1940-03-14 — Page 20

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SWEDEN OBJECTS TO CRITICISM

po-

Stockholm, To-day. Strong current of feeling against the embarrassing position in which Swedish licy has placed Sweden in the eyes of the world is notice- able in press comments and public conversation.

that

It is persistently rumoured negotiations are under way between Norway, Sweden and Finland as a preliminary to talks for mutual guar- antees, but nothing official has been disclosed.

a

Meanwhile, Dr. Gunther, the Swedish Foreign Minister, caused surprise in an official statement to- day, in which he sought to justify Sweden's refusal to permit the passage of Allied troops and the part played in the peace preliminaries. He de- clared that the peace terms now agreed were not the terms Sweden passed on as a basis for discussions. He insisted that what the Soviet asked for was mild by comparison.-Reuter.

RELIEF FOR FINLAND

London, To-day. The question of relief for Finland is already being discussed.

L.G. A BITTER CRITIC

LONDON, TO-DAY. MR. LLOYYD GEORGE WAB SHARPLY CRITICAL OF THE GOV.. ERNMENT IN A COMMENT ON THE FINNISH SURRENDER.

too late. in taking action when the life The Government, he said; is always of small neutrals is at stake. slovakia; too late for Poland;

They were too late for

Czecho-

certainly too late for Finland.

"They are always too late or too little; or they are too late

too little "Reuter.

U.S. AID IN POLAND

and

give with

;

NATURAL

THE CHIN

MARCH 14.

as near to Nature as is desirable are

Sir William Crookes' lenses.

Bomething to offact, the harmful glars is necessary, but you don't

have to have the whole landscape darkened like a rainy day to do that..

Wear Crookes and know what

• real eye-comfort means,`` ..

STOP PRESS

to

Jazamus

KOPTICIAN BE

a few

•

an

per that I should state at this juncture that in the Government's view the taxation scheme framed in the bill will not be as equitable or as efficient Legislative Council this afternoona means of raising revenue as would gave the first reading to the War be an income-tax measure on the approved lines which you, Sir, and your ad- Taxation Ordinance and resolutions covering the expenditure visers had in contemplation

in months ago. of $5,000,000 on the construction

that It may seem anomalous H.K. of vessels to be presented

01. competent the Admiralty and War Department Administration, with

should and the gift of £100,000 to His Ma- majority on the Legislature,

deliberately promote one measure be- monetary jesty's Government as a contribution from the Colony of Hong lieving another to be its superior, Kong towards the prosecution of the but the explanation is not far to seek. This bill's principal purpose is to war with Germany,

finance a not inconsiderable free gift from public funds to His Majesty's Government, and in such a case. It would be improper to force upon the would-be donors by the use of that majority a taxation method to which the unofficial members of this Coun

The War Revenue Ordinance taxes are expected to bring in approximate- ly $6,000,000 per annum; $2,000,000 New York, To-day.

from from Property Tax; $1,000,000 An agreement has been given by the Salaries Tax and $3,000,000 from Cor- Allies and the Reich not to attack re-poration and Business Profits Taxes. lief ships carrying food, clothing and The estimated revenue over a twenty-

in four months period is, medicines for destitute persons German-occupied Poland, Mr. Herbert $12,000,000. Hoover, relief fund president, an- nounced yesterday.

The Nazis will allow an American 'supervisory committee to distribute the relief and shipments will probably start this week, as soon as the neces- sary financial arrangements are com- pleted. Reuter.

WEATHER

REPORT

The problems now to be faced by the Finnish Government are so acute

The Royal Observatory reports that that only with outside help can they a feeble anticyclonic area extends from be solved, The Finnish Government | South China to the east of the Bonins; is not able to bear the enormous ex- pense of reconstruction and rehabili-Mongolia. tation of her people.-Reuter.

an

therefore

It is intended to build two mine- sweepers and

four harbour defence craft for the Royal Navy and ferry tenders for the Army.

two

re-

cll had objected strongly and animously.

were

un-

H. E. the Governor said:-The fact that Government has been able to- day to put before this Council the definite proposals, which

the It was stated that apart from subjects of the two resolutions just venue from the taxes proposed under adopted by the Council discloses that the War Revenue Ordinance the Co- there has been considerable prior dis- lony is in a financial position to make cussion of the forms which this Co- an immediate cash gift to His Majes-lony's contribution to His Majesty's ty's Government.

Introducing the War Revenue Bill, the Hon. Mr. H. R. Butters said:

No radical modification has been made: nothing has been added to or subtracted from the recommendations of the War Revenue Committee.

The combination of taxes proposed develop anticyclone may

over constitutes a partial income tax freed A depression is moving of certain complications owing to its limited scope and designed to meet | north-eastward over the Sea of Japan. the objections of those, prominent among whom were the Chinese Mem- bers of this Council, who deprecated inquiry or inquisition into personal circumstances, particularly of partner- ships, inevitable in income tax proper which is based on the assessment individual capacity to pay.

TRUMPS IN NEW SPRING SUITINGS

ARE HERE IN ALL THEIR DISTINCTIVE NEW TONES, TASTEFUL VARIETY OF CHECKS, STRIPES AND PLAINS · THERE ARE GREYS - BLUE GREYS BROWNS FAWNS AND

SOFT GREENS FROM WHICH TO SELECT YOUR :: SPRING SUIT QUALITY?

YES! THAT IS OF

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THE FABRICS W.E SHOW YOU ARE ALL OF BRITISH MANUFACTURE IN HANDLE, FINISH AND VALUE ALL YOU CAN WISH

THEM TO BE

TAILORED TO YOUR OWN INDIVIDUAL STYLE WITH EXPERIENCED CARE AND, WITH THE DEFINITE AIM OF GIVING THE UTMOST SATISFACTION.

LET YOUR NEXT SUIT BE FROM

WILLIAM POWELL, LTD.

- 10, ICE HOUSE STREET

of

3

Government should take, I wish, however, to make it clear that those discussions have been entirely on contingent basis and that the Colony has not been pledged or committed to any expenditure in anticipation of the Legislature's approval.

It follows, of course, that the Se- cretary of State is already aware of this afternoon's transactions in this Council and he has warmly approved them in advance, I have also been given by him to understand that these gifts will be received with very grate- ful appreciation by His Majesty's Government, by whom they are re- garded as a most generous and prac- tical contribution to the common effort that is being made throughout the British Empire towards victory and peace.

As the Rating Ordinance, 1901, pre- scribes a tax to be borne by the occu- pier it has been considered necessary to indicate clearly that the Property.

The Colony should make this cash Tax is intended as a tax to be charg- contribution, not grudgingly, but free- ed on an borne by the owner, which ly and enthusiastically, and in a spirit I think is in accord with the views of thankfulness that, in spite of the to of the War Revenue Committee. The War, the Colony should be able purpose of this amendment is to pre-make such a rift out of its surplus, vent the passing on of the tax, as it and without diminishing such surplus. makes clear that the certificates of to a point endangering the Colony's fair rent issued under Section 6 of the financial stability. Mr. M. K. Lo. Prevention of Eviction Consolidation and Amendment · Ordinance, 1939, cannot take into consideration a tax- definitely described as to be borne by the owner.

Iam authorized to state that if any attempt la made generally to pass on the Property Tax to tenants Govern - |ment-is' prepared to Introduce' such lạ. glslation as may be considered neces; sary to prevent this.

The Committee offered no estimate of the revenue expected to be raised by their Bill and in the nature of things such an estimate must be large- ly guess work, but Mr. Caine, who was largely responsible for framing the original draft of the Bill, suggest- ed that Salaries Tax might produce $1,000,000 and, Corporation and Busi- ness Profits Taxes together $3,000,000, while the receipts from the Property Tax are calculable, in the neighbour- hood of $2,000,000.

The Government has accepted the recommendatioris of the War Re- venue Committee and the bill which I am asking to have read to-day for the first time is a Government mea- |sure. It is, however, Just and pro-

DAVIE

Macao, To-day. Over $2,000 refugees from the Chungshan District have swarmed into Macao creating an acute problem..

10,000 are sleep-

Some 6,000 to ing in the streets.

Grim stories are related by many of the fugitives of the lat- est Japanese invasion. Some of the facts are unprintable, but the conditions" round Shekki can be imagined from the fact that the Japanese troops have apparently been given licence to wreak their will on the populace.

They were kept under strict discipline for two days after the fall of Shekki. Then came a de- mand for the production of 500 women. When this demand was not met, the soldiers were no longer held in check.

Looting and raping is, rife over the whole district.

Own Correspondent.

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