1920-05-08 — Page 4

1.

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SATURDAY, M

THE INEVITABLE SLUMP IN THE LIFT BOYS ON STRIKEI

JAPAN

THE PROFITEER ABOUT TO REAP HIS JUST REWARD.

HOW THE PUBLIC HAVE BEEN

ROBBED.

Under these headlines the Japan Gazette (Yokohama) of April 17th, prints

INTERESTING CASE AT THE MAGISTRACY ORDINANCE NIT MEANT TO BE AN INSTRUMENT OF PERSECUTION.^^ -

At the Magistracy, yesterday, the one Against the lift boys of the Hongkong Land Investment Company, who are och

(1920,

Witness-No:

Mr. Smith: Personally, I don't think this Ordinance was meant as a mirike breaking machine. They should have given some notice.

w

It is reports that Mr. Northcote mid The men went to son ft. Lo to sat him to mediate and I refused to

see them gain. During the conversation on Sunday wore they ever told that they were actually ameahble to criminal law if they did not give a month's notice-They were.. Is it not a fact that the practice of M. Lo: It is not so simple as all that, your employers has always been to dismiss

Mr. Lo: That is what I mean, to submit Mr. Smith: The men should bave give some warning

Abe following items of informationen strike, and who are charged with leav as I hope to indicate in the case for the these people if they were not satisfied The economic depression which has Boting service without notice, was heard and defence. They know all slang. It was with them at pratically a moment's in during the past fortnight is being very resulted in the man being discharged as suggested to the men whether they would notice, and pay them only up to the ins they worked-I cannot answer that ques generally folt throughout the country, the Magistrate (Mr. Smith) held that the leave or not,

Fitness was then cross-examined by Mrtion. Since I have been in the Company ultimatum of the manager of the Com according to reports received.

The Tokyo branch of the Ito Bank, pany, to the effe that the boys coula Lo who asked: Am I nos right in saying i have never had occasion to dismiss and

suspenden Tochigi some either accept the $18. a month offered them that you have always adopted a zyrapathe body.

Witness: I have.

which was

years ago

a capital of Y.1,000,000, or leave it, was onsenting to their leatic attitude towards these men 1- payment yesterday, and the ing head office in Tochigi also closed its doors for a week

The Tokyo Stock Exchange continues closed, and it is unknown when it will reopen for business To-day a conference Wag to be held between representatives

Mr. M. K. Lo, solicitor, appeare for the defenes of the lift boys, who numbered twenty-five, and Mr W. J. Wilkinson, overseer in the employ of the Company, Prosecuted..

Mr. Lo addresing the Magistrate said:

In point of fact the letter of April 3rd, drafted in this amicable way was actually suggested by you. They wanted an increase and you suggested that a let

ter be sent -I did.

When a few days later a blank refusal

EL

But since this case cropped up have you made any enquiries on this point!--No.

You are not prepared to disagree with me when I tell you as a matter of fact that all these people looked upon them selves as liable to be dismissed. at a

moment's notice l Thera ia a concrete case of one of the defendants in the present

of the Exchange and the Bank of Japan 1 Before I go on, I should like to mention was passed on to them a deputation called case who was dismissed in 1914 and a new,

and other banks to consider measures for the relief of the situation. The Osaks and Nagoya Exchanges continue closed.

Transactions on the Tokyo Rico Ex changa were suspended yesterday owing tom sharp fall in quotationa

Time transactions in raw silk on the Yokohama Exchango were suspended yes terday, and no business was done today, The suspension of business was due to the failure on the part of brokers to deposit the additional security money of Y3,000,000 necessary as a result of the recent sharp fall in shares. It is feared that when the Exchange noopens there will be a further fall of from You to Y.30.

Silk factories in Yonezawa have closed thair doors to the extent of 10 per cüt., with the result that 5,000 workers are out of employment. AddE

Weavers in Mayebashi yesterday decided to suspend operations for a month pending a revival in business Similar resolutions were passed by weavers in Kags and other districts.

Referring to a recent statement made by Mr. Inoye, President of the Bank of Japan, that Y1,000,000,000 worth of merchandise is now stored in Tokyo na a result of the depression, the diaki ays ning large warehouses belonging to

Mitat Bight, Tonkin, Shibosawa the Shogye, Nakamura, Teikoku, Sugimura, Nippon and Wathoaho Erms are full of merchandise,

induding sugar, paper, cotton, yarn, wool, iron, raw cotton, sice, etc. No delivery is taken by consignees, to obtain loans from the who are unable to banks, which

percise presi cantion continue to

At the Yokohama Customs compound the merchandise on hand is daily increas ing, the present sccumulation amounting to 280,000 tons. Many consignees bexitate to take delivery as a result of the depres sion. These goods are being dealt with in strict accordance with the provisions

disposed of daily.

of the Customs Regulations, 500 tons being As is quoted by the Baron Shibusans is Yomiuri as: expressing the view that the extraordinary advance in the price of daily necessaries of recent years has been abnormal Prices are now beginning to show a downward tendency, The Baron attributes the high prices to the cornering of the market, by profiteers For instance, a certain cotton spinner told him recently that if spinners sold cotton yarn for .450 they would make a "tair profit. Until recently the price of cotton yarn was up to Y.700, so that it is evident how ruth lessly the profitear has been stalking through the land.

Tokyo, April 1ib.The stock, rice and cotton yarn markets, in Tokyo remained closed today. Prices for rice settlement have been fixed at Y.40.64 Y 29.20, and Y:39.28, for April, May, and June de liveries

Prices for cotton yarn anttlement are Put 'at Y.478.60 and Y.443:40 for April and September deliveries

Bilk forward transactions in Yokohama remained suspended to day, and the spot market was bewildered, though iridications promise curtain transactions next week, is the M.B.K. and other firms are bent on buying

KAREN SWINDLES AND NON-PAYMENTS.

A marked scho of the commercial slump in Japan, Baya the Japan Chronicle (Kobe) made more acute by the recent sharp decline in the share, rice, silk and cotton yarn transactions, ia found in the number of complaints laid 14 the Banno miya and Ainibashi. Police stations under whose jurisdiction coose the principal Kobe buses firma. All the bankers in the large citiến in Jupan are very cautious in making new advancea," and have even begún to demand more security for ad. vances Already made, or in extreme crace are foreclosing on security. There is no. simal degree of praia in commercial circles in Kobe. A consequent difficulty in trans actions is the inevitability of such a panic, not only, in: Kobe but in every large city. of the country, causing considerable increase in the number of commercial suite everywhere. The Kobe Coirta nré et

over-increasing plaints, cepecially in preaput fully copied, with the disposal connection with the slump, and the Kobe police stations are inundated with come plaints which can hardly be dignified by the name of commercial: lavanile.but are mainly charges of swindling or minez claims for the enforcement of payment During the period from March Int. to April 9th there were at Sannomiya 40 plaints leid, în rompect of a total gum 1.64,735 and at Alaibashi 23 plaint in respect of: Y-170,000 These figures show, a seven or eightfola increase compared with the corresponding period of last year.

A Reuter merage from Osaka, dated

finanels

to the

that when the effoer came to serve the original summons on the men I nocepted service on behalf of all the twenty-six men for whom I wm to appear. Apparently there has been one misunderstanding and

try, and I have to instructions on his be hali.

The Magistro took down the name of the missing defendant and wished to know is the men were still in the employ of the company.

1

man taken on in his place. The new man on you of about eight man-No:

Did none of them call on you 1-No. was not satisfactory, and he was dismissed, Didn't you have any conversation or and the old man re-instated. Ho vas discussion with them asking you what you actually paid his wagen up to the time of suggested? I am instructed that a few dismissal. If that is the practics of the one of the men has gone back to the coun-days later when they heard that they were employers is would be unjust to enforos

not going to get an increase they saw the law against the employees. ·· you and told their tale of woe and asked Mr. Smith: The Ordinance any a you what could be done. You told them month's notice must be given unless a you could do not more and the only thing definite arrangement has been arrived at way for them to do as they liked No. 1 between the parties. didn't nan those words. I shid if you are Mr. Lo: If that is the practice of the not satisfied you can write another letter. employers, I think it would be absurd to At all events the verbal reply gave them ask your Worship to agree with them the impression that you were sympathetic, My point is that if the employers abro- and you said when you told them you gate to themselves the right of dismissing could do no more that they must choose a person da moment's notice and pay. their own means-No, that was not what them up to the time they work, it would I said. They said they were not satisfied be only right that the men, too, should but that was on April 8th., after I had leave employment at a moment's notice. told them that there was no increase They insisted that they were not satisfied and that they wanted an increase. I told them if they were not satisfied they had better write in again.

Mr. W. J. Wilkinson of the company replied that they were not

Mr. Smith said that he supposed this as the result of the strike.

Mr. Wilkinson replied that he did not know whether they could call it a strike The men refused to go to work,

Mr. Smith: Did they not give notice asking for a rim of pay!

Mr. Wilkinom: Yes, on April 23rd. Mr. Smith: I think we had better take evidence.

Mr. W. J. Wilkinson then went into the box He sted that be was employed by the Hongkong Land Investment Com. pany and the Hongkong Central Estate Ltd, and was an overseer. All the defendants wen employed by the com- Pany as lift attendants.

In any case that was not the impression called Do you know a man they got.

Leung Tang. I believe he is a carpenter, but pars of his duties, before you came, was to oversee or superintend these lift boys He had disciplinary jurisdiction Mr. Smith: How much do they got a -There is a carpenter called Ah Tang

He had some sort of authority over Pay and is it firedit

them subject to your approval 1—When I Mr. Smith: That is a flat rate, I am away he is always in the office sad suppose !

acta in my place during my absence

He was used by the men me a mouth

Witocas: They get $18 a month.

Witness: They formerly'all got 814 a

mouth, but in March they got a rise of demand for a farther increase. On April $2 and no couplaint was made, or any

ard. however they sent in a letter asking for an increas

"

20

piece. I cannot say that I had my sus picions that this was going on.

If Ab Tang is called I am going to put it to him that he was personally cognisant of every stop they took and knew they

Mr. Wilkinson: I told all these men after I received the letter that if they wanted to go they must give a month'a" notice before they left the service.

Mr. Lo: At any rate the men didn't tell me this.

Witness: I personally told every one that they could not leave without notice. I also instructed them that it was not a Cafe of a strike because the fitters gave Dotico

of a strike, while they had given no notice.

Mr. Smith: They have all been replaced now-Yos.

They won't be taken back 1-No.

They are not skilled labourers 1-No If anything goes wrong with the lifta the Electric Company puts them in order.

The men have nothing to do with tha machinery. They simply manipulate the lift.

Mr. Smith: It was about the time were leaving That is what I am trying evidence subject to your Worship's direo.

the fitters' strike?

Witness: No, it was after the settlement They asked for 12 per cent and sent the following letter to the Secretary:--

DEAR SIR-In consideration of the people. fact that you have increased our wages. It is part of our case that he did know, by 82 we hesitate very much in forward and on the evening they stopped work the log you this letter. It occury to us, facts of the case were known to Ab Tang? however, ths; it might, not be unwise to 1 am not aware of that lay before you the financial dificulties We are experiencing even with the pro- scat wages. The prices of all commodi-

Do you know anything about two deteo tives turning up on Saturday 1—1′ do.

What their object! Their object

was to arrest thò men

The

Magistrate To arrest whom 1 Witacaso if boys for leaving

Mr. Lo I don't think I need call any

to find out. I have asked the men whe tion, because it is in evidence that what ther Ab Tang knew they were going to took place between the manager and the leave and they told me "No" He also men on Sunday. certainly showed that the told me No. I wanted to find out manager was a consenting party to the whether this man was talking to the men leaving He said They could taka

it or leave it. I can put every one of, them in the box to swear that the first they ever heard of the wonderfud 1902 Ordinamos was when I had cocasion to tell them what they were summoned for. They were actually not aware that the criminal- law of the Colony compelled them to give tios, as you mow have risen to half

auch notion, and they took it that the sa much-agan sa before, since the begin. ning of the war, while our wages have

and nothing else because all the people question of notion was a mere formality not been increased sufficiently to cope their employ. --- ne

were under the impression when the em with the change. With the present Mr. Lo: They were not, in fact, arrest-

ployers practically

hinted that if the wages we can hardly afford for even the fed

were not satisfied with the #18 they could conventional necessarica of our class Witness: No, because when I went down leave. They certainly did not think ther This is not misrepresentation on our to 20-Li Yuen Street, which the boys should have given notice, and it was part, but a true statement of facts as a kind of mess, I found eight or ten shock to them when they were served with. The fact that people of our class, ..,men there. I bad the two Chinese tetes a summons Beccadly, I submit that is skilled labourers, are suffering it conestives with me who were given me by the the manager or secretary had taken quence of low wages may be seen from authorities here to arrest anyone whom more sympathetic attitude on Sunday the recent clamour among them for I pointed out. I saw the men and I spoke morning and told them about the law of higher wage and the strike resulting to the The detectives also spoke to one month's notice and advised them to therefrom. * Beeing that other companies them, I told them what I was going to accept the $18 and then give a month's have realind the situation at their do and I asked them to return to work notice and in the meantime discuss the employes and have consequently increas and there would be no further trouble matter of increase I have no doubt tha ed their was by 25.5 per cent may The men said We will return to work everything would have been settled aatio We appeal to your kind consideration for bat we must go round the town and look factorily. They were told they could take further allowance Trusting that for the other people who have left work the $18 or leave it, and they couldn't de this will meet with a favourable and We cannot start without them.****

anything else but leave it am quite in early reply

Mr Lo That is exactly

what they agreement with what your Worship has 99 statal. After that they were asked to aptly observed that the Ordinance was go and see the manager on Sunday morn never meant to be an instrument of per ang They were fo

secution against people whose only quarrel understand you were present was with their employers was on the question coté asked those who wanted to stay on been amically settled if the employer ha

is it not à fact that laler Mr. North of wages which could and shond bavo at $18 a month to stand on one side and only tried. The employers have the upper those who did not on the other Yes hand. The men are out of employ and And none of them stood in the side of have suffered suficiently, I ask your wanting to go back 1-Yeah, Warship to dismiss the summons.

Did not. Mr Northcote say be could

Mr. Smith discharged the defendants.

· Mr. Emith: Was a reply sent to that i Witness: A verbal reply was given, This letter was then brought in

DEAR BIL-We have the bonour to beg inform you that we are very sorry for our wags not enough use for every month and you can't increase our wager Vai prescut, to all reaign on the 1st May. You may employ other men Witness, added that the Company said tidak pa to accept With thanks your kindness, replace them at a mopat's notion He

they Toold no grant the money.

moon And if they did the pen reageed en bloc

Un $18 & months they could clear out! GERMANGOODS IN SHANGHAI

Tes. They were told to come up on Mon-

During the past week, saya the 1-0. 20ys letter va pushed into my office port

think Mz Northcote setually said to Daily News, we have made reference to the There was no notice given.

them: Wall if you do not choose $18 efforts of Germans to resume trade with month What are you going to do↑ and China. As a tangible example of such did not some of them say We are pre-resumption, the following taken from the

interes pared to pull ricksbasi-Yes

Custom Daily Returns of Saturday, in of aru, from Hamburg: Imports Bordeel, 1,000 sols

The

Mr. Smith: They should have mentioned about leaving the first latier

Witness If they had done that we should They were to turn up on Monday morn On Sun- ing-- As & matter of fack I do, not know haye made other day, May 2nd

had 23 of them brought whether you are aware that I myself A conversation with Mr. Northeute a offered them an extra. he had been, bere I should like to put 44 3,000/

They refused him whether the interview, in a newspase

wás correct, because it scoma to me cor an

wanted #90.

rect as far as I am concerned He, sald that it they didn't want to come back $18 a month be didn't want them 1.

Witness.replied that me the men

Batoes At 10.80 they wer

zen; umbrell

gross

value