1925-12-18 — Page 5

Page

WHAT STRIKERS AT SWATOW

ASK.

EXTRAVAGANT DEMANDS.

[RUM OUR SWATOW CORRESPONDENT.]

Following is a translation from a local vernacular newspaper - w

CANTON NEWS.

THE

HONGKONG

ESCAPES FROM THE STRIKERS'. DETENTION SHED.

[FROM OUR CHINESE CORRESPONDENT.]

Of the numerous persons detained by the Strike Committee in Canton for Strikers in Swatow held a general Ro having violated strike and boyects rules, seven succeeded in making their etenpa presentative Hosting last night (Dec. from the detention shed and breaking their 7th), and resolved to bring up the follow-chains early on the morning of December ing as the conditions for the resumption 13th. A picket on duty is said to have of work with Britishers here:-

been an accomplice. Amongst those who gained freedom was an oil merchant who had attempted to import a consignment of off of British origin worth more than $15,000. He was to have been released upon the payment of a $10,000"ne, but it is suggested that the merchant prob ably considered that it would be less ex- pensive to bribe the picket watching him than to satisfy the judgment of the "atrike court" in East Garden.

ALLEGED INFRINGEMENT OF

1. That all the employees at present] on strike shall be re-instated by their employers to the same positions that they held before the strike and given the same salaries and other allowances that they received before the strike.

DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18TH, 1925

THE SAI KUNG TRAGEDY. ENQUIRY CONCERNING DEATH OF SERGT. A. H. BLACKMAN CONCLUDED.

kit. Five chambers were fully loaded with live rounds; while one round in the remaining chamber had been discharged. Witness produced the five live cartridges and the empty shell of the discharged The Inquest into the circumstances cartridge. Witness described the nature attending the death of Sergeant A. Hof Sergt. Blackman's wounds...

Ho, found in Sergt. Blackman's left Blackman, who was found dead in his room at Sai Kang Police Station, Now hand a half-buret cigarette and in the Territories, on the morning of December palm of the hand an unlighted match. 3rd, was concluded at the Central Magia. Witness then proceeded to search for the tracy, yesterday afternoon, by Mr. R. E. bullet, which he eventually found lying| Lindsell, sitting as Coroner with the assistance of a jury.

The jury were Messrs. E. G. N. Grimble (foreman), Carl Bunje and Garch Cheung The inquiry was continued from the previous Friday, ---

I

received from .bil mother, and triends," but could find

on the floor at the far end of the room. apparently having ricocheted off the door. Witness then locked to see, if deceased had left anything to explain bis action, as witness had by this time come to the conclusion that Sergt. Blackman had Yesterday, the only witness to give committed suicidt. He read some of evidence was Mr. W: G. Gerrard (Assist the letters Serge Blackman had re- ant Superintendent of Folice, North), who cently said that Sergeant Blackman joined the sister Hongkang Police Force about eight years nothing in them to point to anything that ago, and, before going to Sai Kung would cause deceased any mental worry. Station, had spent practically all his time After removing the body from the bed, in the Water Police. He was, in fact, the Station keys and the keys of the arms an ex-marine. In 1924 Sergeant Black chest, etc, were found underneath the. ...Chinese in Chinshan, through the man went on ten months' holiday and pillows. Witness checked all the revenue Heungshan Cla Guild, have called the took charge of Sai Kung Station on monies, post cffice money and incidental attention of the Canton Government to November 8th inst. Application had been monies, including the $500 revenue money alleged infringement of Chinese made two months previously by Sergeant in the Station, account books and re- passed on to the employees as intended territory by the Macao Government in Blackman to be placed in charge of a cords, etc., and found everything was cor- before the work by the employees shall the Chinshan district, where a park is station in the New Territories, The ap- rest. Everything had been very neatly being laid out. The Canton Government pligation was sent to witness, who apkept and the records were up-to-date. 3-That employees working in the Achas instructed the Foreign Commissar in proved, but asked that the transfer should The body was removed on board No. 1 counting Department of British firms in Canton to investigate and report on the be postponed until the collection of Police Launch and taken to the Mortuary Swatow shall be paid their usual allow.

Crown rent was Enished in October. As at Hongkong.

2.That all these employees, be they the employees of British Cuba, Con- sulates, residences, or business houses and their accounting departments or godowns, shall be paid their full salaries and other allowances for the period of the strike, and that the British Consul shall undertake to see to is that the full payments for these aalarien and/or allowances are handed over to the Strike Committee and through that Institution

be resumed.

AR

matter.

CHINESE TERRITORY BY MACAO.

unces for the period of the strike and ALLEGED SMUGGLING OF BANNED there was a sergeant at Sai Kung due

.

also such additional remunerations as

GOODS BY SOLDIERS. they usually received from the Account-

The Canton Strike Committee has com ing Departments over and above the usual allowances from the British firms.plained to the Executive Commission of There shall be no deduction, whatsoever the Kuomintang Government in Canton made from there payments under any that Government soldiers, or persons pretext.

claiming to be soldiers, have helped to 4-That a Compensation Committee smuggle passengers and goods into or cat shall be formed of the Strike Committee, of Canton on the British steamers Honum the local Government Authorities, and und Fatxhur and have asked that this the British Consul for Swatow, to hold be presented in order not to violate the the British Consul responsible for making strike and boycott regulations. Jill compensation to the strikers for loss sustained during the strike."

-That all special treatments intro- duced by the various firms here before the strike, such as savings plans, bonuses, annuities, etc., shat remain unchanged and be improved to the same extent that the employees salaries are increased.

G-That after the resumption of work no foreign bongs, workshops, factories, official institutions, clubs, etc., shall, under any preetxt whatsoever, discharge any employee without consulting their unions. Where there are supposed to be good reasons for a dismissal, the Labour Union concerned shall still have the right to protest against any pointa not con- sidered satisfactory and to prevent the dismissal being carried into effect. When new or additional Chinese employees are wanted, they shall be engaged from the unions. Without the consent of the unions, no employees shall be engaged "who are not enrolled as union members. The only exception to this condition shall be where the work is not represented by any unions of its kind

A CAPTIVE FOUND SHOT.. Chen Chung Yia, one of the 55 teachers and students of Canton Union Middle" School. Puti. Canton, taken by anti- Christines on the night of October 21st lust, was shot last week by his captors somewhere still unknown. His body was picked up by the police acar Fatahan the other day when patrolling the waters.

DISORDER IN SWATOW.

DAMAGE TO FOREIGN EDUCA. TIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

[FROM & CORRESPONDENT.}

SWATOW, December 15th.

for transfer, it was suggested that Ser geant Binckman should go there. Wit ness saw Sergeant Blackman two or three times during November, both at Sai Kung and at Taipo.

Replying to the Coroner, witness' said Sergt. Blackman had never made any complaint to him of any illness whatever.

Witness added that he spoke to Sergt. Blackman frequently on the telephone during November and Serg, Blackman never mentioned to him on any occasion that he was ill.

A TRUSTWORTHY OFFICER. The Coroner: He was a steady-going sort of man-Witness: I looked upon him as a very steady-going, very reliable and a very trustworthy officer.

The Coroner: You had full confidence in him -Witzess: I had. He was very nervous of taking charge for the first time, but that. is not uncommon in the case of a young officer.

Continuing, witness said that on the evening of December 1st, about 7.30, Sergt. Blackman rang him up to say he was feeling very ill. Witness asked him

+491

A CHANGED MAN.

With regard to His Worship's enquiry as to whether Sergt. Blackman had been to hospital or had been examined by a medical man during the past few months, witness said enquiries had been made by the police and they could not find any. thing to show that he had been in hos- pital If he had been in hospital, the records would have shown it, but there was nothing to show that he had received medical attention or that he had been treated Kince he came back from leave.

Witness added that he had learned from Sergt: Blackman's comrades that during the past six months Sergt. Black- man had changed in his temperament At times he became very depressed and very moody; while on other occasions he was very bright. Previously he was of very oven temperament and. always in good spirits.

The Foreman: When a European oficer is transferred for duty in the New Terri- tories to take sole charge of an out. station is-be required to pass any medical examination?

Witness: No. As far as my experience what was the matter and whether it was of the Police Force goes I have never fever. The late Sergt. Blackman replied known of a case of any officer going out

not even water." Witress advised him so if this was the ease. The New Terri to go into hospital as quickly as possible, tories do not suit every type of man. and told him it was not wise to remain Same men object to it and some are very alone at Sai Kung. Sergt. Blackman told keen on it. Sergt. Blackman was keen witness that he had 8000 odd of revenue on going out to the New Territories, money at the Station and asked whether judging from his application. If he had he should wait at Sai Kung until someone felt bad he would have reported it

came to relieve him. Witness told him

A number of Chinese attacked "the" Yes, Sir. I cannot keep anything down, if he did not feel it. He usually said English. Presbyterian School and the Anglo-Chinese College yesterday, and did

considerable amount of damage. Their purpose appeared to be simply to wreck these institutions and they 7. That if there by any British bongs worked with such effect that it is esti- who, for some reason or other, wish to postpone or defer the operation, at the mated damage to the extent of 8950,000

The Coroner: Is it now a rule that at general resumption of work, of any was done.

not to wait for anyone, but to take it no out-station there, shall be only a single particular branch or braäches of their

It is impossible to Bay definitely establishments, or to engage in any type of business different from what they whether they were obeying orders of in with him, and if he felt well enough,

Witness: At the present time there is dealt in before the strike or adopt any someone in high authority" or whether it to pay it into the Superintendent of pean officer) other change or changes: they shall also was a case of mob outrage. The work of Imports and Exporta on his way to hos no single European officer at any station, agree to re-instate when they actually destruction ceased on the 15th inst." pital Witness told him that if he did except where there are married men in commence business again, the same cm- ployees that served them before the During the week-end the premises not feel well enough to do this to get one charge. strike.

occupied by Messrs Butterfield & wire of the European officers on the police. 6. That the working hours of the em- were entered by burglars who threw the launch to do it for him. Sergt. Black- ployees per day shall be 6 in offices and a in godowns, workshops, residences, whole place into confusion. Everything was replied: "Very well, Sir, I'll do far as my district is concerned, there were that." Witness, added that the same either married officers or two single Euro-

pean officers in charge. evening that he had this conversation

The Coroner: They are not single. -- Witness: I mean individual officers. So

or godown brokers departments, all over was scattered about, seemingly without time to be appropriately compensated.

A half-day holiday shall be given to thyme or reason, but as far as can be

over the telephone with Sergt. Blackman.

THE VERDICT. employees on every Saturday. Special ascertained at the moment nothing was treatment shall be agreed to in regard stolen except a package of 500 cigarettes: he had to go out in connection with Sub-

The Coroner said this was all the The Civil Governor, Mr. Chan Un Lai, Inspector Barnett's shooting affair. He evidence that they need call in connection to women and children employed. The daily working hours for Stevedore coolies, has left for Canton and it is said that ang ap and made arrangements for a with the enquiry to enable the jury to

a fortnight. landing and shipping-off cooljes, lighter he expects to be away

and other workers connected with Naturally rumour is busy regarding the police launch to go out carly the next return their verdict. He thought there was no possible doubt that this w** * the loading or discharge of steamers reasons for his departure. Some state morning to Sai Kung and also gave, in само of suicide. If this was it was

that be has been dismissed from his shall be from 8 am to 5.30 pm in and that the disorders referred to above, structions for Sergt. Blackman to be only for the jury to decide whether it caac of whari steamers, or 8 a.m. tn 4 p.m. in that of steamers anchoring in We

were a consequence of this. On the other

Was & case of deliberate suicide' or stream. Any portion or volume of work hand it is thought he may have been

whether it was a case of suicide com- done beyond these hours shall be paid recalled to Canton to give an account of for at night work rates, out the day matters of pure conjecture only.

his stewardship. These, however, are work shall not be made to extend to a period of more than 12 hours. The rate for night work shall be double the rate for day work.

witness

50

*

informed that the launch was coming for him in order that he might go to hos

whilst of unsound mind. In his pital The following morning (December

the evidence pointed to the latter 3rd) the officer in charge at Taipo in formed witness that Sergt. Blackman had disease and on the night in question he alternative. Deceased was riddled with rung him up to say he was much better and would not go to hospital. Witness was in a very had way and had a high of 81 Mex. per man per day. Where the ber 3rd, when the Cantonese interpreter than that be deliberately committed sui- heard nothing more until 7.15 on Decem-fever and it seemed more likely that he his own life in a it of delirium Besides holidays for commemoration stevedorage is paid by the package, the telephoned him direct and made of the anniversaries of union inaugura rate shall be double what it was before In consequence of that repo auch a delirium, then they would naturally rocide. If the jury found there was such tions, the employees shall be given holi- the strike, fe, where it was one ceat a

went as quickly as he could by days for all other anniversary holidaya.

package, before the strike it shall be and road to Sai Kung. He arrived at bring in a verdict of suicide while of an 10-Any employees who have returned 2 (1)cents hereafter, 2

his destination about 10.43 am The unsound mind, but, if on the other hand to work for British establishments or 12A dumber of these employees on European Quarters on the first floor at they thought he intended to shoot him- residences during the strike without the strike used to live with their employers Sai Kung Station consisted of three rooms

self

in cold blood, then they would bring consent of the unions, or who have not in the latter's homes ar establishments. and Sergt. Blackman's bed-room was then a verdict of fein de se. If the jury joined the strike in accordance with the After the resumption of work, those who end room at the East end of the Station wished to add any rider about an officer public call, shall be discharged by their do not live with their employers shall When witness entered the bed-room he undergoing a medical examination on employers on the general resumption of he given a monthly allowance equivalent saw the dead body of Sergt. Blackmang to an out-station, or as regarded work, and shall never be again engaged. to 20 per cent. of their monthly pay, to lying on the bed.

"European officera stationed there, they The positions made vacant by their discover their house rent,

Witness described, the position of the were, of course, at liberty to do so. charge shall be filled by members.recom- 18. Where a shipping firm permita con body and said there was blood on the jury, after & brief consultation, mended by the unions.

signees to take delivery of their goods upper part of the body and on the pil-returned the verdict that "deceased com- 11-That to meet the increase in the by themselves, the firm shall pay to lows. Bergt. Blackman had the revolvermitted suicide whilst of unsound mind." cost of living salaries shall be increased the stayedores coolies and the lighters a (produced) in his right hand. Both his „The jury added the following rider.--- after the resumption of work at the gate six of money equivalent to half the hands were in front of his body, lying "We recommend that where officers are of 40 per cent, where the monthly pay is amount that these coolies and lightert on the lower part of his stomach. Wit-posted to lonely stations, "they should under 810, 35 per cent, where it is between would be able to earn on the game ness was able to take the revolver from first pass some medical examination, to $10 and $20, or 2 per cent. where it is cargoes if handled by them.

his band without any difficulty. The re- determine their standard of physical above 8100. Stevedore coolies in the Bervice of the Bradley & Co or the motor-boats or steam launches in the of six chambers and was of the type their recommendation would be forwarded 14-These conditions apply also to volver was a police 38 calibre weapon

&tness."

The Coroner intimated to the jury that Douglas 8.8. Co. thall be paid at the rate

possession of foreign hongs or Chinese issued to every European offlocr in the (Continued on next column.) concerns operating in Swalow,

Hongkong Police Force as part of his to the proper quarter.

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