1921-12-23 — Page 2

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THORNYCROP

JOHN L THORNYCROFT A 00., LIMITED),

GRIFBUILDERS" and Exoinnea

LONDON, SOUTHAMPTON AND

Shangbai

BASINGSTOK

Office: 10; Kinkiang Road

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THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23RD, 1821.

15 B.H.P. 30 B.H.P. 50 B.H.P. Engines

in Stock

For quotation apply-

XMAS GIFFS

To continue our Sale before moving we are offering the whole of our stock of articles suitable for Xmas Gifts at

10% Cash discount

SHANGHAI OFFICE.

for MEN

TIES

SOCKS JEWELLERY

SOARVES

HANDKERCHIEFS DRESS, GOWAS " BELTS and BUOKLES BRACES and GARTERS

MACKINTOSH & CO., LTD.

MEN'S WEAR SPECIALISTS

16. DES VEUX ROAD,

Telephone 28.

DOUGLAS & GRANT LTD.

KIRKCALDY, SCOTLAND

RICE MILLING

The largest and

17

most widely

MACHINERY.

experienced makers

in the world.

gola Agents in South Okina:

DODWELL

CO, HONGKONG

TOYLAND

AT

[1128

WHITEAWAY'S

HONGKONG'S

LEADING EMPORIUM

TOYS

GAMES

CALENDARS

XMAS

XMAS CARDS

ANNUALS LUMNUNA

TOY BOOKS

DRESS CASES

MANICURE SETS

JEWEL CASES

LUAS FOULD 40 KUNTHAÚRK OT » SUITABLE GIFTS FOR ALL

WHITEAWAY, LAIDLAW & CO., LTD.

20. DÉS VOEUX ROAD, HONGKONG,

TRADE OF HONGKONG IN 1921.

A REVIEW. Below, in accordance with annual prac. tice, we present reviews of some of the main lines of local trade during the year now drawing to a closs:-

·

COTTON PIECE. GOODS AND FANDY COTTON GOODS.

During the early months of the year our market ruled quiet, but improved later on, and from about June to October the volume of business was considerabto: The heavy stocks held by foreign import- ers have been largely depleted and respectable turnover is shown in new orders. Despite the political unrest in

CANTON BILE TRADS

'At the opening of the year 1921, stocks of raw silk were fairly heavy. From the boginning of January up to Chin's Now Tear an active business in Rerected Sis was witnessed for America at advancing prices, whereas only a small business was done with Lyons.

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After the China, New Year holidays, America again entered the market and by the middle of March all stocks of old season silk were cleared out. Only a small business was done with Lyons as prices" for Lyons réel had advanced in sympathy: with those paid for Reronis. which, added to an exceedingly high rate of exchange, rendered laid down parities Stocks too high to interest consumers, of old season silk being exhausted, Ame

EXPORT FIGURES. Covering Period January to December. 1991. Raw Silk. “TOʻZUROPS

Year 1931

11

1020

Decrease

Year 1921

1820

Increase

.... 12,000 Bales. "

13,517

TO AMERICA..

813 Bales.

16,300 Bales. 25,403

20,804 Bales.

Waste Silk During the present season, America has remained an active buyer for Best Opened grades of waste, prices of which have marked a steady advance. Owing to ex-

CANTON'S POLICE FORCE, [BY ORRIN KETTII, FOR THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS."]

The police force is one of the tests of nay government: Canton has a good ona, though the present government cannot take all the credit for its existence. Tha present force has continued without sub- stantial reorganization and with only the usual changes in personnel since, the latter years of the Ching dynasty. General Ngai Pong Ping has been its head for several years past, holding that position under the Kwangsi rule and ing one of the principal factors in bringing about the change last year.

Canton's force numbers about 4,000: patrolmen. They are classified accord

China which has been in evidence all rica became interested in New Silk and change fluctuations, only a moderate busting to the length of service and the

along, native dealers have proved sound financially throughout and there does not appear to be any anxiety about the near future. The vagaries of exchange and 's wobbly Manchester market have been the disconcerting factors with which foreign merchants have had "to contend.

COTTON YARN.

At the beginning of the year importers sustained very heavy losses, but in the Spring an appreciable improvement set in and Insted almost throughout the year, with the exception of a slight set-back in the Autumn as the result of political con- ditions in Central and South China.

Competition from Japanese wills was not very severe owing to curtailed output in Japan. The mills there, however, have decided to revert to production at full capacity from the middle of December and it remains to be seen whether the demand in China will increase sufficiently to absorb the larger offerings from that quarter. Prospects for. increased can- sumption, in China are very promising but are dependant entirely upon the restora tion of settled government. With any semblance of permanent security to trad ers the absorbing capacity of this market would be quite adequate to take up all

11,000-10,000 bales were contracted for with delivery as far ahead, as August. Owing to this good demand from America, most of the filatures turned thair attan- tion to the production of Bereeled Silks, with the result that Lyons descriptiona were entirely neglected.

In May and June, after a short lull, further settlements were made in rercels for America at advancing prices.. The second crop gave a poor yield, and sellers" were at one time reluctant to commit themselves until they received more de-, finite news of the third crop. Prices ad- vanced until the beginning of July, due to speculative buying accounted for by the strength of the Yokohama market. A weaker tone in Yokohams temporarily checked this advance, but Japanese expor ters re-entered the market, and bought heavily at a considerable increase, push- ing prices up rapidly.

During this period, business with Lyons practically at at standstill, there being no demand from that centre because To- of the high prices ruling locally. wards the end of July & little interest was taken, which gradually developed into a steady business, whereas 'demand

from America fell off. Pricasseed those reel approached and even passed those Bereel," and many filatures asked for reverted to the making of "long reel " for the Lyons market.

nese has resulted with the Continent of Europe.

TO EUROPE. Year 1991. 5,610 Bales.

1990

0,116

3,503 Bales.

Decrease

* Year 1991

1920

• Increase

TO AMERICA

21,162 Bales.... -19,352

1,500 Bales.

Pierced Cocoons."

TO EUROPE..

+1

TEST 1920

Increase

TO AMERICA.

Year 1091

+1

1020

Increase

RICE

2.359

4.300 Bales..

733 Balox. 268

+2

465 Bäles.

Both the import and the export trade suffered during the year from the instab ility of exchanger and the consequent mutual distrust produced. Supplies were good but the demand was poor and ries at present is as cheap as it has ever been.

quality of their work. The pay is $19 a month for a first class man; $10 for p second; and 88 for a third. "A captain of police receives a month. In addition to their pay, the men are furnished with living quarters in barracks. They pay for their own food. In spite of the small pay, there have been few cases.of graft or extortion. Such cases. severely dealt with and, as a result, the fores is looked upon as very reliable by the citizens of Canton. Most of the mea 'read' at least a working number of characters and a few oven speak English. They are uniformly courteous and help fal, in this respect setting an admirable. example for the palice of other cities.

are

In a city of a million, and a half it might be sxpected that there would be a large number of arrests daily. But such is not the case. So well have the people been trained under the old days p "yamen" rule, that they instinctively avoid any action that might lead to arrest. One detention station with a capacity of only two hundred serves to house not only the day's eatch" but also those prisoners, who are to be held for less than fifteen days. When the detention must run over that, they are turned over to the provincial authorities. One police court muffices to dispose of all the petty cases of the city.

The principal offences are opium-smok

the supplies that are likely to be availahie large settlements made by Europe, German competition made itself very ing and selling, stealing and kidnapping.

the bear future`

Heavy fluctuatious in values were ex- perienced during the year due, to a great extent, to vagaries of the cotton market. The price of American cotton, which at one time reached so low as 7d, appreciated in the Anturan to over 14d. but has since receded to about lid.

seriously felt, Hamburg traders buying when the mark was strongly in their favour, afterwards under-selling at a handsome profit on the actual transaction in rice.

The factors which enabled high prices then ruling to be maintained were the renewed interest taken by America, coupled with an unsatisfed demand in the interior for raw silk by the native vers who were willing to pay the same The end of August witnessed a luit in Prices as those obtained for export. demand, bus Japanese exporters again entered the market and pushed up prices In the import trade there is no sign of which continued to advance steadily a return to pre-war conditions and no Generally speak-American buyers gradually renewed their silver lining into the cloud has appeared ing the year was a fairly satisfactory 000 activity and large settlements were made yet, Exporters regard the outlook more to both foreign importers and the Chinese for that centro sudden rise in hopefully but do not expect any big im

dealers,

changs stopped all business with Lyons. provement in the demand until consumers During September a small business eon-have developed enough confidence to de tied with America but native buying part from their present "hand to mouth kept prices high. This was reflected on

was an embargo on the Cuban the country markets, and very high prices Policy-During the first half of the year were paid in the beginning of October for market which in the ordinary course takes sixth crop cocoons. A few transactions

WOOLLENS.

to

A determined effort is being made stamp out the opium evil The arrests lot offences in this connection run as high as eight or nine hundred a month. About twenty per cent of these are for selling the drug and the remander for smoking it. The punishment is a fine not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment not to exceed one thousand days. It seems to be the practice to fine the sellers and imprison tas smokers. It would seems that sellers also might be imprisoned to good effect. They often repeat," that Second fine in that case is much higher

turn up again after one fine. and usualy sufficiently large to make any further ventures in the business un- creasing in number. The principal pro blem of the police nay is to prevent smuggling.

The

The depression of the latter part of 1920 continued during the whole of 1921. Dealers hesitated to book fresh orders while the heavy stocks of high priced goods carried from 1920 were still lying were recorded with Lyons during the up to 150,000 tons a year. The ban has profitable. Arrests for smoking are de-

In the godowns and Bradford, prices con- One or two of the tinued to decline. buyers who did venture on a few cases at prices which at the time of purchase sec ed profitable, discovered when the goods arrived that the market prices ruling here

month bat exchange again stopped bust nese with that centre and cheap re-sales in New York precluded direct trade with America. Blocks began to accumulate in

Canton.

been lifted now but it will take time to readjust the position. New crops are expected to be pretty good on the whole, better supplies available than last season except in South China. Siam should have and Saigon's exportable surplus will probably remain about the same.

SOY, WOOD-OIL AND GROUND NUTS.

With regard to these commodities; the following report has been supplied:-

Soy-Prices have been steady during the whole year, being about $24 per cask of 5-10 piculs..

During November a moderate business were anything from 10 to 20 per cent was witnessed with Lyons, which gradual lower. Especially was this the case where ly developed, with prices advancing

Forcigo the orders were for blankets. hongs who were landed with stocks of rapidly. America further became interes ed and large settlements were made, part woollens cleared out their goods" at the

of the business being speculative, un- best prices obtainable and a fair amount doubtedly, fostered by news from Japan of Shanghai cargo found its way to Hong of an active market Reelers were able bong

to clear out available stocks and many forward contracts were made. The bust Wood-oil-During the first part of the ness with America continued until early year prices were about $19.50 per picul. December, since when we have witnessed In the second part of the year prices some irregularity in demand from that increased to about $34.50 per picul owing centre. Owing to a weaker franc ex-to political troubles in the interior. change, prices in Lyons declined rapidly with buyers withdrawing temporarily.

The following figures, speak for them- selves:-

The year on the whole has been con- Mer- spicuous for the lack of decaned. chants have bad the greatest difficulty in getting local dealers to clear their old orders owing to the absence of orders from the interior and only under judicious pressure (judicious in case too severe pressure might send them to "Canton more far) will they clear a case to put into stock.

The signs of any improvement are still lacking, and in a country like China it is useless to try to prophesy as to the future trend of things, but there is a feeling that, after China New Year the long awaited turn of the market will materializo."

BUADEIKS.

Business in Sundries during 1921 was, like many another, line during the year, very disappointing. A glance at the Government Trade and Shipping Returns for the past nine months, shows that although imports have not fallen off greatly (except in some cases) the exporta have not been maintained. The result is that merchants generally have still-con- siderable quantities of many lines lying on their their hands which have not gono It looks as if our into consumption. American friends have not been able to retain the business in aniline dyes they were given such a rare opportunity to grasp A moderate business was done the year in umbrellas, singlets, dares, and the other numerous lines that comprise the Sundries trade

Some reference must be made to the dis bonourable practice that has been so pre- valent of late amongst some of the Bun dries dealera óf not standing behind their contracts and taking delivery of the goods Bold under contract regardless of the cour dition of the China market. Failure to take up goods if market should decline in bad for all parties concerned and is des Crnctive of business all

numerous so-called assignments of Chinese firms dealing in Sundries causes one to think furiously especially when one remembers, some of the hard knocks some of the compradores have had to endure tempted to ask why is it Istely. One is tem that our Chinese friends have not peti- tioned the Government to introduce new legislation dealing with Chinese Partner ship Registration Honest traders would hava, nothing to fear from registration of partners.

There are "good: ressons for expecting. that after China New Year is past there will be a real in trade in which Sundries is sure to participate. (44).

Nov. Deo.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct

HIGHEST PRICES OF VARIOUS GRADES DURING THE YEAR: 1921,

000 1,040 1,020 1,160 1,240 1,260 1,300 1,370 1,540 not quoted;

$970 $1,000 $1,000 $1,100 81,100 $1,250 $1,550 91,380/81,400 81,460 $1,600 $1,050 14/16 RR 1,100 1,150 1,330 1,250 1.190 1,350 1,430 1,380 1,400 1,430 1,600 1,700 20/23 R-R. 1,040 1,700 1,150 1,150 1,000 1,280 1,390 -1,260 1,300 1,330 1,840 1,870 22/20 R.R-1,092 1,000 1,190 1,130 1,070 -1,230 1,310 1,870 1,290 1,310 1,599–1650- 850 010

Benson,

921-1929

5th.

6th.

7th.

'. Total.

9,500 Bls. 8,000 Bls. 6,000 Els 11,000 Bls. 9,000 Bla, 8,000 Bis. 1,750 Bla. 32,250 Bales.-

8,000 Bls. 8,000 Bla. 5,000 Bls 8000 Bls. 6,000 Blz. 6,000 Bls. 4,000 Bla. 43,000 Rales,

Best 1 18/15

58/91

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Ground-nuts. In the beginning of the year, prices averaging to 8 per picul, some business was done. Up to June prices were steady. During June/August no business done owing to stocks being exhausted, and prices went up to about 811.50 per pical. Deliveries of the 1921 Crop were available in the later part of November, and then prices dropped steadily to about 88.50 per picul..

It is in this connection that one of the most interesting phases of the work is This is the water, patrol carried on.

A large proportion of Canton's popula tion. live in boats on the rivers and. canals. This water-district is one of the twelve administrative districts of the police force. About 450 patrolmen are assigned to this service. They work in hours off. The headquarters-for-the-dis- shifts, four hours on duty and eight trict is on the Honam side and has at its disposal six stean and gasoline launches and thirty large rowboats. The meneach, are stationed at intervals rowboats, with a patrol of six or eight along the river front and near the canals.

Their principal function is to prevent.

Every native craft which smuggling. comes up the river from the direction of Hongkong, or Macao must past the scrutiny of these guardians of Canton's morals. They have seized & number of cases of opium and so close is their watch that this traffic has practically been killed.

While opium hunting is the principal duty of the water-police, they have many other tasks: They are all life-savers and THE PHILIPPINES, AND RICE must be at hand to rescue any unfor

IMPORTS. PROHIBITIVE TARIFF BILL.

The Philippine House of Representa tives last week discussed a Bill seeking to raise the tariff rates on imported rice.

Mr. Kapunan, representative of Leyte, in a speech opposing the Bill, painted the misery and trouble which occurred in his province, Leyte, and in other noa rice producing provinces during the rice crisis

in 1918 and 1918, and asked bis colleagues if they thought they would be doing justice to the rest of the islands

ing foreign rice and attempt

by restricting

ing to protect a few rice producers.

He said he was firmly convinced that

*

tinates whom a boat collision may have precipitated into the river. They must be on the alert to pick up any stray babies who bave managed to get into the ". water without a collision. They must keep a close watch on the "flower-boat?.. districts at night. And rarely they have to cope with a boat fire. What time in not filled in these duties they have to apend in dodging the never-ending crowd of bosts of all kinds and sizea which almost conceal the water on which they flost

WHAT IS EYESTRAIN? The ere has certain tiny muscles. and that protection should be implanted When objects we look at do not come

the Philippines should have independence

as a matter of policy, but argued that up to a sharp focus in the eye, these the scant production of rice in the islanda muscles exert themselves unduly and

at present does not warrant the enforce-

ment of prohibitive measures which, while enable us to see clearly in spite of the

they might favour a certain class, were defect. These muscles tire and relax- sure to throttle other cizasca. He also denounced the government hemp order causing the objects looked at to become No. 12 so-called protective measure blurred and indistinct.. Upon closing the which, he gard, instead of benefiting the

yes for a few seconds-the muscles be hemp producers was ruining the hemp eyes industry, at least is his province.

Representatives P. Morales and Reyes

come more or less rested and objecte

spoke in favour of the bill, declaring it are clear again for a brief period. would by forces make the islands self Properly fitted glasses correct eye-strain, dependent in rice and benefit the Filipino whether caused by ustigmatism or age. 88 people us a whole. They also argued it

would be much preferable to let a for The Hongkong Optical Co., successors, to Pilipinos make profits on rice than give Clark & Co., Manufacturing and Refract the money to outsiders who spend it not

in, or for the benefit of the islands but ng Opticiaque, 68, Queen's Road, Central, have the equipment to fit you glasses The discussion of the bill was 49-

properly-ADVT.

1509

6