within the exact number of which is not yet would undoubtedly have spread to simply to deceive the people, as hour in one direction, with the categories prepared for them ascertained-Canton News Agency, corresponding increase in the by the First Committee of the number of passenger stops Conference is the chief, immediate E per mile, and particularly over problem. The Conference is still routes containing severe determined to achieve if possible Matters are five-power pact. gradients there appears to be a sound rea80RB for. seriously well. advanced to this end as be- considering the adoption of tween Great Britain and the Unit- railless trolley vehicles. ed States, Japan and the United Routes requiring services giv- States and Britain and Japan. Need and another of little inten- Wing over 1,000 passenger seats agreements have been reached, per hour in one direction but the ground has been thorough- would seem to be the realm of ly prepared.

Renter.

A Five-Power Pact

Rugby, Yesterday.

the tramcar running on double] The European situation as re- track, and expressions made presented by the differences bo- recently by eminent author-tween France and Italy is the ities on the subject of road main pre-occupation of the delega- passenger transport indicate tions and until this is resolved that the high value of the little progress can be made with tramcar in dealing safely and the major project. The difficulties economically with heavy traffic have been enhanced by the dis- demands is being more wide covery by France that there isa little likelihood of political ly recognised.” 000 passengers per annum) admitted at their last Annual Between the Western Market guarantees being forthcoming in General Meeting that their and Percival Straet (Wanchai) we exchange for the scaling down of bus services ware being oper provide an average of about 2,500 her tonnage figures and by the in- Dassenger seats per hour in each stetence of Italy on parity with the largest 6ontikantal naval (b) The Glasgow General Omni-direction.

power The fact that the British has and Motor Services, Ltd., Kai Tack Motor Busen which started with such a At the Meating last year I re- and French week-end discussions flourish of trumpets in 1926, ported that your Company as from excluded political issues from mado a loss for the year end January 1, 1929, had assumed con- their purview is taken as recogni ed September 80 Inst of trol of the Kal Tack Motor Bus tion by France that adjustments $25,216, with the result that Coy (1928), Led, operating must be on the basis of dguros, al of that and it is anticipated that the dis the 61 shares have dropped Kowloon The

ated at a losB.

During the year 10 more care were fitted with saloon top covers; bringing the number of cars so equipped to 64, and orders were placed in England for the latest type of truck (or chassis) for 28 tramcars, so that to-day we are in the happy position of knowing that every truck that came out with the original tramcare" han been scrapped and replaced by the most up-to-date truck obtainable,

The tramway track has been en- tirely reconstructed between Heard Street and the Loo Gardens. This was rendered necessary under the Prays East Reclamation scheme. The new single track along Bow rington Canal Road East was also completed, and tramcars have ento about eight shillinge Company has passed into the own cussions on this subject will be tered Happy Valley via this new (c) The Third Avenue Rallway of ership of the tramv

New York is a large transpor. and your Directors dow?

track Muce July 20 last.

....... Further, since the end of 1920,

we have complated, the, renew

operates

the trails between ? fiest)

motor bul

pany prolon

reakdown Fel

which the Board of the Kal Tack Com

If In Improbably

As regards the operation

this

The following.

this business:

tran

control 6

passengers, who

RAIN

To-day's weather report from the Royal Observatory states: The anti-cyclone has dispers-

sity, has developed over the Yangtaze Valley.

A depression is situated in the Northern part of the Sen of Japan.

Moderate to fresh monsoon will prevail along the South- East Coast of China and over. the N. China Sei

Forecast N. E. winds, fresh; overcast, with rain; possibly improving later.

Rainfall

Rainfall to 10 am to-day, 022 Rainfall since January 1, 524 inches against an average of 4.58 inches,

Temperature and Humidity

The temperature and humidi- ty at certain specified centres this morning at 6 o'clock :

Hong Long.

Chengchow, Yesterday.

The announcement of Yen Hai-

a basket worker's shop, where the proved by the fact of his recent assembling military rattan ware would certainly have action by fed the flames and caused a con- leaders in Shansi for a conference, flagration of a more serious nature, despatching troops to the Ping-Han The two people who lost their lives and Tsin-Pa ines, sending Feng are sald to have been suffocated by Ya-hsiang to Shenel to command the the onrush of smoke, which caused Kuominchun, recruiting 8 divisions them to collapse and die a terrible of garrison troops in Charhar and death.

Sulyuan, purchasing, large quantity After an hour of hard, work of wheat in Shanghai and placing fighting the flames, the firemen re numerous spies in Nanking and turned to their respective stations. Shanghai-all of which prepara Up to alne o'clock, this morning tions suggest an intention to re the Sanitary Department men were volt against the Central Govern

ment, engaged in clearing up to debris..

IRONSIDES' SUCCESS ?

News has reached the Colony- that the Ironsides have taken Pak- -hol.

The Kwangtung authorities have commandeered over 150 junks for transporting troops from Canton via Kongmoon to Yeungkong,

On Sunday night troops from Kongmoon ralded Kachen and kill- ed two and arrested thres pirates. The gunboats Kong Ku and Kin Yus are at Fakkal, where passing vessels are being searched after dark.

" Troops Movements

Tlentain, Sunday. Because of the Mukden troops having entered Shanhafkuan, whose advance guards have already arrived at Liang-tung, and because of troops having been. mobilized by Chan Tiao-yuen and having moved to Division of Yucheng, the 43rd Shansi troops under General Fu Teo-yi will evacuate Tientsin and concentrate at Techow, so as to establish the line with the Shansf

tes stationed at Shichischuang,

Feng Yu-halang

Feng Yu-hsiang, the Christian Woo Fat-rin, a mason employed General, left Taiyuan on the 8th and Temp. Humid by Mesers. Sang Lee, building con- arrived at Tungkuan Pass on the

tractors, was yesterday afternoon 10th. removed to the Kowloon Hoay!ta! 89

'90.

90

General Ho Ching-chun of the suffering from injuries to his left 5th Route Army was in receipt of eye and arm, received during blast instructions on March 14 from ing operations in Taiwan Road, President Chlang to co-operate A charge which, Woo-had lighted with Generals Wang Chin-yu and exploded before he could get clear, Hau Yuan-cheun in watching the and he was hit by two pieces of fly-movement of the Kaominchun on ing rock

the Ping-Han and Lung-Hal Lines His condition sie not considered

Page 1)