1923-06-26 — Page 5

Page

THOSE SHIPPING PROFITS.

MR. MOLLER AND MR. BURKILL AND THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,

The following correspondence was pub- Fished in the N.C% Daily Seres of the 29ud

inst.:-

THE HONGKONG DAILY PREFS TUESDAY, JUNE 26TH, 1983.

·PEAK 'TRAM TRAGEDY:

CHINESE LAYS DOWN IN FRONT OF APPROACHING CAR

N

SPINE CRUSHED BY WHEELS,

wttnessdby

Ahorrible sight was passengers in the 3.10 pan, ; down cur, ok the Peak Tramirag" føsterday afternoon. The end had reached the Bowen Road level, and, was, opposita the filter beds Chim coelie was

seen to throw himself across the

My vessels taken under the same con. ditions as those of the Chian Navigation asil Indo China Companies and others- I cannot find myself able to at all agree on this point My simple contention is, our vessels, wore taken away from us. for the simple purpose of making money out of them," and this, I contend, was dono in an illegal manner, totally unsupported Claim as acting us Agents for Homy by any Regulation or Ordinance, and Government-I am not at all desirous of there the position with sue, ends. passing any comment whatsoever an this. It does not concern me, nor do I know when a Sa-Some time has now passed since point, I am not entitled to. Rut, the

upon what terms the vessels of the China deliberately the publication of my speech surrounding simple facts as they were represented, to Navigation Co, and the Indo-China Corails. A European inspector was ca the the entered fiquidation of my Shanghai, were that, we were requested in place were requisitioned, but I do know that car, as soon as he saw the man's off, and naturally as anticipated it our ships up the disposal of the Hongkong these two gigantic concerns, both with intention he cried out to the driver to can-ed considerably comment both here Government by communication direct from enormous reserves behind them, cach had stop. The latter complied with remark- and at the port of Hongkong.

the local authorities, and later on were representative on the Hongkong Controlable celerity and this car was brought up guided by a certain form of charter.

Shipping Beard (a privilege which the a very short space of time, but it was Inte The suicide, for such he Party, to wit, T.50 farui.

Jesmbination of suniler shipowners wilso We were requested to consider our vessels not allowed), and that each of these cou- undoubtedly was, had chosen, his time bound down under the terms of such panies were permittal to keep op, and well, and it was impossible for the tram charter-party, but no signatars was ever run a ertain amount of their vessels on to stop in the space between it and him-

self: forthcoming or attached to such charter- their standard coast ints right through the

The result was that the front party, to show with whom we were deal whole of the war, and the height of the hug his spine across the middle.

wheels passed clean over his back, break- The ing; and so it remains even so to this in shipping freights, I quite re

Inspector immediately phoned the Super That my vessels were ant profiteered, day, leaving it a binding document on cognize the reasonableness of this decision intendent, Mr. 1 G. Croft, who came That the money was not or has not benne, but with no pus unnied on the other at the same time it permitted the opport- down to the scene by the next available ned for the benefit of the Colony of Hong-side to shoulder the responsibility of the unity of at least making good en apart car. Before doing so, however, be kong.

commandeering of our vesels, to, which of their vessels, a fact I do not at

telephoned to the polien Meanwhile the That the Hongkong (lovernment was we so earnestly protested.

į regret.

body had been extricated from under the simply acting as agents.

· Recent - publications have appeared in the local press of extracts from Hongkong papers, and I have also before my several cuttings at my disposal from which I find that the Colonila Secretary, the Hon. Mr. A. G. M. Fletcher, Sagaren fit to remark to, the Press that many of my statements

are untrue, to wit:-

That my steamers were treated alike similar to vesicls of the Indo-China S.S. Co and the Chima Navigation Co., and other British regulationed vessels, ma

And, finally closes with the voluntary information that the amounts sccured i through the running of our vigsels," are considered as a liability. by the Hongkong Government.

I am not desirous of exciting further public sympathy, hus I am determined that I shall not allow my worldly posses-] Hion to be appropriated by an illegal and unjustifiably scheme without disclosing the fact. Nor am I prepared to permit any- ope to call me down, publiely, by stating that innoy of the fucts in my speech were

untrue.

Quite apart from the controverty now on, I have the greatest respect for Mr. A. G. M. Fletcher. His fair setion in dent ing with many and varied shipping- prob lems in which we were brought together! during the course of the War are not for gotten by me, or am I ́forgetful of his "genuine sympathy extended to me over my very unfortunate position, and his unbounded approval and sanction · given to a proposal, so bite as June last year, whereby" an attempt was made to settle the present claims and disputes, by a 50 per cent. division between the Colony of Hongkong and the shipowners concerned, of the appropriated profits now retained in the hands of the Colony. I now again Prensat and stand by the whole of the con- tents of my ap city and I further set out "definite farly," As a reply to Mr. Fletcher's contention that some of my statements were"untrue.

werd

Profiteering again repent, "That my steamers were never used, nor intend- red to be used for war purposes, or in aid and defener of the Colony of Hong. kong, or in any connection therewith; arid, who can vouch for this better than myself, when as Mr. Fletcher dors know,' every fixture of my vessels during the whole period that its vessels were under the Hongkong Control Scheme, entered into, signed for, and the freights| collected from the Chinese charterers and handed over to the Colonial Government by my own firm. We were brought, isto "direct contact with the Chinese charterera and they were the ordinary Chinese mer chants doing trade on this coast, and the fixtures were the usual coastal charters that were fixed before the War, have again been fixed after the War, and will esa tinue to bo fixed for all time,

:

The whole of the profits earned by these! fixtures were enormous, and in every in stance the whole of the surplus of such freights were handed over and paid to the ¦ local Hongkong Control Scheme, but in- "each instance ynder a written protest

from ourselves

a

car. The man was dead, and denth must te taken place instantaneously. Pulico were soon on the scene, and the body wag conveyed to the mortuary.

The P-

I would remind Mr. A. G. M. FletcherThat my statement "That the Colonia! of the following three statements made Secretary at Hongkong obtain a way of by the Attorney General in September, legal proceedings, and later the Govern- 11. in introducing the Bill at its Erstment protected itself by Ordinance is rending before the Legislative Council untrue-Surely Mr. A. G. M. Fletcher pearance of the deceased was that of a A-It would also like to remind the cannot forget the interview, that both Chinese coolie of about thirty-five years shipowners concerned that the Govert Mr. Williamson, and myself attended up of age. His entity is unknown. ment, in carrying out this shipping- scheme, accepted the war-risks on these at his office in the Cainnial Secretariat ships That risk, as it happened, was Building. The meeting, at which the not serious, hus the possibility of a inadvisability of both parties carrying on i raider Ending its way into these waters with the legal proceedings, already in- was not an impossible one, There was

CROWN LAND SALES.

REMARKABLE BIDDING.

Two lots of Crown laaid, nuo at. Ma

also the danger of explosions amongst stituted by us, was brought up where it! the cargoes, explosions engineered by was pointed out to as the futility of enemy agents in the rast. The Govern incurring huge mutual, legal obligations: Tau Chung and the other a Stubbs ment took the risk of any damage due to any operations of War. It a raider and where it was suggested, that in viewReal, were wild.. by nuction yesterday

and appeared in these waters and had of the early departure for Home of Mr. sunk even half the ships. the resulting A. G. M. Fletcher, we should leave all Jose wou'd n time of very high valu proceedings in abeyance unit his retur cf shipping, have been most crippling. It was a risk contemplated with con- and that in the interim ne adjustment siderable anxiety, at the time by the might possibly take place. Government, and if the loss had occured it would have been a most gevere one for the Colony, from which it would not have recovered for a long time. Are we then to get nothing in return for the risk the Colony as whale took

at the P.W.D. office, caused by tho nfternam, Owing to the diarrangement removal into the new buildings, the salo was held " at the Volunteer Head- The first In WILS. of There is no object for me to make any quarters untrue statements, as no possible "good! Kowloon * Intand Lots ..ភ្លេចរ; 1500, would ever result there from, nor do 1. 1359, and 1368, (sold together), comprising desire to soonte myself with any such a total area of about 407,585 square feet, mens katta y ends And, will The rearly rentals are $534, 8008, 220, again state that R-It may not be generally known interview was the means of the legal and 8500 respectively. The upset price that we did, at one time, offer the proceedings being held up, nud such facts of the property was $81,557, but after Imperial Government the whole of the are in written existence in Hongkong moderately brisk bidding it was knocked colicetions from this requisition scheme, co day. if they would accept the risk. and the At that interview there was no whisper, down:te a Chiese, purchaser at 8450,500. Imperial Government refused to do intention, or warning-paced before Mr. The second lot was Inland Lot No. We, therefore, had to carry it through WILFRISON OF mywet that an Orttagnes on our own

amir the Eventual Indematy Ace of 1942, sitante the new motor road C. We made for this Colony during Fetcher's absence

would be set into operation during Mr from Gap Road to Wanchai Gap, having at Home, bus Buch an area of about $8,000 square fect, and the War, certain contributions to the really was the case, and it came into an annual rental of 2506. The upset Imperial Government for the carrying operation and full force shortly after his on of the War. We sent Home out of turn to the Culony.

price was $14,700. The price rose the ordinary revenie over five millions;. The coincidence and the connexion j steadily in bids of from 8100 to $500, and out of special rates imposed for were remarkable, and still even in face until 8100,200 was reached, when the lot War Purposes over two millions. We of this, I still believe and contend that also raised a lean of three millions and Mr. Fletcher was at that meeting, acting sent that to the Imperial Government. in entire good faith towards us, but that The cash payments have gone: the loan all the same the subsequent inauguration remains and what it is proposed to do of the ludemnity Act of 1122, was starte with the money collected by the Govern almost immediately afterwards with a ment under the requisitioning is to view to block our claims and crumple our place it in a fund for the redemption legal proceedings. of that War Loan.**

I would remind Mr. A. C. M. Fletcher of that memorable speech of Sir Claud Severn, before the Legislative Council in January, 1920, to wit:-

Both Mr Wiliamson and myself, took the guidance of Mr. Fletcher at the interview in entire good faith and acted upon same by suspending our legal pro- ceedings forthwith...

With regard to the European Com munity, I will deal first with the pro- posal I laid down before the Council for building a hotel and fats in Kowloon. We had noncy for the work, or thought liabilities. we had, when the owners of the vessels. Can Mr. Fletcher satisfy me that this requisitioned under the Local Scheme was the case, when Sir Claude Severn bethought themselves that there was no made his speech in January, 1920, above reason why the profits made by this referred to, when he went into the details scheme should be devoted to improve of what they were going to do with the ments beneficcial to the Colony, and as money? providing hotel and housing accommo Can Mr. Fletcher satisfy me on this, dation for the Colony and also extend in face of the remarks AB" and ing facilities for education among "C" quoted by the Attorney-General, various classes of the community. They when the first Reading of the Indemuity saw no reason why the money should Act was introduced in September, 1921, be devoted to those purposes, but (also above referred to) 1-... thought that the money shou'd come. And lastly, can. Mr. Fletcher satisfy back into their own pcckets, 1 must me that this was the case, as late as leave the community of this Colony to June, last year, when to me personally, judge which is the better way of dis he gave his unbounded sanction and Posing of profits, which may be con approval to the scheme which went before the uffieini mernbers of have gone at Home into the Imperial the

Hongkong for the 2,231,204.-The sum of Present Liability, of the Colony of $2,231,204 appropriated under the local Hongkong Government Control scheine is now put down I one of the Colony's

sidered War Profite, and which would Hongkong Legistative Council, all

was knocked down to another Chines bidder. The attendance was good, and costed almost entirety of Chinese.

And, who will blame me, when I will call it not British," not "Fairplay" nor Justin" when the profits (the results of years of my untiring work) Accumulated ander an unjustifiable con- trol-scheme, shall at the expense and distress of one single modest Shanghai shipwer, and through means over which he has no control, go into the offers of the Hongkong Government, to satisfy the requirements, comforts, and other im- provements of the Colony of Hongkong, when no such appropriation" is made on the profits of such gigantic concerns, n the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, the Hangkong and Whampoa Dock Co., the Union Insurance Co., and many other countless profitable institutions, which are the pillars of, and situated in the very heart of that Colony,

I am, etc.,

ERIC MOLLER.. SHANGHAI June 20th, 1923:

Sie,-In your issue of the 21st instant you quote from The South China Morning Pos latter written by one of the shipowners who suffered and I would like to make ne point quite cicar. Under Paragraphs "A" and "B," the Attorney General laboured the point ay to the risk the Hongkong Government took and tried to get the Imperial Gov- ernment to take over in accepting the war risk on the sttimers.

what it urgently needs hotel accoinmo-Government of Hongkong, and 50 per were apparently, carrying such war risk,

sum of five lakhs of dollars,"

Exchequer The Coverrirent in view of Citizens of the Colony of Hongkong the agian taken which may in time whereby it was proposed by him, with, T erme before the courts, do not fout in was told, the sanction of the then Acting a position to spend any three profits over that these protracted discus on the proposnis until the ecuris baresins hou'd be settled amicably by a diviskin of the Control Scheme Profite, finally dent, with the matter. There

The most amusing fenture... of this is fore, the Colony has been deprived of a basis of 50 per cent. to the

that while the Hongkong Government As stated in my speech; I do maintain that the appropriation of three funds was

dation and money which may have been tuit, to the hip-owners concerned. advanced for the purpose of buildingt. by the unofficial members of the

This scheme was condemned and thrown they kept the secret so well that ship- GWnels were not informed that war risk illegal and unjustifiable, as such act was house when the scheme of building fats Legislative Council of Hongkong ali was covered and I defy aur Government not warranted by, any Act of Parliament, was given up.

Citizens of the Colony of Hongkong

Kervant in Hongkong to produce any Ordinance, Order-in-Council, Royal Proro- The University has also to be Everyone here in Shanghai is aware document showing that the owners of the gative, or other lawful."authority; and,

deprived of a quarter of a million that one of my parents was not fair. Follow were notified that the bont dollars and education generally of a British in love the country of her Government war risk policy or any other mother was covered for a sperise süm undef a that it did eventually necessitate" the, Hongkong Government to call to their

I would also remind Mr A. G. M. birth; taught me to stand by it in its war risk policy, Further as the Bonnur-

distress and to give what help T

to the red herring re Imperial Government Indemnity Ordinancs of 1022, to see them to me, that the funds were in the hands that unshakable, pillar, known and the Naval Commodore, etc. being British Justice taught me to know responsible may remind him that this safely through The Profiteering figures of the Colony of Hongkong, to make use of that great British pride Fair-pay also was a Government secret and if he mentioned by me in my speech, were of them as they liked.

rind FL fair dead:" taught me to know will look up a certain notice of Requisi- gathered through the medium of my firm

that Might is not right!! Does the above, coupled with not to be afraid when a great injustice and headed" Colonial Secretary's Office.

taught me acting as collectors "and agents for the Hongkong Control Scheme, and are sub-Fletcher's present statement that the has been done to me; and therefore, those Hongkong he will see that it was stantially correct.

funds may be used for some shipping pur who are responsiblo, for the injustice signed by the Honourable Claude Sovern

and stated that the Governor of At no ties were we brought into touch rose justify the rebuke that wy ass. Thit of title the court, the plan Hongkong ete, the or connection with the Admiralty, the tions are untrue? It is quite possible that have come rightly into their bonds, must #Under this document, how does he mako Commodore of Hongkong, or anyone the position might have been different in understand that. I will bring this great out that the actual requisition wan ponsible for the genuine requisition of the very first instance, but, surely this injustice into the sunlight, when I have carried out by the Naval Commodore. British vessels, ntessary for war purpose, must have been considerably altered Inter been barred by all other lawful means of

I am, olc. or for the defence and aid of the Colony on to permit of the remarks as related having a fair hearing.

QR. BURKILL of Hongkong.

(Contimit ni foot of next evlunn.)

SHANGHAI, June 1a, 1923,

aid, the effective and sure step of the Fletcher of his own, personal statement when needed; taught me to look couldable Mr. A.G.M. Flotcher is still trailing

intéve:

?

31.

tu

tion

and Contro dated March 13th, 1918,

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