1921-08-17 — Page 3

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RANDOM REFLECTIONS, Sometime ago, when the attention of ke Sanitary Board was drawn to the misance caused by dumping the Colony's Sabbish into the sea, an assurance was Tiven thas the objectionable practice would be discontinued by the end of Jane We are now half-way through August, but bathers are still exposed to the risk of taking a liquear af liquid alth every time ther venture into the water. Perhaps Mr. Alabaster will come their rescue once again by asking the President of the Sanitary Board how many months grace he wants, before tulling his promise.

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17TH, 1991,

A very

SANITARY BOARD.

PEAK PLAYGROUNDS.

DISCUSSION OF FAIR PENALTIES..

A

BANQUE INDÜSTRIELLE DE

CHINE.

HOPEFUL OUTLOOK FOR DEPOSITORE.

"PRESTIGE OF THE FRENCH NATION."

Now from this 1,600 must be deducted, for the time being, those who are home on leave no inconsiderable proportion judging by the packed condition of the passenger ships leaving the Colony last Spring. Then we have to eliminate the implacable opponents of reform-those who represent or are dependent upon

meeting of the Sanitary Board "was the yester interests" and those who held, yesterday. There were present Mr. think-probably correctly-that the pre-G. R. Sayer (Chairman), the Hon. Mr. sent system suits them better than any 8. B. Ross, the Hon. Mr. T L Per- The retision for winding-up the other would. When these adjustments king. Mr. Chou Shou-sen, Mr. S. W. Banque Industrielle de Chine, which had are made, even assuming the whole of Two, Mr. C. G. Alabaster, Dr. W. Wbeen adjourned for 99 days, came before the remainder to be in favour of a more

Fearse (Medical Ulcer of Health) and the deting Chief Justice (His Hondur representative form of government any Mr. C. M. W. Reynolds (Secretary). Mr. Gompertz) in the Supreme Court, one acquainted with Hongkong will

The CHAIRMAN read a letter from the yesterday morning.

Mr. F. C. Jeakin, for the petitioner, agree that to get 700 voluntary signatures Government relative to the Board's ro

petition without systematic quest for the provision of lavatory accom-instructed by Messrs. Deacon, Looker, canvassing or vigorous advoerney on the modation in the playgrounds at the Peak Denson & Harston) stated that telegrams platform and in the Prosa is

"The Government is unable, i tho had been received by Mr. Montargis, the encouraging start. It is only

start, latter, to provide the lavatory accom-local narager, from Shanghai, Singa be it understood, for from the outset an

modation asked for." e

pore, Peking and Paris and in as organised canvass was decided upon,.

affidavit, dated August 15th, Mr. Mon- though the Committee of the Constitu-

targis declared From a perusal of tional Reform Association, being busy

such telegrama I am of the opinion that men, naturally did not want to under-

the re-organisation referred to is a re take more work than necessary.

organisation which the directors of my Bank in Paris hope to bring about by which the Banque Industrielle de Chine, will be taken over by a bank combine under its old or a new name and which will take over old assets of hy Bank and supply the necessary funds to meet its liabilities with a view to paying off the creditors and depositors in full and as maintain the prestige of the French nation in the Far East and continue to enable French merchants to deal with a bank of their own nationality in the Far East.""

Mr. ALABASTER: No reasons are given, are they!

The CHAIRMAN: No. "

Mr. ALABASTER said that two danitary inspectors. had reported the lavatories to be пестазагу and the Board, by a

sion. majority, had come to the same conclu-

He therefore proposed that the Govern meat be asked to give their reasoES. Otherwise it was treating the Board with discourtesy.

The shermen's.. night at Cheung-chau the other day. which necessitated arning at the whole of the exiguous local polier furce,, reminds us once again of the oft-repeated demand for a second Taropena oficer to be stationed on the Island in fulfilment of the recommenda- ton made by the Coroner's jury after investigating the circumstances of the Tai O tragedy. When this matter was last raised in the Legislative · Council by the Hon. Mr. H. F. Fulluck, R.C., of Commons in 1804 bore only 303 The petition addressed to the House Jube 23rd, the Colonial Seere- fary stated that the Capt.-Superintendent signatures, and that seat to the Secre

Police would be asked to station, a

tary of State in 1916 had 336. Both second European offer at Chung-chau, those documents were open for signature if possible, daring the summer, when, by persons of every mitionality, whereas it may be mentioned, the Europeans present occasion the idea has population numbers about one hundred prevailed that only those whom it is We are we into the summer now and proposed enfranchise were eligible to the War ended nearly three years ago, sign. Without having somebody to

The Han. Mr. S. B. C. Ross seconded. But the officer has not made his appear-

mount guard over every copy of the

The CHAIRMAN said that notion of mo- ance yes. The situation is not muude any petition it would, obviously, be impostion did not require a seconder and Mr. sible to enforce any such condition, and ALABASTER rejoined that notice of mo- easier for the local guardians of law and order by the indulgent ie wich enforcing it even if it were possible, so

ne good purpose would be served by tion was not necessary. magistrates sometimes take of disorder.

long as the Jury List was adhered to. The signature of a man who has no hone of exercising ↑ vote is irrefutable evidence of an honest belief that a more representative form of government would be advantageous to the Colony.

The recent Chinese mass merling' on the mai tai question went off like a slamp squib." Although an invitation to Attend was issued in the names of the two Chinese members of Council to the whole of their community, the attend- ance was not so numerous as are the It is easy to understand the attitude signatories to the petition for Con- | of the man who, occupying some sort

■titutional Reform. The Chairman, un- of privileged position, knows that no able to meet the points submitted to change can beneft him personally but him for reply by this paper and by may, on the other hand, prove detri Mr. Pollock, wisely decided to talk mental to his interests. It is a selfish ound them, and, though it was a fore- attitude but a very human attitude and gone cinciasion that the resolutions until the millenium dawns we cannot. prepared for the occasion would be expect very much more. But the man @arried, unexpected eleptent of who has nothing to lose the political vigorous opposition arose, which must cypher who is, as it were, offered five have proved very disconcerting: The votes and affects to regard it as a promoters of the demonstration" probably patriotic daty to refuse them is surely wish now that they had left matters & lurus naturae. His pose reminds me aloue,

of an electioneering experience of some eighty years ago which my grandfather used to relate. In those days voters were | few in number and the candidate enn vassed them all personally with one of his supporters, who entered

against their names good," "bad" or "in- different," as the case might be. On the occasion under notice the interview bad been very protracted and the result nebulons, and, as they were leaving, my grandfather asked the candidate, whose respectability was attested by the fact that he was heito. a viscounty: What shall we., put him down Put him down as a old fool," was the unhesitating reply.

OSTICE.

Their effort to provide their hard pressed official colleagues with Fresh ammunition ended in a miserable finsco. The Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to lui Trai appears to have been still hors, which is just as well, since its parentage forbade any hope of a useful Nevertheless, the nieeting has not been entirely in vain. Itohas given farther publicity to the subject, has provided the reformers with additional material for their campaign, and has shown that there are enlightened Chinese in our midst ready to co-operate with Europeans in giving a lead to Ching by suppressing the system of child slavery in this Colony. Those who seek to justify the retention of the system here by the plea that it helps to solve the prob. lem of over-population in China must, if they are sincere, resist on similar grounds, in the near future, the sub stitution of mechanical, haulage for soolie transport to the Peak, when the increasing cost of labour demands the shange

The CHAIRMAN suggested thas Mr. Alabaster should give notice of motion, and Mr. ALABASTER put his suggestion in the form of a resolution.

Mr. Hoss: That is what I understood. in seconding.

Mr. ALABASTER: The Government has written. the correspondence is here, and i propose that we continue it.

"I therefore humbly ask this Court," proceeded the affidavit, "that the hear ing of the winding-up order be adjourned until October 18th, 1921. Such adjourne ment will not in, any way prejudice de posators and creditors in Hongkong be cause the provisional liquidator is em- powered to collect in and protect all the assets of the Bank and is, so doing und the only further assets of the Bank which winding-up order would enable him to pursue are such as assets the collecting in of which would entail litigation and The CHALAMAN I notice fr. Alabusier as in the event of such re-organisation has quoted the opinions of two indivi- being brought about the depositors and dual inspectors and has failed to under-creditors would be paid in full it is in. stand how the Government were unable to accept the proposal.

The CHAIRMAN: Is it the sense of the Board that we should like to know the Government's reasons I take it. it is not criticism of the Government.

Mr. Ross: It is not criticism; merely

a desire to know the reason.

LANE CRAWFORD & CO.

DID YOU EVER

LOSE YOUR TEMPER

HAD TO DIVE TO

WHEN YOU

THE VERY

1.

BOTTOM OF AN OLD FASHIONED

TRUNK TO GET WHAT YOU WANTED

L*

OWNERS OF HARTMANN

NEVER HAVE THIS INCONVENIENCE.

MIN FACT MANY PEOPLE USE THEIR

HARTMANN THE YEAR AROUND AS

HARTMANN The Government had my opinion as

bead of the Sanitary department. The opinions of my subordinates are of course, for myself alone, and if it occurs that their oipsions have fallen into the hands of members during the circulation of minutes members' authority does not entitle them to comment on any discre nancy between my opinion and the opinion of subordinates.

Mr. ALABASTER said that he was en titled to comment on any papers sent to him for opinion.

his

The CHAIRMAN: In that case, of course, the opinion of my subordinates would have to be withdrawn from the file

The matter was, then dropped

"

OBSTRUCTING HANITARY INSPECTORS..

my opinion to the advantage of such creditors and depositors in Hongkong to further adjourn the hearing of my Bank's petition for the winding-up in Hongkong in order that they may reap the beneût of any re-organisation which may be brought about."

Mr. Jezkin mentioned that no notice had been received from any creditors or contributories that they desired to appear on the adjourned hearing. It had occur red to the petitioner, counsel said, that possibly-it would be commendable to His Lordship that an order should be made by which this adjournment, if granted, should be conditional and that the matter might be restored to the notice paper at any time by way of an es parte "applica- tion.

J

His Honour: That should be done, be- cause the adjournment you are asking for 13 a lengthy one that will carry us over the vacation "So long as it is clearly anderstood that there is power to ask for restoration to the list at any time. on the grounds being given, the order will be granted.

His. Honour. said he would make an order as indicated and the special mana- ger (Mr. E. A. M. Williams) would be continued in his appointment.

A WAGES DISPUTE. STRIKE AT MAISON LILY.

A memorandum drawn up by the Pre aident of the Sanitary Board of proposed amendments of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance had been circulated. The CHAIRMAN mentioned one which aired at facilitating inspection of pre- mises believed to be infections. He said The excuses offered for not signing the

that at present the sanitary authority Petition are never convincing and often

was not caly expected to be reasonably conflicting. One man complains that the wants adult suffrage irrespective of race: proposed reforms do not go far enough; he certain, but absolately certain on this point; furthermore, the authority" could not take muy action against any form The next man sec: untold dangers of obstructione except violent obstruction. following upon any change in the present Owing to the vital importance of dia regime, and talks with bated breath of infection the M.O.H. should be able the thin end of the wedge." A third to disinfect premises од reasonable agrees to everything but ends up by suspicion and to proceed against people asking: What's the use?

You'll who obstructed by other means than by Following its usual devices, the Con never get anything, blithely uncon- direct violence. At present the authority rolled Press bad been endeavouring scions that by his own supineness he is was hampered by having to consider too

gain to throw cold water on the move helping towards the fulfilment of his carefully its legal right of entry.. ment for Constitutional Reform. Since own jereminds. A fourth declares that

Mr. Hoss: You are now proposing to its recent ineffectual attempt to prove he would rather be governed by a group inflict a peunity of $250 where it used The defendants put in a counter-claim, that the governance of Hongkong, now of official incompetents than by a collec

to be $25.

urging that, in Fecember, Madame Lily Bess representative than that of the

The CHAIRMAN said that the penalty agreed to give them a 30 per cent. in- majority of Crown Colonies, is incapable tion of mercantile axe-grinders a poor.

At present was $100 with violence, nadcrease in wages. Their contention was. f improvement it has been discreetly choice but, happily, not the only one

that the firm owed them more than they -pilent. It did not

venture to open to the electors. A fifth dreads the without, $23.

Mr. Ross: On behalf of my Chinese dominance of the "vested interests," just colleagues may I say we think that tog

owed. ariticise the petition when it was as though it was a new terror and the increase the penalty to 8250 is enorm and Mr. T. Rowan for the defendants.

Mr. Webster appeared for the plaintifs issued, either because it could not say

vested interests" were not the chief ously severe; we think that $25 is quite anything bad of it and would not say toes of reform. A sixth, with very sufficient,

Mr. Rowan explained that the Employés If there is violence, we will or because prudence Enything good, suggested waiting to see which way the gue ideas of the functions of a legis agree to any penalty you like, but if found that the 30 per cent., which they had not received, excceded the amounts there is a little delay it is always posthat they owed plaintiff and they saw cat would jump. Now it is pretending lature, prefers "experts in legislation, to exult over the fact that up to a week by which he evidently means officials sible for the inspector to my that he their solicitors. Later there was trouble with experience of departmental ad- has been obstructed. Mr. Boss suggested ago the signatories did not total more ministration; to samateurs, though in his that a indy might delay opening the over their pay, and on July 8th the native land it is amateurs who determine door because she was having a bath and employés came out on strikes. The in

crease had been sanctioned by the Scere- In the attempt to belittle this result the policy, which the public services it was hard that she should have to pastary for Chinese Affairs; and it

carry into effect.

than six hundred.

CTen

Fr

own

Then there is" the cautious person who wants to consult "his employer and has forgotten the hymn they use to sing in Sunday Schools-

Dare to be a Dantel, Dare to stand alone,

Dars to have a purpose firm- And dare to make it known.

$250.

The CHAIRMAN: The equivalent law at Home makes the fine £60.

Mr. Ross The people. at Home who are administering the law are of the

same race.

The CHAIRMAN: For that reason I reduced it to the équivalent of que-half." Mr. ALABASTER moved that the penalty be reduced to 825 and Mr. Ross seconded. Mr. 5. W. Tso supported the amend meat, giving as a reason that people leng resident in the Colony knew the law and were not likely to offend. The offenders would be new comers, and to fine them heavily would be to put a tax on ignor that

The Maison Lily, modistes, Des Vœux Road, yesterday, in the Summary Court, sed six failors employed there, who are now on strike, for money lent

was

thought that the extra 30 percent. should date from January 9th.

After evidence had been heard the case was adjourned until to-day.

HONGKONG® ASSESSMENTS.

THE NEW VALUATION.

The Report on the Assessment of the Colony for the year 1921-1929 bas just been issued. The Hon. Mr. Mel, Messer, Treasurer and Assessor, says that by

The Hon. Mr. T. L. PEEKING order of H.E. the Governor" in "Council

speaking from the official side, he would be glad if the penalty could be reduced He had inspected hundreds of houses here

a new valuation of the whole Colony haa

it was stated that the Jury List, which forms the bulk of the proposed electo- rate, contained about 1,600 names, and "all these people are entitled to a vote." Yet in a same issue of The Telegraph appeared precis of the petition stating clearly that the vote was limited to "British subjects" on the list, A sorrection, it is true, was inserted next day, but what are we to think of an Finally, doubts are expressed as to organ of public opinion" which, in its whether, if the petition were granted, eagerness to bolster up a tottering case, the requisite number of candidates dagrantly ignores facts in its would be forthcoming. As it is only possession 1 From this initial blunder proposed to increase the unofficial pon- saturally, flowed the subsequent mis-Chinese members of Council from four statement that, in view of the inclusion to six, and, every temporary vacancy ance, in the electorate of those exempted from (except one) which has arisen. during jury service by reason of age or occu- the past six years has been contested,

been made and the rateable value has pation, the number entitled to rote there would not appear any room for

thereby been increased from $17,408,9 must be considerably in excess of the doubt on this point. Moreover, under

to 813,80,880, "an addition of 81,297,701, number on the jury list." In the circum- the new conditions the candidates would and at Home and bad very rarely becs or 7.40 per cent. stances it is not surprising that the probably be drawn from a wider field. refused entrances

In the ten year fo12-13 to 1921-22 thà Mr. Ross urged legal members of the rateable value of the Colony has increas estimate which the Daily Press gave This, indeed, was foreseen by some of the some days earlier, of the signatories official opponents of reform, who were Bourd to provide a definition of obstructed by 86,384,3 or 51.85 per cent,

should have been referred to as 900 in the habit of conjuring up the bogey tion so as to distinguish it from mere instead of 600. The Telegraph invari of a sugar-boiler on the Council when delay, but there was no response to his ably socs things upside down. T they wanted to show how the safety of appeal, which was repeated more than

the realm would be menaced by a more enco

The CHAIRMAN expressed a desire to The actual number. of names on the representative system of government. A list of special and common jurors is sugar-boiler they seemed to regard as meet the wishes of the Chinese. He add nearly 1,750-a constituency na large as the local equivalent of Russian ed that be supervised prosecutions and

I am not sure that I have some of those which return Members to Bolshevik. the House of Comatoria. From this ever been acquainted with ja' sugar. total, however, must be deducted those boiler, for I don't know by what masks who are not British, subjects: It is im- you detect him, unless be has sugar possible to say off-hand how many, this candy hanging from his whiskers like would account for, but probably a much stalactites. As a matter of fact, I greater number than would be added by expect that by a sugar-boiler the elite including those persons who are spe

mean a parson like myself who doesn't cially excapted from jury service. This, glide to his office in a motor-car or get it should be explained, leaves out of into Government House jamborces by consideration Government servants and the early door. Well, if sugar-boiler Amy men, who, for obvious reasons, were to be sent to the Council he could are not expected to sign. An electorate, hardly bo other than a remarkable man therefore, of about 1,600 would not and a valuable acquisition. - appear to be very wide of the mark.

RODERICK RANDOM/

الريد

a particular house, he had to accept the occupier's denial and was absolutely pre- vented by the law from entering. That was the position it was desired to alter. charge would not be brought for mere He thought the $25 &ne too small; there temporary delay

were people who would gladly pay that M. CHOU Bou-azk quoted; a caso to to avoid 200 the subject fur-1 show that an inspector might, quite un The Board. warrantably, get the impression that hether in Committee after which the CUAJE. had been obstructed.

MAN proposed a further amendment that Mr. CHOU remarked that the policy of the penalty for obstructing a sanitary the Government was not to pasa lawa inspector with violence be 2260, and for which made people's lives untenable. obstruction without violence $50.

The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH Eid Mr. Tso I consider even that is too

it was passive resistance which some heavy. times caused the difficulty. There was Dr. FEARSE seconded tho amendment, no objection to reasonable delay. At pre which was put to the meeting and lost. sent, unless he could prove up to the Mr. Alabaster's amendment was then hilt that an infected person came from carried. |:- (Continued at foot of next column.) · The rest of the business was formal,"

4

A DRESS CLOSET,

LANE, CRAWFORD'S SOLE AGENTS.

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PATENT.

UNIVERSAL PACKING

STEAM & HYDRAULIC BOLE AGENTS;

LANE, CRAWFORD & CO.

Tel. 1741.

NOTE

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