1916-07-18 — Page 3

Page

RANDOM REFLECTIONS. The unofficial noobers of the LegisIn- tive Council were evidently taken very much by surprise last week at the sudden determination of the Government to in- pose a tolmccu tax for ordinary revenue purposes. They seem to have been under

CORRESPONDENCE.

HONGKONG AND ENEMY

TRADE MARKS,

{TO THE EDITOR OF THE "HONGKONG

DULY PRESS."

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, JULY 18TH, 1016.

THE TRADE OF FORMOSA.

GROWTH OF EXPORTS. The year 1915, reports the U.S. Consul Harold C. Huggins, of Taihoku, was the most prosperous the foreign trade of the island of Taiwan (Formosa) bas over. experienced. Thus total trade anunted to $64,205,577, an increase of $8,605,375 in comparison with the preceding year. Pond-

Of this amount importy increased 1597:709, or ss than 1 per cent., and

think that after a bitterly fought gene ral election a purely Tarifi Reform Government, if successful at the polls, could carry on the war better without the help of such men as "Mr. Asquith. Mr. Lloyd George, etc.? These questions are involved in the Hon. Mr. Holyoak's resolution, which was really proposed in the hope that we should be able to force Ste.---In your loading article of Satur-upon the Imperial authorities at home

a question which we in Hongkong sidor to be absolutely vital to trad."

Surely it is evident that the time is inopportune for discussing the question

Yours respectfully,

the impression that if such a tax wore in-day, 15th inst, referring to the Hon. Mr. troduful it would be for the purpose of P. H. Holyoak's motion in the Logislative making a direct contribution to the Im Council for suppressing enemy trade perial War Chiegt, In such circumnurks registered in the Colony, ete,, you Estaners, of course, everybody would say the Govermaent did not venturs to have paid it cheerfully. There would discuss the merits of the proposal, hut have been a sense of satisfaction in feel contented itself with the plea: (1) that ing that we were depriving ourselves of the question was of an international ne of the chief delights of living in character; (2) that the time was inoppor the Far East, as I have heard the one for discussing it; (3) tlust it would portunity of buying cigars choply described by inveterate smakers, in order To supply our share of the "silvery

Jullets" reded by our soldiers, at the front, but there is no such feeling in furnishing funds for erecting monumments to the Public Works Department.

A LIBERAL

ports incressed 38,417.007, or about 20 jer cent. as compared with 1914, The beath of 1915, when compared with that cf 1012, the previous record year, shows, as increase of $1,797,378, or approximates per cent. Imports it 1915 monated it does2,599, 7,408 compared with 31,190,943 in 1912, showing a decrease of $4,392,747, or about 13 per cent. But in 1919 exports were only 31,270,255, while 1016 they reached a total of $37,660,381, an increase of 86,390,125, or äpproximate- ly 20 per cent,

[We imagin that it is not necessary in a jart like Hongkong to urge the nolenic tages of Free Trade, but, thonga Freiple may be accepted, not necessarily follow that there should be no modification of the system. For years past many articles of daily be presumptuons to approach the In-cumption have been taxed in Great Britain without croking a protest from perial Government on the subject; and the Cobdenitis. It is now generally re

claim that only the first of these cugnised that many arguments deserves any consideration. which the war has forced us to establish in self-defence must be protested from May I submit that the second argument unfair competition after hostilities have atom is sufficient for opposing the resolution?

MA

HOW

industries

BET GENCHMENT IN GOVERNMENT RXPENDITURES.

Since 1012 theris has been a general deercaer in imports, due in large part to sed if we are to keep faith with those need of retrenchment in Government who have embarked their money in such expenditures on public works and experi enterprises to the nation's advantage mental enterprises, which in ordinary To disenes the merits of the proposal Wisdom is shown in adapting ourselves tities of imported materials. Most of the circumstances require considerable quan- When a protest was uttered by the

to cireunustanees, and not inadhering is to discuss the merits of Protection rigidly and without question to any Japanese population of Taiwan" dopend unoficial members against the suspension against Free Trade. The whole question given system merely because it is right livelihood, either through Government upon Government activities for their of the Standing Orders to quable, the of Trade restriction, afía: Fiscal Reform, in theory and in the past has proved beneficial in practice. We need to over

contracts, through employment on BI, which was circulated only three elis Tariff Reform, alias Protection, haul our methods in order to ascertain Government works, or through the sale days before, to be rushed through at one WAS very fully discussed in Great whether or so they can be improved of goods used in the public works. These sitting. H.E. the Governor retorted that Britain and Ireland by such men

upon. That, we take it, is the explana people, as a consequence of the abandon- in Fiji it was the custom to table a me- Colden, Bright, O'Connel, Peel and Alli

tion of the Economic Conference of the munt and curtailment of projected Paris, which our delegates have Government enterprises, have lost con- sure containing alterations of this kind Gladstone before the middle of the last attended with an open mind. The Honsiderable portions of their incomes, and without any notice wing given to un

their purchasing power for imported official menthers whatsoever.

It was in century and the policy was abandoned | Mr. H, Holyoak's motion; if passed, articles has correspondingly declined.

would not have tied the hands of the Im troduced and put through at a sitting.seventy years ago. The whole question perial Government, but would have Until, therefore, there is a boom in No doubt this method of procedure has again been very fully discussed brought prominently before the Govern Government works here no marked in- save a lot of trouble to the officials, but during the last ten years discussed at

crease can be expected in imports. ment notice the views of the commercial nevertheless the good people of. Fiji do

community of this Colony of a subject The island's trade with Japan is by not appear to be as happy and contented time and under conditions when the of great local importance. Now is the far the most important item. Imports as they ought to bes Mr. Mahon, British people could give it calm and time for such matters to be discussed, so from Japas ar steadily increasing, and the Australian Commonwealth Minis reasonable consideration. The wealthy found as unprepared for the trade war

that when peace cones we may not the exports are more valuable every ter for External Affairs, has recently received a communication from a private class kept the Tariff Reform League as to were for the outbreak of hostilities.car. There are frequent steamer sail- residen in Fiji stating that a petition wall supplied with funds. The most able our correspondent has such implicit from Yokohama to Keelung, Tammi, and ings from Kobe and Moji, and saibngs is being prepared for submission to the

faith in the soundness of the cause which Takow, it all about fourteen round Imperial Government urging that the lecturers that money could obtain were he espouses, he has no reason to fear, colony should be annexed to Australia or employed to propagate its ideas. Lead but every reason to welcome, investiga trips a month. Competition is active New Zealand. Three hundred signatures:

between two wore obtained in four days. This per-

steamship lines, hence freights are not very high. Insurance lamps, is a case of exitse and effect,

on shipments to Taiwan is high, owing to the danger of typhoons. Well-equip ped, passenger liners, with large cargo S,-1, in common probably with mospace, ar maintained by the Nippon other Britons, residing in South China, have read with great interest Messrs Holyoak's and Pollock's speeches in the Legislative Council the taxation of Tobacco and the expunging of enemy Trade Marks in Hongkong,

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "HONGKONG

· DAILY, PRESS,””]

tion. Er] ing newspapers in London and the pro vinces gave powerful advocacy to its Personally I would suggest turning to polley, which was supported by searly Great Britain for precedents. As every all the leaders and by the entire organi body knows, fle, raising of revenue is a nation of the conservative party. right of long-standing jealously guarded

But by the elected representatives of the the people is a whole were steady in people, who recently clipped the claws their support of Free Trade. Tariff of the Upper House for attempting to encroach upon it. The Government of Reform was rejected again and again. the day manages somehow to allow de Many of us who worked hard for a poor quate opportunity for the discussion of living could see in the proposal only a its Budget proposals by the House f Codimojis without prejudicing

thinly disguised scheme to roh the poor the national revenue. When var or two for the benefit of the rich. Not only back the Chancellor of the Exchequer Me. Asquith, M. Lloyd George, Mr provided a sum for contingencies" the House of Commons lately stealined to vote money for the employment of which no precise details were furnished. That is the kind of procedure to which most of us have been accustomed and which we should prefer to sen copied in this Colony. The moral can be applied locally if for the House of Lords reads the official members of the Legis lative Council, and if for the Chancellor of the Exchequer on substitutes the "Attorney-General. .

|

TRADE WITH JAPAN THE PRINCIPAL FACTOR,,

Yas Kaisha and the Osaka Shosen Kaisu, but lines subsidised by the Government of Taiwan.

are not

In consequence of the frequent service tween Taiwan and Japan imports, to Taiwan from foreign countries are now I should like to know, sir, if themade, in large part, through Japanese Oficial Members of the Legislative ports It is even cheaper to tranship Connell are free we and patriotic goods from Europe and from New York Brilons as presumably they are and as cut Suez la Japanese ports than in such must to a great extent agree with Hongkong. As a result, shipments from why they should in all cases such as these slipped at Japanese: ports the sentiments of the Unoticial Members and to foreign countries that are tran McKenna, Mr. Ranciman, and the other blindly follow the lead of the Governor, erdeited in the customs returns to for Laboral members of the Government, but This appears to me, and no doubt to the cign countries. The imported goods great majority of others in this part of pay duty also in Japanese ports, and all the Liberal and Labour members of the world, to reduce the proceedings of the customus revenues of Taiwan ports Parliament, owe their positions to their the Legislative Council to a mere farce, suffer a considerable loss thereby. The professed adherence to the theory of

because the wishes of the public, as seen Government of Taiwan has in these cases, can be over-ruled by one ly made an

recent- Free Trade and their pledges to oppost or two in high places.

arrangement with the Protection in every shape, and form.ment was formed for the benefit of the cures the privilege of retaining the re- I always understood that the Goven Imperial Japanese Government that We of the rank and file of the Liberal publie and for the well being of the venues from customs entries in exchange

community.

for the receipts from the sugar consump- party expect our representatives to hold.

It seems to me most unfair that this tion tax, The customs revenues, how- to their principles and pledges as some thing more than mere scraps of paper." mo

tax on tobacco will, as in' the case of ever, do not amount more than taxes on wines and spirits, fall $1,000,000 a year, while the sugar con- To us it is unthinkable that the Liberal the community. If additional revenue GERMAN, BRITISH, AND AUSTRALIAN TRADE. most heavily on the European section of sumption tax is about $2,500,000 a year, members of the Government could for a tobacco tex, put a small duty on amuse- foreign trade of Japan, particularly the must be raised way not, instead of this The foreign trade of Taiwan, like the moment consent to any permanent policyments, which, I think, would bring in a export trade, is carried on principally that would violate the principle of Fre much larger revenue and be more easily with Asiatic countries. The trade with Trade. There may be wobblers or traithe duty on tobacco and would fall more exports of camphor and tea, and im- collected, and less costly to collect, than Europe, is very limited, and consists of tore in the Liberal ranks in the House evenly on all sections of the community? ports of machinery, woollen and cotton of Commons (as there are wobblers and I am, sir, Yours faithfully, traitors nearly everywhere), but there can

goods, some paper manufactures, sheet "PRO BONO PUBLICO." not be many. The great mass of Liberai

glass, and foodstuffs. The Official Members of the Council and Labour members are Free-traders are not free to vote as they like that from conviction and no Government was made clear many years ago. ED.] could in the present Farliament carry any permanent policy violating the principle of Free Trade. Any attempt to do so at the present time would not only split the Government

and the House of Commons but would also divide

latora.

TAXATION,

A cornspondent has written express ing the opinion that the men who judged the ladies' musical chair event at the Gymkhana meeting, on Saturday, were far too scared, or too sentimentally in- elined, to give prompt and correct deei sions, and suggesting that in future the judges should be selected from those who are noted for their adamantine attitude towards the fair sex. The arst round was obviously badly muddled, and one of the competitors, who should have been made to retire, simply frightened the

Despite the war and the isolation of judges into giving her another chance by

Germany from the trade routes of the exclaiming, in tones of withering scorn

world, the statistics of trade of Taiwan which could not fail to have effect, What are we supposed to be doing?"

in 1915 show that imports from Germany Everyone smiled, the judges could not

have not, as yet, entirely ceased. Im- answer, and in the fluster which ensued

ports in 1915 amounted to $52,692. There another of the competitors galloped

(TO THE EDITOR OF THE "HONGKONG

were no experts. German merchanta away, and the contest proceeded. It was

DAILY PRERS.]

have been particularly strong in the Tai- an illustration of the complete surrender the country into two hostile campai

wan market for light railway equip of more man.

We Liberals have quite different pro Some staid old maids,

Sin,-Nowadays, it would seeni, taxes

ment, sugar-making machinery, and opposed to all the frivolities of the preposals for the existing its for which as be prepared to face or to listen to what equipment and sugar-making machinery are to pour like showers, and we must Toollen cloth. The supplies of railway sent generation, should make ideal a remedy Tariff Reform is advocated~~ judges in such an event and I give this proposals which, from a purely publice will come from the local legis have now ceased. The domand, too, has bat to the Jockey Club free, gratis, and and national point of view, we think

greatly decreased owing to the finan- for nothing.

are as rational and ethical as Tariff Re private chairs and private vehicles and of the sugar companies, and in this

One thing strikes me.

Why are not ial retrenchment of the Government form is irrational and unethical. But An amusing little incident was wit-we realize that the powerful aristocratic taxed Those who can afford to keep hut d'uate woollen cloth is not particu nessed at the Gymkhana on Saturday and wealthy classes are almost entirely should be called upon to contribute to

these commodities, if not luxuries,larly in demand under any conditions. Three ponies took part in a race, and against us and that they are still able the War Funds, and the poor neod, not showed a decrease in imports of 8281,906 In 1915, the trade with Great Britain the one which seemed likely to provo

to influence the votes of a large section be burdened, an easy winner collapsed suddenly in of the working class. So, even after the the straight for home. A lady who had last General Election, when Tariff Re increase the taxes on the tonnage of intes, lead, and cotton cloth. Exports to and an increase in exports of $144,382, as Great evidently backed the unfortunato animal form was defeated for the third time in coming and outgoing steamers plying in Great Britain are camphor and tea.

By the bye, the Government can easily compared with those of 1914.

Britain experts to Taiwan machinery, for a place was firmly convinced that succession, it was anticipated that, as this harbour, and the shipping com- hor money was safe, and it took the the Conservative party had no other panies can very well afford to pay out $23,253, consisting entirely of Oolong attendant at the paging out booth a very policy, the Tariff Reformers would put or two cents more on the actual tonnage tea; in 1915 exports of the same com- The exports to Australia in 1014 were long time before he could make her ap-up another fight. But soon after the of their steamers, for they are making modity reached $30,284. Imports from preciate the fact that a pony which war broke out it became evident that the larger profits than any other concerns Australia amounted to $12,328 in 1914, ! limps home last without its rider when British people would have quite enough This point was overlooked by the focal there are only three competitors has not to do to fight. Germany without the waste legislators. Let such a tax be imposed but to only 85,504 in 1915. Lead is the secured a “place" within the meaning of energy involved in two nearly equally and then let us cryonough." Yours, matched sections fighting each other. A truce was therefore, called until such Though the bathing season is quite time as we could defeat the common ang there have already been overal enemy. And the Free Trade workingmen fatalities A week or so back two Chinese shouldered their rifles and marched off school-boyay while bathing in a part of the with the sons of the Tariff Roform squires barbour which is not a recognised bath to fight in the trenches together. Now. ing place, got out of their depth and are thoso Tariff Reformers who did pot were drowned Such occurrences are go to the trenches going to break the

$18,As I am compelled shortly to go very sad but it must be admitted that truco Is-it-only a scrap of paper" to the Fiji Islands on business, I should they are often due to carelessness. The Do the Tarif Reformers really desire to he greatly obliged if you or any of the Government have provided two bathing split the Government, break up the pre large circle of your readers, could give beaches, which are adequate for the needs sent Parliament, and force a General me some information about the climate. of the Colony, and where due precautions Election upon the country upon an issuĘ are taken for the safety of bathers. Those that, in the present state of conflicting count of the weather conditions at Fiji Has there been a full and detailed ac who ignore these places and bathe in opinion, would most assuredly divide the published, similar to that recently pub unknown waters do so at their own risk, people into two bitterly hostile sections lished about Hongkong! and should misfortune befall them, no Do the Tariff Reformers think that now, blanis coa be attached to anyone. The when so many workingmen who defended faithfullyst

Thanking you in anticipation.-Yours fate of the two school-boys should serve Free Trade at home are absent, it would as a warning.

be a favourable opportunity for impas-

F. JONES SMITH, RODERICK RANDOM. ing their policy Do Tariff Reformers.

4, Nathan Road, Kowloon,

15th July, 1918.

of the Act

etc...

"PLORANTES."

THE FIJI ISLANDS,

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "HUNGKONG DAILY PRESS,""]

if import from that country, and

war demands caused a deeline in the amount that could be spared for the nocde of Taiwan. The imports from Canada are insignificant.

BINDRANCES TO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, It is not probable that Taiwan vill ever be a manufacturing country of con sequence. There are too many obstacles to be overcome in developing specialised industries. The population

in scanty

hd poor, and its needs for manufac tured goods are few. There is no supply

establishments. 5 large number of manufactpring water power sufficient to provide for

and in all imported; the native popula Capital is expensive, tion, having little money to invest know nothing of investment. Only the most simple of skilled operations can be car- ried on in Taiwan with native labour: but little Japazes, labour is to be had at any price.

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100

TUESDAY, 18TH JULY, 1816.

8 am, HEUNGSMAN. 5 p.m. KINSHAF.

WEDNESDAY, 19TH JULY, 1916.

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FARES AS USUAL

MACAO-CANTON LINE

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