THE CONSCRIPTION deal of captious criticise.
TRIBUNALS.
A GLANCE AT THEIR WORK.
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22ND, 1918.
The Gor- arnor's offer to place engineers at the service of private firms hardly suggests: that Government departments are at their wits end to cope with their work.
In the minds of some there is undoubt-
CORRESPONDENCE. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
» COLONY
lishman has made his money in the Colony and taken it away with him. Thd Cathedral has long cried aloud and in vain for an Endowment Fund and for a Church House with Chapel-of-Ease for An Sunday School and similar worki attempt has been intely made to provide BIR.Mr. "Fowley's interesting contra Chapel-of-Ease by utilising one of the bution to the housing and development transepta of the Cathedral.
[TO THE EDITOR OF "THE HONGKONG
DAILY PRESS,''}
This has
The General Military Service. Tribunaf has practically completed its labours edly a feeling that a few of those appear- There will probably be several further before the Tribunal have elaborated meetings to dispose of the cases of men who beyond all, reason their claims to indis were granted temporary exemption, but, perisability. Had some of the suggestions/question in the Colony emboldens me to spoiled the interior symmetry of the build broadly speaking, the full man-power of advanced been accepted the conclusion! Put forward, with your permission, somveing and deprived the public of much the Colony has been passed under review: "ould be irresistible that great and im thoughts upon the same subject which
etirolment; and, if the work of selection wide
Of course such a in civilian occupations. The proceedings contention is absurd. At the same time I
publicity, and the reports of the cases and read
close with beep have widespread attention. A tendency quickly
If
pant.
needed
3
LANE, CRAWFORD
1.4.
AND COMPANY,
SOLE AGENTS FOR SPALDING'S ATHLETIC GOODS.
EVERYTHING - FOR TENNIS.
BRITISH MADEN
TENNIS RACKETS
SPALDING'S
INCLUDING
THE
AYRES' "GOLD MEDAL” "S.E.G." "SLOTTEDITHROAT:
STAMPED
1918
0
BRITISH MADE
1918
TENNIS BALLS STAMPED (EVERY BALL GUARANTEED [FRESH)
FOR
space during important and In my opinion it should never have been allowed, a certain number bave been chorçu für portant Imperial services with would have been in my mind for a long time largely-attended public services.
famifentions would have been Kowloon Access: Is there sufficient must not, however, omit reference to pier accommodation for the public? If Sir Paul Chater's liberality in connection has been conscientiously and properly ablutely paralysed, and the Empire performed, wo must conclude that only brought to the pciut of dissolution, if one my memory serves menright; a few years with St. Andrew's Church, Kowloon.! ago the only publię pier was the stone But I am also concerned with, and referi those over-nge, or unft, or indispensable man were taken from his present employ
and concrete one opposite to Kowloon to, public buildings as that term is gen. to Imperial or Colonial interests are leftment in Hongkong.
City.. From that far eastern point right|erally understood.. May I touch upon of the Tribunal have been given wide think it is agreed that the Governor's round to Laichikok on the west all land- tour of these, viz. a Public Library, a j
view gave us an almost equally, exaking places were private as many of them Museum, an Assembly of Town Hall, Berted xituation. Judging by His Ex-
of but a flimsy kind. It is true that there and a Theatre. At the present time the was a small Police and Military pier of a Colony or a State are all housed in tour necessary adjuncts of the civic life celleriey's standard there is no man in manifested itself in some quarters to Hongkong, from the highest to the lowest opposite to the Kowloon station which the one building-the gift of ve
House and rested in trustees. The protest against the policy of reporting who cannot be spared. That is, no doubt.oublic. were allowed to touch at, but 11 in detail the records of individual firms. tru; but, at the same time, this aweeping doubt if there were a right of way. The and improvement. May appeal-and ing has long cried aloud for erection is supported by the Public The protest, however, had little to support assertion cannot be made within the Star Ferry Co. also had its pier at the if my appeal
I am sure that the public-aiaded and it. and simply showed that there are still limits set by the Conscription Act.
end of the public road--the Salisbury the late Sir son who fail to realise the danger of
onerous representative of CEMENT AND methods even where
trustees to make public the deed of trust the liberties of the subject are concerned
ally respond to it-may I appeal to the
The Tribunal has not escaped triticism
and the present inancial position of the the Trust Deed in the near future and as it is, but it is generally admitted that
City Hall, with a view to a revision of
at any rate, everyone has had a fair hear-
to reconstruction on different lines? The above four named institucions are all TENNIS NETS. POSTS AND COURT MARKERS. necessary, and each is represented in any self-respecting Continental town, in every BACKET COVERS, PRESSES, SCORING BOOKS. State worthy of a State's existence and found in a Arst-class Colony, as in Hong name and therefore surely should be kong. A Free or Public Library: this is essentially an institution which should be PRESERVER. provided by Government-whether that of a State City, or of Hongkong-supported by the subscriptions of readers and the lustum; this again is essentially ra benefactions of public-spirited residents. Government institution to be supported out of rates and assisted by the donations of Scientific Societies and by wealthy benefactors. A good and well-docketed Museum is a liberal education. In Hong
"hofe,and-corner
in - Mute
Thr
instances has inevitably some feeling of discontent and dis satisfaction. but
to it is safe
a heat of angels were to come down, and waft us all away to happier regions there might-ach are the limitations of the tuman mind-be a little sorrow and dis may among loving friends at Home, but I do not suppose that the Empire would that Germany's ambitious
Read-mat which the Government and reserved some public rights; but the landing steps were so awkwardly situated, perhaps designedly so, that they were almost impossible to use. Since then good pier has been provided, close to the
Star Ferry pier, which" appears to be public pler and not exclusively a police and military one, and so far so good. A recent Ordinance provides for the Govern. ment "resumption of public farries, and from this rather belated move nothing but
good should come-including the provision of good piers and boats, public landing places, and cheap tickets.
Tenst
1
but
ing. It has been difficult to trace any collapse or
would be brought appre- principle underlying the decisions-except. schemes possibly, that piece goods are sacrosanct-etubly nearer to realisation. But if we and there are not wanting those who carry the argument to its logical conclu. with perhaps a fulles knowledge of the sun and apply it to the whole. Empire, tir-than-the-members_of_the_Tribunala in fairness"we are bound to do, we themselves possess, can point to mistakes arrive at a reductio ad absurdum, which have been made. Undoubtedly, would have been better had a cold douche greater consideration has been shown of practical common-sense been poured than in others. upon all these fanciful theories, which
Building land:What is being done to to served no other purpose than to cloud facilitate the development of the resi given rise
and obscure the real issue. I am sut-dential and business land on the penia. prised that. Mr. Looker, in one of his sula't Is there any comprehensive survey kong all dockets should be in at
3 languages. ACity Hall for public "That the feelings would have been many excursions into rhetoric, did not in existente of the ground from Laichikok meetings: this, again, is essentially intensified a hundred-fold if the decisions remind the Appeal Tribunal of the old to Yaumati with all its hinterland? What public institution to be supported out of rates. By no possibility can it be right alou had been officially announced with fable of the donkey which managed to is needed, I submit, is a comprehensive for a State or City to expect the above out any disclosure of the facts which led eke out an existence upon a gradually plan to scale showing all present and three institutions to be maintained by ti income derived from successful "letting":" up to them. There would have been wild diminishing quantity of fodder until death prospective main and side roadways: plots The buildings may be presented, and whirling accusations of backstairs in-cut short the interesting experiment. reserved. for Government and for public maintenance is a civic, and a rate-charge, duty. Lastly, Theatre: this may or Burnes and wire-pulling, and any useful It would have been difficult for anyone purposes; lots available for residences, may not be State-owned and maintained effort that the Conscription Act may have to state with certainty when the removal and those available for shops, factories, here it could not be and it falls into a different category to the three first- xa clearing the atmosphere and putting of one more straw would have fatal re- and godowas. Residential lots should be named institutions. Now how much do an end to that pernicious habit of point-silts, but nevertheless it must have been classed according to the minimum capital the Colony through the Government con- Let the Government ing out why the other man should go to obvious to any sane man that the process that must, bo spent on buildings. It has tribute to these f
relieve the City Hall of the provision and the Front would have been completely of elimination could not be continued long appeared to me that the haphazard upkeep (there is not much upkeep in destroyed. Our last state, in this respect, indefinitely without disaster. Most of way in which good and poorer quality evidence) of Library, Museum and Public
Rooms, and the public will very would have been worse than our first.
the firms here have had their staffs houses are now scattered about Kowloon. provide itself with a first-class and up-to- I have no desire to discuss individual steadily reduced during the past four the want of system in the roads, etc., dare Theatre, which, it will see, is kept in a comfortable condition. In Shanzhar cases which
years, and there must, of course, be an must tend to the lowering of property the fine Library is Municipal; the ty Tribunal for decision. Some of irreducible minimum below which effi- values and docs deter the public from
hall or Rooms are Municipal; the taking up residence, except under stress friends have urged apon me as a public ciency cannot be secured,
In these cir- due to the absence of any other available Museum is the property of a peentific duty the necessity of stating openly" that
cumstances, it is only possible to announce spots. How often have sewers, draina, Society: The Theatre," whien is comfort-
etc., been laid and relaid in the roads able, clean, wel lighted a warm,
provided by the public. Many years ago! the whole business has been
that the danger line has been reached and Everything has long pointed to the extes the leader writer in the turning Kost fran beginning to end. As point out the serious consequences, from sion of business, etc. (particularly of called upon the Government to step in
Chinese), westwards towards Laichikok,
Messrs. Jardine's representative give a or to render it possible? If Chinese and end? We may then confidently expect others are allowed to see what are the that the representatives of the donor of intentions of the Government towards future development I am confident that the City Hall property will agree to alter the Deed Trust to admit of the four land would be rapidly taken up and Institutions, now ekeing out a miserable occupied to the benefit of the exchequer and hand-to-mouth existence, being so and of trade. Plans should be exhibited
AS separated and cared for will fulfil the in all Police Stations and Post Offices wish of the donor that Hongkong should and provided for all architects, smacks
What
have come
before the
A
farce
L do
not accept their premises it is obvious the rominercial, point of view, which lie but what has been done to encourage it Will not it and the public move; or will
to be adopted or about to move?
when anything is moving
no comments
tfit I cannot endorse their conclusion ahead. that criticism should take a
I am glad that the Tribunal, for the sweep-|
ing form.
The Conscription Ordi- sake of its reputation as a body composed nance, in my opinion, was necessary, chiefly of business men, did not put to and its operation has been beneficial. any of those who came before it the awful Directly or indirectly, it has added question What would happen if you upwards of one hundred men to the fight were to die tonight?". The query ing forces of the Crown. Over seventy too much of a revivalist meeting, and the an opportunity has there not been, and not lag behind in matters civic and mani- still may be, for a man of ideas and a cipal, but should be provided with build- have been obtained, or, will be obtained, poor soul on the penitent's form must D.W.P. to immortalise their names. In ings and institutions worthy of the Colony by the Tribunal, and, in addition to these,
have blushed at the thought of his sics there no Aston Webb in the Colony and of its greatness,
The May number of the Royal Geo- When the public, and not the favoured I it must be remembered, a considerable and been "overcome with confusion.
few, know what lies in the future they graphical Society's magazine reproduces a resume with plans of a far-reaching number of eligible men left the Colony should like to know, though, in view of can be trusted to take advantage of scheme for the re-planning of Londo for Home just before the measure was Mr. Sharp's statement that a decision opportunities. Is it to the advantage of and of its approaches that has recently.
the Colony to have its properties in the introduced. The practical results; there was never reached, until the applicant hands of a few, Companies and large been put forward on behalf of the London
City "Authorities. fore, cannot be described as negligible. had been heard. how it was that, in cer-private owners, who may be said to be
The Colony has been lately committed in the know
to two fine motor reads round when and Sering, however, that the Government bas tain cases, the course
of Hongkong a part of Kowloon A similar plan in regard to the Prosa the New Territory. The public pay for reserved to itself the right of combing was common knowledge weeks before bel
East reclamation and Morrison Hill sites out" its own departments, and that busi- Tribunal sat in judgment. Was it open should be prepared and rendered acces- the roads, but what did they know of tot proposals beforehand and what do they nessmen are precluded on the ground, to anyone to arrange matters beforehand sible to the
public. The Peak:I have been aarprised that of the plans for opening up sites
have been made on the action i
abutting the roadways are there say? presumably, of their inexperience-from And is it true that before Sir Charles expressing any opinion as to the efficacy Eliot went North he was assured that of the Government in purchasing for its Where are the reprints? If this develop ment is a justifiable expense at this time, of the methods adopted, although mem- none of his University professors would own use several of the few residences plans for development nearer to hand
The mi bers of the Government have no diffidene be called upon to shoulder a rido? With available for the professional and business still more loudly called for.
public of Hongkong, thereby rendering that conceived the 100 foot Nathan Avenus in Kowloon was a great mind, but was in telling commercial houses how they regard to the University--although, as I the housing problem more acute. It is
large and realis- whould be reorganised and run, it would said, I do not wish to deal with individual true that only a very few properties sovente a part of
far have been purchased, but it is rumour. be only fair to all parties if a statement cases-considerable stress was laid upon ed that other houses will be acquired: 1 able scheme? Or did the effort to con- portion to the width of the property. were made showing how many Govern- the importance of some international am not in any way opposing the provision ceive the 100 foot avenue, out of all pro-
of residences for Government officers; men remain in comparison with agreement under which twenty young indeed, I have, in common with number passed through, of the houses lining its the pre-war 6gures, and what ex-Chinese tutors were to come next term less others, leng maintained that these sides, and of the adjoining roads, prove
became sterile actly ro their duties. Something to Hongkong" to benefit by the excellent should have been provided years ago. My exhausting that the mind thereafter point now is that the Government possess In a very able critique upon an interest. of the sort has been done at Home. educational facilities the Colony has to the skilled staff, the land, and the capital So far the men released appear to have offer. Is it a fact that these young men required to provide new residences. This ing scheme lately put forward for the been drawn chiefly from the ranks of do not at the present time understand it should do, and not cut into the small future development of the port of Shang- market open to the men who belp to make bai, Mr. Tyler, the Coast Inspector, writes: Any representation, which the guardians of public health and safety English and therefore cannot be expected Hongkong and to provide its revenues.
presents a long view, which serves to These, one would imagine, could to profit by University instruction for Few of these men have the capital re-
quired to build, but they desire to rent excita public interest in the needs of the have been spared least of all.
In any some two years1 1f so, I think it should and they ace that no houses are available future, and which tends to an investiga case, their absence certainly will not 'add have been mentioned, as it might have for rental. Owing to the extensive purtion of those needs and the means of sensibly to the burdens of those who re had an important bearing upon the case.
It is not in any way suggested that Mr. main behind in other departments. H.E. Finally, I should like to say a word localities that remain for the business and Bowley's views or those advanced in this the Governor has set up a very high about the substitution list. It has been, professional European are becoming fewer letter approach in the slightest degree to and fewer. The Government should assist such a scheme, but it is suggested that standard. A willingness to break stones, as far as one can judge from published development and not induce contraction.
the Government should form a Committed Public Buildings:--It wa surprising by so doing a fit man can be set free. results, something of a failure. Ali hon-
our to those who are willing to make some fact and it is, I think, a fact that public, and not a departmental, Com presupposes a willingness to accept all sacrifice to do their bit but how many apart from the very handsome deed of the mittoe-to go comprehensively into those questions and to put out reasoned and the discomforts and inconveniences caused such are there on the list If the City Hall and Fountam to the Colony by far-sighted views and plans. Patch-work majority are men who wish to take up air Robert Jardine many years ago, the by depleted staffs, and a sintement; sup little extra work for a little extra money few public buildings that Hongkong planning should be a thing of the past. purted by evidence, showing that these there is no need to invest them with an possesses have been donated by our Indian the Colony must look and plan ahead. discomforts sad inconveniences are being official balo and thrust them upon em compatriots The University, Senmen' With apologies for the length of this
Helena May Institute for letter.-I am, sir, your obedient servant, borne uniformly throughout all Govern-ployers with an ultimatum amounting to Institute,
A. H. HARRIS. Refuse them, if you dare.”
Women, Ellis Kadoorie and Belilios Bchools are all cases in point. The Eng- 90th August, 1918. quent departments might silence a good
ment
"if
A
chases of foreign properties by Chinese
And
others on the higher lovels, the value of them in due course, is of great
勃
GUT
GRASS COURTS.
BRITISH MADE
LAWN MOWERS CENTRE
SPECIAL TERMS TO CLUBS AND COLLEGES.
GUIDES.
LANE, CRAWFORD & CO.
ม
18
Foundry Facings that Stay Put
THE UNITED STATES GRAPHITE
co.
is not represented in China with a complete line of labricating graphites, boiler graphites, greases, foundry facings and automobile lubricants.
⠀⠀ | MEXICAN PLUMBAGO FOUNDRY FACINGS
Ground and prepared from selected ore. Work wall ander hand tool or brush. These facings poel castings perfectly because they stand the best and will not run or wash before the metal. "They stay put.” Several graden in stock suitable for all classes of work.
Andersen, Meyer & Co., Ltd.,
Hotel Mansions,
HONGKONG.
Missions Building,
CANTON.
Powell
TELEPHONE:346
Wm.
.1186
Lid
SPECIAL SHOW
HAND EMBROIDERED
UNDERWEAR
IN
DAINTY DESIGNS.
SEE
WINDOWS.
SHING KEE CO.
SODA MERCHANTS,
IMPORTERS AND EXPORTERS OF
Caustic Soda, Soda Ash, Muriate of Ammonia, Silicate of Soda, Refined Bicarbonate of Soda, Mineral Water, and Soda Crystal, Bleaching Powder, Sulphur Acid, Sulphate of Ammonia, etc., etc.
ALWAYS IN STOCK.
Des VizuX BOAD WEST, HONGKONG
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.