155
32
construction of railways. The remarks made by Li Hung-chang during his recent tour show that his preconceptions as to their value have been confirmed, and the exigencies of finance may furnish means of influence for their direction and control.
Rights of ingress should be required for railways from British India into Yunnan and Szechuen, on the same principle that the French have been given right of access from Tongking into Kwangse.
These concessions may sound, and would doubtless be, far-reaching; but they would, it may be observed, be for the advantage of China herself as well as of countries interested in her trade; and solicited as we are to accord to China an increase in the rate of duty—it is most reasonable that we insist upon changes that will greatly advance commerce and promote the prosperity of a country in which we possess so great an interest. Nothing would more conduce to the stability of her Government, the increase of her revenue, and the welfare of her people, than the improvement of inland communications of all kinds and the relief of inland commerce from taxation upon its movement.
(Signed)
R. S. GUNDRY,
33
cont. should be divided—say (a) 1 per cent. to the first, and 1 per cent. to the terminal Province; or (b), that the whole shall belong to the Province in which bulk is broken.
The method of issuing transit passes varies in different Provinces. At Shanghai, which is the most important centre, application has been made to the Taotai: a fortnight may elapse before the pass is forthcoming, and the applicant may lose his market at the inland town in the interval. The Commissioner of Customs should be empowered to issue the pass—which he would do promptly; and that principle should be made uniform.
It would be desirable to have an undertaking that the bars of rivers leading to Treaty Ports be dredged, and the rivers conserved. Shipping is exposed to costly hindrance at Shanghai, for instance, through neglect of this duty.
R. S. G.
Hon. Sec. China Association.
It is obvious that these reforms entail considerations of less gravity than the broad issues which have been stated, but none the less of considerable import.
It has been rumoured that the Chinese think of asking for a gold tariff, on the plea that they have to pay the interest on their debt in gold and to pay in gold for purchases made in Europe. The proposition would be objectionable on every ground. China is a silver-using country; the tariff is calculated naturally on a silver basis, and is paid in the currency of the country. Neither is China prejudiced by existing arrangements. Her old loans, contracted when silver stood on a higher level in relation to gold, have been paid off. Her present loans have been contracted on the existing level, and if it takes six taels to buy every sovereign required to pay interest, every sovereign borrowed has provided six taels with which to pay the Japanese (silver) indemnity.
The request for increased duties may be accompanied by a demand for revision of existing tariff rates.
Fixed, originally, at 5 per cent. on assumed values in 1858, these rates have come to vary materially from actual prices. Such a demand would, therefore, be difficult to resist. It is suggested that, if the question arise, a fair average valuation might be reached by taking an average of the average values of each article during the last five years. It is suggested that the tariff so fixed should stand for five years, and be subject to quinquennial revision.
It will be observed that the Eastern branches of the Association lay stress on the relief of merchandise from the present irregular taxation, as a condition precedent to any concession of increased import duty. It would facilitate the operation of such a provision, if some form of penalty were devised. The offending Province might be fined, for instance, double the amount of the Transit Duty involved, and machinery be devised to investigate complaints.
If Transit Dues are ear-marked for the Provincial Governments, question may arise as to their apportionment in case of goods passing through two Provinces. That occurrence might not be frequent, as there will only remain, when the West River is opened, six provinces in which there is not a Treaty Port. It might be agreed, perhaps, in such case, that the 23 per
P
155
32
construction of railways. The remarks made by Li Hung-chang during his recent tour show that his preconceptions as to their value have been confirmed, and the exigencies of finance may furnish means of influence for their direction and control.
Rights of ingress should be required for railways from British India into Yunnan and Szechuen, on the same principle that the French have been given right of access from Tongking into Kwangse.
These concessions may sound, and would doubtless be, far-reaching; but they would, it may be observed, be for the advantage of China herself as well as of countries interested in hor trade; and solicited as we are to accord to China an increase in the rate of duty-it is most reasonable that we insist upon changes that will greatly advance commerce and promote the prosperity of a country in which we possess so great an interest. Nothing would more conduce to the stability of her Government, the increase of her revenue, and the welfare of her people, than the improvement of inland communications of all kinds and the relief of inland commerce from taxation upon its movement.
(Signed)
R. S. GUNDRY,
33
cont. should be divided-say (a) 1 per cent. to the first, and 1 per cent. to the terrainal Province; or (b), that the whole shall belong to the Province in which bulk is broken.
The method of issuing transit passes varies in different Provinces. At Shanghai, which is the most important centre, application has been made to the Taotai: a fortnight may elapse before the pass is forthcoming, and the applicant may lose his market at the inland town in the interval. The Commissioner of Customs should be empowered to issue the pass-which he would do promptly; and that principle should be inade uniform.
It would be desirable to have an undertaking that the bars of rivers leading to Treaty Ports be dredged, and the rivers conserved. Shipping is exposed to costly hindrance at Shanghai, for instance, through neglect of this duty.
R. S. G.
Hon. Sec. China Association.
It is obvious that these reforms entail considerations of less gravity than the broad issues which have been stated, but none the less of considerable import.
It has been rumoured that the Chinese think of asking for a gold tariff, on the plea that they have to pay the interest on their debt in gold and to pay in gold for purchases made in Europe. The proposition would be objectionable on every ground. China is a silver-using country; the tariff is calculated naturally on a silver basis, and is paid in the currency of the country. Neither is China prejudiced by existing arrangements. Her old loans, contracted when silver stood on a higher level in relation to gold, have been paid off. Iler present loans have been contracted on the existing level, and if it take six taels to buy every sovereign required to pay interest, every sovereign borrowed has provided six facls with which to pay the Japanese (silver) indemnity.
The request for increased duties may be accompanied by a demand for revision of existing tariff rates.
Fixed, originally, at 5 per cent. on assumed values in 1958, these rates have come to vary materially from actual prices. Such a demand would, therefore, be difficult to resist. It is suggested that, if the question arise, a fair average valuation might be reached by taking an average of the average values of each article during the last five years. It is suggested that the tariff so fixed should stand for five years, and be subject to quinquennial revision.
It will be observed that the Eastern branches of the Association lay stress on the relief of merchandise from the present irregular taxation, as a condition precedent to any concession of increased import duty. It would facilitate the operation of such a provision, if some form of penalty were devised. The offending Province might be fined, for instance, double the amount of the Transit Duty involved, and machinery be devised to investigate complaints.
If Transit Dues are car-marked for the Provincial Governments, question may arise as to their apportionment in case of goods passing through two Provinces. That occurrence might not be frequent, as there will only remain, when the West River is opened, six provinces in which there is not a Treaty Port. It might be agreed, perhaps, in such case, that the 23 per
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