1941-09-23 — Page 25

THE CHINA MAIL, SEPTEMBER 23, 1941.

DEALINGS INTE SLEEPERS FOR A.R.P

K. C. LEUNG, who described himself as the proprietor of the Kin Wah Company, giving evidence at the A.R.P. inquiry to-day, stated that some time ago he made an offer to sell a quantity of sleepers to Marsman's. Though the latter rejected the offer on the grounds that the sleepers were not suitable, they later bought some from the same lot that had been offered them from the Tai Lee Company.

Leung was testifying before the Com- mission conducting the inquiry into matters in connection with the Air Raid Precaution Architectural Department, this morning's session being held in the Puisne Judge's Court.

Leung, in answer to the chair- the s'eepers were not fitted man, Mr. Justice P. E, F. Cressall, A.R.P. work, said that his company were import and export merchants, and fur- ther stated that prior to July 31, 1941, he was business manager of the National Development and Finance Corporation,

Chairman: When was that Com- pany formed? The preparations to form that Company began in July 1939 and the Company was formed. and business commenced, on July 1, 1940.

What was it formed for? connection with finance.

In

THE BEST

FED COUNTRY

We are the best-fed country in Europe be- cause of the marvel- lous men of the Mer- chant Service. We have spent a damned sight too long drop- ing pamphlets on Ber- lin and criticising the A.R.P.-

Views of Admiral Sir Edward Evans when he pleaded with South Wales miners recently for a "coal blitz."

for 000000

Raid that up

Witness then produced a letter from the Director of Air Precautions who suggested he should take the matter with Marsman's. This they did, quoting $2.90 per piece for hard- wood sleepers and $3.20 for Oregon pine sleepers.

Did you sell any to Mursmon's? --We did not sell to them direct.

SPIRIT OF A CITY

Revealing the spirit of Manchester in a recorded broadcast overseas, the Lord Mayor of Manches- ter (Ald. R. G. Edwards){ instances the birth of a Do you know whether Mars- baby in a candle-lit cellar, to buy 2,000 pieces from us as with bombs falling around a trial order but we stated the and water pouring în. lot was too small. After this we

Trial Offence

man's bought any?-They offered i

Did you ever buy any sleepers? sold 80,000 pieces to Tai Lee and To the United States, Alderman

Yes.

When? -- On July 16, 1940, we purchased 210,000 pieces.

You purchased those from Jac- line Matheson's? - We bought them from Jardine Engineering.

And they were acting on behalf of the

Chinese Government? Yes.

Two Lots

we turned the order pieces over to them.

for

2,000 Edwards sald: "You Man- chesters in the New World who bear our name can be proud of the Manchesters of the O'd.

Were those some of the sleepers you had previously offered to Marsman's and they had stated they could not use them?-Yes.

Had you offered the same to Kin Lec? I don't know anything of Kin LeE.

of

"We In turn Fro - deeply, grateful to you for the practical help and evidence of goodwill which you send us In growing measure across the ocean. "We have many of our public buildings completely destroyed.

Marsman's informed you by let-churches and chapels wrecked, and ter that they found the size the sleepers unsuitable for tunnel work? Yes.

How much did you pay

for them"We bought them in two lots. Of these 70,000 were select- ed and we paid $2.90 each. The Salance of 140,000 were not select- Tai Lee?—Yes.

ed and the price was $2.70.

the homes of our citizens and all their possessions reduced to a heap of rubble.

"But we are fortunate in being

And you subsequently sold to endowed with a generous measure

of grit and Lancashire humour."

Who did you sell those sleepers, FIGHTER CAME DOWN IN EIRE toTo more than 20 firms, all of whom were timber merchants.

Can you mention some of them? -Yes, Kwong Hing bought 50,000 pieces, Lun Sang 3,500 and Ho Fuk-cho 15.000. I am now tell- ing you of the big deals, but there were a number of small dealers which I do not think I need men- tion as there are so many of them.

You ever sold to Kin Lee?--- Not from this lot.

I am not speaking of this par-

THE PILOT ESCAPED

TO BE MARRIED

JUST OVER A year ago Flying-Officer Paul ticular lot. You ever sold to Kin Mayhew, son of Sir Basil Mayhew, of Felthorpe

Lee? Yes.

Hall, Norwich, took off in his fighter to meet Nazi

You sold 10,000 pieces for $43,- bombers attacking Liverpool. 0007-No, $43.000 was the cost price. We sold for $52,000.

Did you ever sell to Marsman's? -No.

The National Development and Finance Corporation never sold to Marsman's?--No.

Did you ever approach Mr. Car- man of Marsman's about the sale of sleepers?—Yes.

Marsman Reply

He had just become married to Mayhew was in the tiny church Miss Monica Stancliffe, daughter near the camp one Sunday morn of Canon Stancliffe, of Grantham. ing service. They originally hoped married this July.

to

get

A fierce fight carried Mayhew far out to sea. His petrol ran short, and he was forced to land in Eire. He became the first in- ternee of the camp at the Curragh

Eire Army G.H.Q.

Mayhew is now back in Eng- land. He has been married al- though Miss Stancliffe stated: "I had given up all hope of getting What happened?--We wrote to married ill the war was over." Marsman's and received a reply to Mayhew is one of the nine the effect that the sleepers were not fit for AN.P. work,

In the pew in front of Mayhew. and some of his colleagues sat three German Air Force officers, also internees,

Mayhew's younger brother, an Oxford Rugby Blue, went to France with the R.A.M.C. early in the war as a Christian Pacifist and non- cambatant.

KING COMMENDS HEROINE OF 17

12

R.A.F. internees who escaped re- cently from the Curragh. Three

BARBARA EDITH HELLIER, of them were caught. The What happened then?-May I other six are all believed to have 17 RANGER IN A PORTS- COM- explain, sir? The National. De reached England.

MOUTH GIRL GUIDE velopment and Finance Corpora- It was not Mayhew's first bid PANY, HAS BEEN COMMEND- tion bought 210,000. Oregon. pino for freedom. He was one of three ED BY THE KING FOR HER sleepers. These were fitted only R.A.F. "nien who got away about SERVICES AS AN AR.P. MES- for making gasoline boxes. At that four months ago. AS SENGERE time there was a great demand for When only about 10 miles from During a raid Barbara carried these boxes, and as financiers, we the camp they asked the way to out her duties unflinchingly, were approached by a lot of small Dublin, but the postman who told inspiring those around her, by dealers to buy up the stock. After them became suspicious of their her calmness and courage. She has this we bought 98,000, hardwood "brogue. He reported them to helped to rescue and comfort many sleepers. At first we approached the local Garda, and they were children.n

Barbaraissa clerle in Maraman's and also Mr. Steele caught,

Perkins and the reply was that The last time the reporter saw dockyard.

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