1913-12-23 — Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE,

BRITISH TRADE INTERESTS IN CHINA.

14

[TO THE EDITON OF THE

DALLY PRESS."]"

HONGKONG

DEAR SIR,-The stress of competition in China to-day, by highly organized foreign commercial groups and houses, coupled with the opening up of China by rouds and railways, makes it an impera. tive. necessity that steps should be taken to consider how the trade of Great and

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, CUESDAY, DECEMBER 232D. 1913.

It may be answered that British trade with Japan is more important than it is with China, but the office of Commercial Attaché is not to advise on existing trade 80 much as to give merchants. The opportunity of intelligently preparing for future srade, and to enhance the volume of present business.

11

CANTON NOTES."

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.]

CANTON, December 20th,

THE PAPER CURRENCY,

THE POLICE BALL.

This annual fixture, which becomes deservedly more popular as each year comes round, took place at the City Hall last night, and, although the climatic conditions were far from favourable, the ball must rank among the most successful ever held by the Police. Without heing extravagant.

The decorations of the various POXINS, without being extravagant,

Greater Britain can best meet the altered Possibilities of the land, to see the various labour market is due entirely to the man.besiles, an appreciable outlet for the Harron. The entrance to the Halls way!

state of affairs -

circulation.

To be of any real service to British and Colonial merchants and manufacturers, it is a sine que non that the Attaché should he free to travel all over the country, to examino existing trade, to advise on improvements of that trade, to note the industrial, and engineering mining, provincial and industrial authorities,; and to generally make himself thoroughlyot make one iota of difference in the fall over-abundant quantity of conversant

hot only with the trade So long as our houses were-the-only

centres of China, but with the country ones with large financial and Government generally.

For single officer to do this is an hacking in the East, no necessity existed for any greas effort on the part of the impossibility. Now, with the existing means of travel, aor even were the coun home Government to foster our trade, but cry fully developed and opened up by to-day, when we have to compete against railways, would this be possible, hence it must be admitted that the only solution highly organized, splendidly equipped,ties in creating two or more Attaché-ships, and State-aided grips, who maintain.

to deal with the situation as it exists offices and clepots in every port and pro- vincial centre, who spend large sung annually in entertainment, who keep special banking accounts to enable them to make loans to highly-placed officials on advantageous terms, who maintain at their own expense intelligence depart ments in acquaint the chiefs of the groups with the possibilities of trade, it becomes that national rather than individual efforts should be made to cope with the situation.

necessary

Offcially at the head of British Con- merce in the East stands the Commercial Attaché, and to intelligently understand the position it is necessary to consider whst the duties are attached to this post,

und the mauuer the Goverment con ducts it.

:.

This alone will not bring us in line with our competitors, nor give us equal opportunities; hence it is of the utmost necessity that fully staffed offices be given the Attachés, together with those means that commercial virals find necessary to use to get the very latest news of business possibilities for our houses.

year.

notes

carried out with taste und care, the responsible Committee being composed of Inspector Grant-Sergis, Clark and G. Watt and P.C.'s Cotton, Brown, Singleton, H. Wilson, and J.

inadorned with a plentiful supply of pales

and festoons of greenery were hung from the St. George's Hall, which was, as usual.

floor having been prepared. The supper utilized for the dancing, an excellent tables were laid in St. Andrew's Hall, which was also prettily embellished. The Chamber of Commerce room provided a suug and comfortable retreat for the less ardent spirits, who preferred to enjoy a quiet gaine of cards, and the comfort of enet and every guest was ensured by the assiduous attendance

various of the officials.

It means that zero must turn up for someone in the circuit of every thirty-five destinies, and, if a ball 15 made to f point out my argument, the odd man

is tragically and inequitably, i out

In such a case are always a woman. women not entitled or justiñed in doing

The Civil-Administrator, seeing that, as as they please, either to choose the powder puff or the snuff-box? Our liberty

all Customs duties are collected in big is free and why should we not at this promising age of progress elect the latter, dollars, the circulation of the paper if it is to our betterment, rather than

euarency is greatly affected, has again wait upon the whims and caprices of the mere man. He is to-day tou passionately wired to the Board of Finance, requesting fond of Club-life and other degenerating that the paper currency be made the were factors, and marriage only comes to him standard of all Customs duty-collections, as somewhat of a surprise. It is

as in the case of the Salt Gabelle. This trite that the voluntary admittedly spinster is rare, and the economic upset considers, will help to keep up the of our compulsory competition in the value of the paper currerey, and afford, I will go further and say that it would of the marriage market," whether the brainy woman should eloouther existence in commerce or otherwise, but Yesterday, a notification was jointly be sure it would put men on their mettle issued by the Tutuh and the Civil in the industrial, commercial, and pro-Administrator proclaiming it a crime to fessional world. We want competition. accept the paper currency at less than It is always bealthy and beneficial to the public in general and, if the adoption of 75 per cent. of its face value. A meeting, very large the snuff-box will enhance this, by all which was attended by a means we will by virtuo accept it.. gathering, was held at the Chamber of I shall look out with pleasure for the Commerce to-day to discuss the question, Numerous suggestions were thrashed out. promised article.-Yours Truly, Hongkong, 2nd Decriber.

principally that stops should be taken to obtain the revocation of the order INTERVIEW WITH YUAN prohibiting gambling in the province,.

SHIH KAI.

which, however, was defeated by an over whelming majority. The only conclusion conie to was that, at present, the wer. Reuter's Peking correspondent received chants could do nothing more than to private audience of President Yuan Shih-promise to accups paper money at 70 per kai this morning."

cent. of its face value, and it is understood that a petition has been sent to the authorities to this effect. The leading Chinese bankers, and, in fact, the whole of the community, seam sanguine that following the re-opening of the joy- houses," a considerable appreciation will take place in the value of Kwangtung notes. It may here be added that the brothel monopoly was granted to the Sam Yi Co., and, judging from the number of workmen engaged in re-adorning these houses in the Western Suburb, it would seem that their re-opening will take place at no very distant date.

SUE.

PERING,December 17th.

The Forbidden City was covered with a mantle of snow, while the lake surround

The Fresident received Reuter's corres pondent in one of his private apartments in which numerous visitors were waiting. President Yuan was in excellent health and spirits. In reply to a question. he emphasized that Parliament would be maintained.

He thought the politica, outlook was hopeful and added that he fully recognised the earnest and patriotic intentions of many Chinese political leaders who recently failed to work in prison with the Central Government,

The cust of three fully equipped offices. together with salaries for the three chiefs,

selling their travelling and office assistants. together with offices and expenses, rent and so forth, would not need to exceed ten thousand pounds per: annun-not one-fortieth of one per cent. of the value of British imports alone lasting the island on which Emperor Kuang

He was imprisoned and where Vice The suggestion was well received President Li Yuan-hung is now an England that corumerein! agents should honoured guest, was covered with ice, un he established in the various trade centres which snow also la of the empire to act in conjunction with the Commercial Attachés. It is the only one that appears to the writer to offer a solution of the position under review, as it is manifestly impossible for the Attaches To adequately represent the trade of to book orders og behalf of any firm or Great Britain, and of the Dominions group of firms; and usually no word leaks out of any contract for the supply of beyond the scas, to the value of sixty-goods until that contract is signed, hence three million pounds Import and export unless the Attaché can communicate with an agent who has power, to sign an (1912), and to advise the British manu- facturing and mercantile community of agreement forthwith, that suck and such business is offering at such and such a how it can best extend this trade, the place, the bulk of the business sighted will Government appoint one "gentleman, on

be lost, the very modest salary of one thousand pounds per annum, and give him as a #taff the services of a very ordinary Chinese typist. In order that his time may be very fully occupied, this officer is required to make out all the very fully detailed trade reports that are sued annually, work which, while necessary, is hardly the kind that commercial firms can afford to keep their heads of depart-one territory. ments at, and generally to devote much of his time to rimtine work, that could quite well be done by others.

Private corporations and syndicates,

of Detective-i

Detective Sergt. R. C Watt, of the Treasury Department, discharged the by no means light duties of Hon. Secresa

end enthusiasm and the with ability AC's (Inspector Grant, Sergt. Clark. And P.C. Harron and The bar was in the Reid, MeFall,

look after the dancers effort to

'enjoyment.

H. G. Clarke, and P. and H. Wilson, Sergt. Tetstall and P.C. Coete having control of the card-room. Chief Inspector Gourlay proved an urbane Chairman, Detective Peplow i hard-working Hoo Treasurer, and in- spectors Watt and Grant energetig Stewards.

INTIMATIONS

COVERED ALL OVER WITH RED BLOTCHES

In Awful Condition. Life Was Misery. Could Not Sleep for Scratching. Quite a Mass of Sores, Used Guticura Soap and Ointment. Free from Pimples.

.42 Botham Ed.. Smethwick. Dirming- ham, Eng. Before I started to uso Cuti- cura Roap and Ointment I was in an awful condition. My life was a mis ery. My compaint came with little eby plasples and I could not resist from scratchi- ing, and every Umg I scratched them there was sonicthing like water enmo from them. I could not sleep at night for scratching, and I was that Ir- #tablo I could not hear to be spokon to. It lasted me for over two months. and was quito a mass of sores. I wa# COS- ered all over with red blotches.

"I tried nearly overything but to no uso. I was told to try Cuticura Scap and Oint ment and I am very pleased 7 tlki. „Esurat for sume Cuticura Soap and Ointment and I found relief in the Brst dressing. In toss than four dressings of Cuticura. Hoap and Dint- ment I was quito fere from the pimples." (Sirmed). E. Cooke, Aug. 27, 1912.

Cuticura Soop and Ontrient haveafforded thospoedlest and most bennomical treatment for skin and scalp humours of young and old for more than a generation. Sold everywhere. Eample of cach with 32-p, book free from rearest doput: F. Newbery & Sons, 27, Char- terhouse 3. London: R. Towns & Co., Byd- her, N. 3. W.:-Leuna, Ed., Cape Town: Muller, Maclean & Co., Calentia and Bom- bay: Potter D. & C. Corp., Boston, U. B. A.

Tender-faced men shouki shave with Outicura Soap Shaving Stick. Sample free.

(96-14

herced soon after nine o' cluck. The pro- MAPPIN&WEBB,

LIMITED.

The music was supplied by the band of the 2nd Batt. D.C.L.L, and dancing com- gramme comprised 20 items, including three waltzes, two Lancers, two quadrilled, two Caledonians, two reletas. military two-step, Barn dance, D'Alberts, eight stane reel, G. M. and Lancers, La Rinka, Circassian circle, and Boston wo-step. It is estimated that there were nearly 300 dancers, number considerably in excess of that of the preceding years.

Anfong those who attended were the Hon. Captain-Superintendant of Police Bearing in mind the numerous reported Mrs. Messer, the Deputy Superin- STERLING that Governor-General Lang will proceed tendent (Mr. T. H. King), the Assistant to the Capital to participate in the Con-Superintendent (Mr. G, B, Sayer), and ference convened by the President, it is Capt. Woodhouse.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL LUNG.

They apparently thought that the establishment of the Republic represented the panacea for all China's troubles with These agents, could well represent, say out taking into consideration the difficul twenty or more manufacturers manu ties attending the change of the Govern facturing similar though not identical

ment from that of a Monarchy to that of goods, and each agent should be a man

a Republic.

Some of the most ardent Republican interesting to note the report that Tutuh who know one particular territory well, ite potentialities, and requirements leaders reminded him of a nurse attempt-Lang has decided to postpone his visit to throughly, and such nun could be founding to feed a baby with food suitable for the Metropolis, as Kwangtung, having in China, whose services would of an adult. They desired to give the baby

More valuable to Home a full diet. The result would have been just recovered from the effects of the late necessity be

anufacturers than those of any mere indigestion and its attendant ills. The revolt, is much in need of his services." commercial traveller not acquainted with proper treatment for the infant Chinese the peculiar conditions prevailing in any Republic was to give it food suitable for He will probably he represented by either an infant and to nurse it carefully until Tutuk Lak of Kwangai or his brother, the baby found its lexs.

Vice-Commissioner Lung at the Con ference.

the

SERVICE OF ENTHUSIASTS. hoped and intended to make use of the President Yuan said, however, that he services of those admirable enthusiasts in should be prepared to follow the Central Government policy, which was to ad

position so as to support the next structure.

MORE REBELS.

During the last few days, five rebels

arrests effected, involving

TOSA MARU" ON FIRE AT

SHANGHAI,

FLANES. CHECKED,

Shortly after ten o'clock last Tuesday received a message from the manager of morning, the Municipal Fire Brigade the N.V.K. to the effect that the NY.K. str. For, 3,810 tons, Captain T. Sato, which arrived in Shanghai from Calcutte vil Hongkong on the 14th inst., was on fire alongside the Wayside wharf, and asking for the assistance of the

who are concerned in single enterprises may be made possible by arranging the the development of the Republic but they have been summarily shot and several Brigade in extinguishing the flames. The in China, not infrequently pay their securities on valuable provincial asset,vance step by step, strengthening each suspected persons alleged to have had the motor engine and other gear from

Peking representatives upwards of three thousand pounds per year, besides main taining compradores closely in touch with current events, and very fully equipped and staffed offices, and if this is necessary --and commercial houses would hardly go to the expense of so doing unless it was necessary for comparatively small con- corus, how much more necessary is it that a commercial nation as we are should be adequately represented?

Again, a resident Commercial Attaché in Peking cannot hope to be as efficient as one that travelled the country, and io place one man, however good a worker he may be, in a city that is not, and probably never will be, a commercial centre, where at best. he can only obtain his knowledge of trade and trade condi-

Much of the success of our rivale lies in the fact that in dealing with provinci authorities their cnployees not only suggest good industrial schemes to officials, but show them how sich schemes finance sides of the question, by obtaining and lastly, by keeping their own offices in comparatively remote centres, where there is little or no competition, instead of only having offices at the large ports where competition is rife. In this manner the local representatives know the potential business of the particular place they ate in better that the must enterprising traveller can possibly hope to do, and so get the business.

It is not because our goods are not good ano, or that they do not fill the needs of China, that we are dropping behin, but because we have not now, and we have never had in the past, the high organization recessary to compete with our rivals, and until the Government will take steps to remedy the defect at the bead of affairs, individual efforts can do little.-Yours faithfully.

ARTHUR J MOORE BENNETT. Yunnaniu,

December 11th, 1913.

PS. This latter is not a criticism of tions at second hand, cannot be to the best the holder, of the office, but of the office, interest of our business,

British manufacturers are not interested 50 much in hearing or reading the reports of past years" business as they are in the present and future possibilities of trade, and no official can possibly give this information unless he lives in the midst of the trading curres of the Empire, and unless he has means at his disposal for

THE

STATUS OF WOMEN.

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "THOSOKONG

DAILY PRESS"]

SR do not wish to enter into a lengthy controversy with Mr. Roderick Random, but after reading his notes in your to-day's issue, you will allow me to

some

20 Chief Officer made a prompt responso and. Nos. 2 and 4 companies were quickly the wharf, while the despatched to Municipal fire float lost no time in pro-

some connection with the recent plots to raise another rebellien..

Auch had already been accomplished but much had still to be done. President

CENSORSHIP OF THE PRESS. Yuan likened himself to a carpenter

The following communication has been working under an architect. Parliament was the architect. Sometimes the car-

enter was able to suggest, cay methods sent to the various newspapers by the of dealing with practical details, thereby Chief of Police: preventing contusion and saving time and DEAR SIR-I am in receipt of the follow. labor. The main points, however, always

In future, intelligence relating either to had to be carried out according to speci-ing order from the Administration Office: fications.

military affairs or to matters involving the friendship of Chien and the Foreign Powers, that has not first been published in the Government Gazette, shall be kept strictly secret and not reproduced by the Press, and I have to request you to take dúe note thereof.

INCREASE OF CUSTOMS. Asked for his views regarding the pro- posed increase in the Customs duties, the President said he thought the moment He for such an increase had arrived.. pointed out that when the Revolution broke out many Southern leaders, with a view to gaining popular support, abolished likin and land taxes in various centres.

These taxes had not again been in. posed,. As an increase of Customs duties. according to international engagements. would mean the abolition of likin, it would be much better to adopt an increase now than after the Central Government had found it necessary to restore the abolished likin stations in order to secure funds for present needs.

The restoration of the stations would be costly and so, also, would their re abolition. First, however, it was neces sary to make the present theoretical five per cent, duty effective as a basis for an

with without delay.

(Signed) TANG Yu Kwone.

ON FOOT ACROSS AFRICA.

A WONDERFUL JOURNEY BY A LADY.

NEW CONSIGNMENTS

SILVER WARE,

PRINCE'S

PLATE

(GUARANTEED FOR 20 YEARS)

CUTLERY.

From the

SOLE AGENTS:

ceeding to the burning vessel. On arrival CHS. J. GAUPP

the firemen proceeded on board the vessel and found that a fire was in progress in of rape seed cake and other general cargo. the No. 3 hold containing about 5,000 tons bat owing to the dense smoke it was impossible for the firemen to descend into the hold, so jets from the fire float were played for about half an hour and efforts were then made to smother the fire by battening down the batches of the hold and further by steaming it out by means of steam pipes, The Brigade float remained standing by the ship all the

the as did also

Chief afternoon. Officer of the Brigade along. the coolie corps. The damage done, the Shanghai Mercury aaye, will be consider- able, as far as can be estimated at present. and must of the cargo in the hold will have to be discharged so that the full extent of the damage to the cargo and

with

& CO.,

ALEXANDRA

BUILDINGS.

CHATER ROAD

CAK,

N

the ship's frames can be ascertained. It MACGREGOR&Co.

was

was later. learned that smoke was first seen issuing from the hold about mid- Miss Gertrude M. Eenbam, in a letter night on Monday and the alarm. dated from 6.s. Garen, Mozambique Channel, gives a short account of a remarkable journey made by her across Africa.

She left England in October, 1919, for Forcados, and proceeded up the Niger to

and an investigation showed that fire was The Riven and the crew called to fire stations mouldering among the seed cakes. ressel's fire appliances were pressed into service and streams of water were poured into the hold, which was soon partly flooded, but apparently without effect, 25 at daylight the fire was still smouldering.

the instant dissemination of the informa say something more on his query, which increase, which should then be proceeded. Barb and by train to Kano. From there, and when the vessel was visited between i

he seems to put much clearer and which makes interesting reading.

1 af happily a bachelor giri

and

ย

have never suffered such stings as tantrimonial, martyr or becoming one of the new era" ladies, or anything else. but my purpose is that happy medium of uplifting the status of women and to denounce the assumption of the mental superiority of men over women.

tion at his dispusal-which necessitates a fully-equipped office and subordinates fully alive to the responsibilities of their position. It stands to reason that in a country like China, where the means of communication internally are worse than they are in any similar sized area in the world (of commercial importance), and where language and customs are not similar throughout, and where conditions of trade vary enormously, that no one

I am glad to read that Mr. Randorn is man could ever hope to keep in touch with a brave champion of his sex to so boldly the varying trade concitions, let alone refute the charges I made in general, but did not meant individualise or to accuse report on the potential possibilities of him directly as one of those

horrid fresh business throughout China to the beings, but if he will only cast a second thought on my letter, he will admit that If the Government find it necessary to what I had written is perfectly true. He has not far to go to see the depravity of

is sex in morals, commerce profession.

Home manufacturers.

maintain a Commercial Attaché in. Japan with its 235,000 square miles of territory, and one-tenth of the population of China,: where means of travel and communication are far superior to these, how much more necessary is it for China, where the natural potentialities of trade are, a hundredfold greater than they can possibly be in Japan?

The Chinese Government had made representations to the Powers on the subject. the mutter would soon be discussed, for of

on foot, she travelled in the beginning seven and eight o'clock by the River

.

(ESTABLISHED 1864).

THE

SEASON.

CALDBECK'S COCKTAILS.

V.O.S. WHISKY.

of December to Bauchi, Yola, and across Police Patrol no particular mention of LUXURIES - FOR the frontier into Cameroon to Garua, fire was made and no assistance was asked and ou for, and as, no sign of the fire could be Ngaundere, Carnot

seen from the outside, and it appeared to! gange, makua, Camera, nivou course the sanction of the Powers was where she had to take a boat to Ibu be under control the River Patrol left, on the Congo, as there were no roads As the fire still continued to burn a call necessary.

FINANCIAL ULILOOK HOPEFUL

there, the

country being mostly forest was sent to the Municipal Brigade as CHRISTMAS

While waiting for the stated. The land gear of the Brigade From the financial point of view and swamp. president Yuan considered the outlook steamer at Irebu she visited Lake Taube returned to quarters before the noon hour decidedly hopeful. The Custonis revenue travelled from Ireba to Stanleyville, and leaving the Ere float standing by, and

Customs fire float was now adequate to meet the needs of all thence on foot, went vid Bafwaboli, about 1 p,ni, a call was sent to the Proceeding by Mbarara Haining, and she was at once manned loans and indemnities secured on it while Avakubi, and Irumu, across the Semliki. Customs for the the salt revenue was coming in in a highly into Uganda. satisfactory manner. It was true that into German East Afrien she went to and proceeded to the vessel with a large financial stagnation had followed the Kigari and on to Lake Kivu: she visited supply of salvage hose on board and the Revolution and that the recent rebellion some of the volcanos, including the new work of pumping out the hold coin. ber. She canie down the lake in a native had further accentuated China's difficul- crater formed by the eruption last Decem- menerd, though the fire was still in ties in that respect, but China was by no

canoe, and then went on foot to Lake

THE NEW WAY. means a poor country,

Illustrating his point, as usual, Pre- Tangan-yiks. She continued her journey and then travelled on foot the Abercorn

Daring indeed would be the policeman- sident Yuan compared China in her by steamer down the lake to Bismarkburg.

14 a new way " present condition with a strong man suffering from defective circulation, and Kayambe and Fife to Karenge, on who attempted to open up which it was quite possible to remedy. Lake Nyasa. Taking the steamer to Fort

Robert's bald, Magisterial Courts. When proper financial circulation was Johnston she again travelled on foot to in the art of giving evidence in the restored, with the added advantages of a Zomba, Blantyre. Mt. Manje, visiting According to the census in the United Republican Government, freer intercourse the plateaux there and at Zomba-and to clipped method of telling his story is apt Kingdom (1811) there were over a million with foreigners, the adoption of many Mlanie Road, where her camp life ended to become wearisome, and it was quite

than males females

and I beneficial foreign methods and the general and she took train and river boat beat to refreshing to hear a constable at the Magistracy yesterday, in giving evidence spreading Chinde. was

against a thief who was afterwards should like Mr. Random to tackle this enlightenment which

Miss Benham travelled with only a What must they do! throughout the country, the President problem alone. Even if marriage is the natural comple-felt convinced that China, would justify cook-boy and seven porters, and was sentenced to a month in Victoria Gaol, ment of all happy and healthy human the hopes of her many friends who had absolutely unarmed, and she writes that, declare that "As soon as the bloke spotted life, there is one uncomplete and unful- not lost faith in the country's future except for a few worries with porters, she me he sang out and ran." He might have filled existence among thirty-five people. during the dark days of trouble and had no annoyance of any sort and improved on the latter and said that "e

strife.

remained quite free from fever.

inore

<<

от In

progress,

'ooked it."

Dow's HUNTING PORT.

BENEDICTINE (D.O.M.)

AQUARIUS SODA.

CLUB

CIGARETTES.

25