1918-06-12 — Page 2

Page

Our TERMS make it easy to get

VICTROLA

Prices $44 to $363.

20% Discount for cash with order.

"THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12TH, 1918.

MOUTRIE'S

EXCLUSIVE AGENTS.

[28-3

ENGLISH MADE SHOES

A comfortable and good looking Shoe, made on a fairly wide last of good materials, and made as well as it is possible to make a shoe.

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TWO STYLES $12.50 and $14.00 per pair.

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Men's

& CO., LTD.,

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LA

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PLOS

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ESTABLISHED 1888.

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the finest Sumatra leat

in Boxes of 25-$3.50

MONARCAS

One of the most popular Cigars of the La Minerva family.

It is covered with the finest Sumatra leaf.

in Boxes of 95 $2,50

LANE, CRAWFORD &

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OPERATING THE NEW FIRST-CLASS STEAMERS ECUADOR, VENEZUELA” AND “COLOMBIA," 14,000 tons each.

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For further fuformation rates, literature, schedules, etc., apply to Telephone 141, COMPANTS OFFICE in Alexander Building Chaber Road.

STRAITS SHIPPING. GOVERNMENT'S REQUISITONING

PROPOSALS.

OF COMMERCE.

cun-

·HONGKONG MAGISTRACY.

ALLEGED KIDNAPPING,

Two Chinese women were charged with kidnapping a little girl from the cus- tody of her parents at Canton,

It was stated that the kidnapping took place between May 15th and 2nd, and during that time negotiations were pro-, creding for the sale of the child.

Mr. J. R. Wood remanded the case till.

OPIUM CASES,

It is possible that if the cate could take over any shipping they reproved, the two women will be committed quired under charter and they could put for trial at the June Criminal Sessions. it on any run they thought necessary for food requirements of the port. It was the requirements of the trade and the admitted in the letter from the Ministry of Shipping that the requisitioning of vessels in the China coastal trades had Chief in China, at Singapore and bis officer, the Commodore at Hongkong. been effected through the Commander-in-

unlawful possession of 40 taels of pre- A Chinese was charged with being in

pared opium other than Government opium.

Ader official control the cargoes to be this scheme. He reckoned there were rried, the sources from which they were 10,000 tons of tonnage lying idle here tained and the destinations to which through the netion of the Government. ey were sent. The shipowners, and the It was absolutely certain that, if the PROTEST BY SINGAPORE CHAMBER fades, as well as the consumers, were scheme inroduced was carried through all need in the hands of oficials who were tonnage would be stopped in the Straits A special general meeting of the

hable to devise any solution of the real Settlements, The second reason given Singapore Chamber of Commerce and Ex-roblem, namely, that of the equitable was that it WIN considered that change was held on May 26th afternoon istribution of the imports amongst the quite adequate Government for the purpose of considering resolutions control over cargoes and carrying

onsumers. The peril of concentration trol of local shippingcould be dealing with Government requisition of lower in the hands of the officials, is the exercised without general requisition. local shipping. The Hon, Mr. C. Was of driving power. Then the report The system which had bitherto been Friday. Darbishire (Chairman), presided over a hips in a particular trade can make 8

ontinues "If under pesor conditions 100 uintained here was that the Admiralty fall attendance of members.

found voyages in the year and if that umber be reduced to six, owing to the The Chairman said the matter appear stem of protection adopted, there will ed to have originated in a telegram from the Colonial Office to the Colonial loss of 200 cargoes, even if every ship Secretary at Singapore, dated Octobers (for the time being) will be as dis protected on every voyage, and that 12th last year, and that, telegram was constrous as the loss of 25 ships. But the firmed by a letter from Downing Street ships are the State's and to the Admiralty dated October 19th, which covered a letter he does not appear of any moment. from the Ministry of Shipping, dated Again Shipping in the binds the September 28th, and to which he would tate is the servant of the Departments, have to refer more than once. The Commissioners and Committees, and the would remember that when Mr. W master of note, and waste which has not

Revenue Inspector Wilden said, the Cook addressed them at the annual meet to be paid for directly in cash is ignored

The third point was the appropriation opium was found concealed round defend. remarks with reference to the requist troller and the officials of the Ministry trade hote which happened to be making ing of the Chamber he made his pacting by them one and all. The Shipping Con- of profits. It seemed to him to be a veryant's waist.

inequitable thing that one particular tioning of local shipping, and he (the of Shipping and the advisory committees tonous profits should have those profits 82,000, with the alternative of four Mr. E. D. C. Wolfe fined, defendant speaker) confessed that at that time he they have called in to their assistance taken away when he understood there months' hard labour. had heard very little about the matter have to administer a policy which is which seemed to him to have been con fundamentally bad.” ducted in rather a hole and corner sort

were many other trades doing probably. of way. They all knew that Colonel intervention has led to waste of time, and the war. It seemed to be unfair that unlawful possession of 102 tacle of non- During the last 12 months State better, at any rate just as well, owing to A Korean was charged with being in Thomson, who represented the Ministry therefore to loss of carrying power and engineering firms and merchants locally of Shipping in India had been around of imports. The driving power of in- registered here and which did not come Government opium. and up to Hongkong, and, in the course dividual catcrprise, which served the under the Excess Tax at home should bef of a conversation he had had with him, nation so wall, must be restored and allowed to go scot free and one industry Colonel Thomson suggested that shipping maintained. Definite figures are not get picked out and taxed in that arbitrary here might have to De requisitioned. It available, but the probabilities are that was a friendly conversation and be (the the Exchequer is getting substantially taxation being imposed without any re apeaker) told him that it would be less from the receipt of the whole of the farette to be authority of the Legisla On the fourth point, regarding direct very unsuitable thing to do. Nothing earnings of the abipowners' business tive Council, apparently for the benefit more was heard about it until Mr. Cod under state control, than it would have the Home Government, he said he mentioned it in his speech. The Con- received from the shipowners in incom mittee had gone into the matter and this tax and excess proâts duty if those busi would not go as far as to say Government meeting was called as result of ther investigations. They would naturally nesses had remained under their own was acting beyond its powers in the re- quisitioning he did not know under control." ask, had nothing been, done by the ship- owners themselves as they were primarily

what powers it was acting and he had interested in the matter? They had pip He thought those were points they but certainly, under their Letters Patent, not seen any statement or notification, tested. A protest was written to the might consider from the point of view the powers of raising revenue in the Colonial Secretary pointing out the dis-of home requisitioning. While on the Colony were delegated to the Legislative advantages which would accrue to the subject he would like to make a point Council. He had no doubt they were trade here if requisitioning was carried of the fact that he understood that the overruled. He could not find anything out and they received more than a bare shipping compantes here he did not in the Letters Patent of the Colony which acknowledgment of the protest no at know it all but he believed the majority authorised Government to seize the profits tempt to reply to the arguments in any had not raised their rates without con-of any firm or industry here. shape or form. He would refer to the ulting the Government, and in many letter from the Ministry of Shipping cases ships had not been taken off one which gave the reasons for the action of the local Government. Apparently there were soveral reasons for the requisition ing looked at from the home point of view. The first was the possible necessity of transferring local ships homewards for war purposes. He did not think they need consider that very much because he would imagine there were very few ships herd at all suitable for that purpose. A point was made about the intimate connection between the China coastal trade--be pre- sumed this trade, to add inside with the coastal trade of India, but he did not think that was a very strong point.

NO PROFITEBRING,

FAVOURING NEUTRALS. Another point which was not referred to in the resolution, but which he thought was a very important one was that while British shipping was being put under these burdens the shipping of our neutral friends was allowed to come here without any bindrance at all. He thought that they in Singapore were almost all free traders in toat, they believed in keeping the port open to all rationalities, barring enemy, but now neutrals were to he

Inspector Wilden stated that the opium was concealed in tins labelled "ginseng." These bins contained false-bottoms.

曾

87,090, with the alternative of six months* hard labour. -

Mr. E. D. C. Wolfo, fined defendant

THE BENEFIT OF A GOOD CHARACTER.

نم

A Chinese was charged with matching pures from another Chinese,

Inspector Browne stated that while complainant was walking along Holly wood Road, defendant came up from behind and, jostling him, snatched the parse. Complainant immediately arrested defendant and gavo him into the charge of a tulong.

Defendant said that when passing along Hollywood Road he received a blow on his back. This was followed by a general assault by complainant, who accused him of stealing big parse. De-" fendant had no purse in his possession; it was found on the ground.

that he had worked for him for a month Defendant called his employer to say and was a good man.

Mr. J. R. Wood discharged defendant.

RIVAL RICSHA COOLIES FEUD.

Two Chinese were charged with creat ing a disturbance in Kowloon.

an "and put on another without "con- bultation with the Government. That disposed of the plea that there had been profiteering, but if there had been it had been with the approval of Government. Even assuming that the requisitioning of ships at home was a success did it follow that it was necessary or would be successful bere! It seemed to him that the conditions here were very different trom what they were at home. In fact they were very different varen wed to come mad while British with India, where the condition, were by interests in the port were to be taxed no means the same If they looked at and handicapped very considerably in Singapors and noticed its position on their endeavours to build up reserves. the map they would see it was a centre Neutral shipowners could come here, get: A QUESTION OF LOOT.

from which radiated innumerable lines goed freights, buy ships at the present Another point in the letter was that in all directions, whereas in India the rates, write them off in a few years time, the tonnage requires to be constantly shipping and the railway through the and have them standing at a reasonable and carefully watched by an impartial country with the coasting steamers was ugure when the war ended. It was all Inspector Gordon stated that animosity authority in the interests of the different on an entirely different footing. Also very well to say they would get the trade between the coolice started over the intro. sections of the Indian and Far Eastern a great deal of war work necessitated the back after the war, but he thought that duction of a new ricsha-puller in the trades, so that tonnage at any time may control of ships going from India to the the general experience of most people stand at Nathan Road, Kowloon. The be removed from one service to another Persian Gulf. He did not think Colonel was when thy had once lost trate at was coolien were divided into two factions, and may at the time be relatively more tiomson would have time to manage hard to get it back again. British site and resentment prevailed when either important from the point of view of Im-affairs here and would have to delegate ping locally would and itself in a very faction introduced a new adherent The perial interests." He did not know who someone in Singapore, and that someone uniserable position at the end of the war. two parties. also kept a certain rigid was going to watch this, but apparently presumably would be someone attached to Colonel Thomson in India would do so

It would be without any resources or order as regards answering faren. On the Admiralty, and that, if not, the as reserves. (icar, hour.) tie thought the Monday, it appeared, one of the defend- The fourth point was that the Shipping sistance of a business man would have Government was in rather an awkward ants, who, according to the factions Controller required to be informed by to be sought and, he doubted if he could position when the letter (from the Min's arrangements, should have given preced- competent local authority as to any way spare the time. The Ministry of Ship- try of Shipping) was sent out by thence to those immediately in front of in which the loading, discharging and further said that under a scheme Colonial lace for the approval of the him, rushed out of the stand as soon as local management of any British liner such as had been outlined above the Government of the Colony. It seemed to he sighted a fate. This roused angry tonnage may be capable of improvement.? owners could not urge any financial con- him a most extraordinary thing that the By that he presumed he meant Lieut.siderations against the transfer of any Government of the Colony should have Oldman or that someone from Fort Can of their vessels from trade and the way apparently acquiesced and given its ap ning was going to instruct their Chinese would be left open to Colonel Thompson proval to a scheme such as this without friends who managed the various ships to make such adjustments of the carrying nonaulting a single merchant in Singa here as to how they could improve the connage in the various trades concerned pore. They were in the same position as Inading and discharging of steamers, as would secure the most economical use they were in the days of the East India Another point and he thought this was of the ships available. Even at home, Company, when a merchant was forced the real reason for the whole thing, was they had no doubt read in the papers of to go direct to the Secretary of State in that it would obviate any grievance the unfortunato mistakes which had been order to get justice done to his conside.to. which might otherwise arise owing to the made by Government officials regarding rations and now they seemed to be very fact that certain Liner Companies in the shipping, United Kingdom are now fully controlled

much in the sanie position. He trusted hard labour. Having instanced several cases he pro- they would pass the resolutions unani- both financially and administratively ceeded to say that the real reason for remously. (Applause) He had much while certain other companies domiciled quisitioning ships as far as he could make pleasure in proposing the first, in India and the Far East enjoy freedom out, and, he thought it was admitted by from such control." He though there was the Government, was that they saw notioning had gone, and when it came into Mr. Tomlin asked how far the requisi very little doubt about it that loot was reason why they should not have the force, heater really at the bottom of the question. In profits of the shipowners. That being order to consider this he thought it so they came to the resolutions. The first might be wise just to ask themselves, first, was as follows. That in the opinion whether the scheme of rationing at home of this Chamber Government requisition was the success which it was claimed to of local shipping is opposed to the best be. The origin of that requisitioning interests of the trade of the Colony, on was, to a great extent, due to Press the following grounds;— Power and agitation against profiteering. It will discourage British

feeling and high words were exchanged, followed by blows, in which several mem bers of the two clans took part. As a result half-a-dozen men were removed to the Government Civil Hospital with rather serious injuries.

M. J. R. Wood said fighting seemed to be getting quite common amongst ricsha coolies. This must be put a stop He fined the defendant $10 each, with the alternative of fourteen days

HONGKONG DEFENCE, CORPS. ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS BY MAJOR H. A

The Chairman replied that as far as he understood it started in October of last year, and had gone to the extent that A shipowners and been told that their ships were going to be taken over, but it had taken the Government so many months to find out what they were going to pay quisitioned,

and high freight-whether or not pro-enterprise locally.ing them. No ships had been actually e

9. It is considered that quite adequate Mr. Hennings said that local ship- Government control of local shipowners had been informed that requist ping can be exercised without tioning came into force on May 1st. general requisition.

Mr. Grifith Jones asked whether local shipowners were satisfied with the present terms and whether they were fair and equitable.

3. The appropriation of the profits of Shipping Companies acts harshly against one industry leaving other industries unaffected.

4. It involves direct taxation without any reference to or authority of the Legislative Council, apparent ly for the benefit of the Home Gov

ernment.

IDLE TONNAGE IN SINGAPORE.

fiteering had been reduced by requisition. ing tonnage was a moot point. He would read them a few extracts from a repert of the Liverpool Steamship Owners' Association which he thought would shew that there were two sides to the question of requisitioning at home. It pointed out that, In developing the output of munitions the State lad relied in the main, on private enterprise, and to that end every encouragement has been given to manufacturers to us the war earnings to extend their works, and every manu- facturer has been allowed to derive profit from his exertions; but the shipowners He said that they probably knew more were asked to carry on their businesses about local shipping than he did. He upon being paid the actual out-of-pocket cost incurred in maintaining their offers certainly had had many instances brought and organisations. In dealing with ag to his notice where an owner had bought calture, the Government, to encourage the hulk of a ship as wall as the engines, increased production, guaranteed prices

but had had to stop work as he did not over a term of years; but the shipowners wish to spend money if the ship was were called upon to abandon trades which going to be taken over by Government. had been established, at heavy cast, by Another ship, belonging to the same years of work, and they were prohibited owner, was lying idle at Tanjong Pagar from building to maintain their fleets in for the same reason. There were, he such a condition as would give them believed, wooden ships here which were chance of re-establishing their position in these trades when peace is restored. Although the policy of general requist tion was imposed solely for the purpose of seizing the earnings of the shipowners business, the machinery, adopted placed

i

being built and from which it was in- possible to make a profit unless they reaped the beneft of current freights. He had heard of boats in Bangkok which topped coming here to repair because they would be seized and taken under

The Chairman said he had heard no protest against it.

Mr. Griffiths Jones asked whether the law had been broken in the least..

The Chairman did not think the Glov ernment had done anything udtru virca

tainly the Government did not get the and he did not suppose they would take the profita. Under the old scheme cer- profits on the charter

Mr. Tomlin seconded the motion which was carried unanimously

That this

The Chairman proposed Chanther is of opinion therefore that the general requisition of local British ton nage should be withdrawth

of

The Hou Mr. Addio second-carried. The Chairman proposed That copies solutions Nos. 1 and 9 should be forwarded to the Colonial Recretary for despatch by him by cable to the Secretary of State for the Colonies without delay.

Mr. Nutt seconded-carried-

The Chairman thanked the members for their attendance and the meeting closed. Straits Times.

MORGAN, ADMINISTRATIVE COMMANDANT

LECTURE.

lecture will be given by Captain E. H Gray, 74th Punjabis, to N.C.Os, and men of the Corps at Headquarters on Friday, 14th June, at 6 p.m. Subject, Experiences on Service.

Uniform need not he wa ORDERS FOR INFANTRY BATTALION BY MAJOR Saturday, 15th June-

MAH. AN MORGAN,

The

ས

2.30 p.m."A" Co., Mounted Scetion, Half M.-Gun Co. (as detailed by O.C. M.G. Co.) and half Signalling Section (as detailed by O.C. Signal ling Section) will parade at Statue, Pier. Dress Drill order. "B" Co. and the remainder of the 31-Gun Co. and Signalling Section will parade on Batorday, 29th inst instead of as previously ordered.

BUNERAL, funeral of the late Bergt. A Bo Bryson takes place on Sunday, 16th inst Time and point of assembly will be notified later,

. G. E. STEWART, Capt.

Adjutant, HKDC Hongkong, 11th June, 1918.

The April issue of the Times Imperial tud Foreign Trade Supplement published an interesting account of the successful efforts that have been made to reach the Some articles, such as hides, have been interior of Siberia through the Kara Bea

carried by the sea route for £2 per ton, mates the saving all round at 40 per against £8 by land, but the writer esti- cent as compared with - alternative:

routes.