1926-12-08 — Page 5

Page

"NO USE BLINKING THE

FACTS."

UNIONS IN CONTROL IN CANTON.

NO SIGN OF GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY.

LABOUR DEMANDS AND CONSTANT DISORDER RUINING BUSINESS.

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8rm, 1926.

CANTON BANKS

CLOSED.

17

WAITING FOR GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION.

NO CHANCE OF AGREEMENT

WITH THE STRIKERS,

MANAGERS REFUSE TO DISCUSS IMPOSSIBLE DEMANDS,

to intervene.

The strike of bank clerks, which has A Canton correspondent gives us a

now led to the suspension of business by graphic account of the difficulties, of doing any business in that City now.

He many of the banks in Canton, will prob ably force the Kuomintang Government writes: "It is no use blinking facts and in my opinion things are going from bad to worse. No one in the Government appears to have sufficient authority or power to check the aggressiveness of the labour leaders and the pickets. men are able to do just as they please They hold up goods, threaten merchants and pay absolutely no regard to the law. They are, in fact a law unto themselve What the end will be I carrot say, but certain it is that there can be no revival in trade whilst they rule the rocat. will give one or two cases in peint.

These

I

At any rate that is the opinion in Hong Kong. An official of one of the banks concerned states emphatically that there is no hope of a settlement of the trouble through negotiation with the strikers themselves. The demands made are so impossible that the Bank'authorities are refusing even to discuss them. It is not question of pay or terms of service. These matters have been, or could be, settled, but the Union leaders require that all members of the staff, apart from the Managers and the Assistant Managers shall be appointed by themselves and A few days ago I saw two Chinese no-one must be dismissed without their gentlemen and a Chinese lady approach-consent..As the banks could not grant ing the Steamboat Company's wharf to such conditions and continue to do busi board the Taishan A picket argued as they have simply closed their doors with one of the would-be passengers After some talk the passenger was hustled roughly to one side. The lady became frightened and eventually all three turned back and went away. Truly a democratie country. Shortly after

On the Waterfront.

wards the Deputy Posts! Commissioner, who was going home, went to the boat accompanied by his Chinese servant, a Shantung man. The servant was pounced upon by a picket and would have been severely handled if his master had not interfered. As it was the Deputy Postal Commissioner and the servant had to smoter boat from there in order to get aboard the steamer. So much for the condition of affairs on the waterfront.

return to Shameen and take

The Surtaxes,

CANTON OFFICIALS MEET CHIANG- KÀI SHEK.

| PROCEEDING TO : KIUKIANG ·AND WUCHANG.

OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE,

The Canton Information Bureau has

issued the following communiqué dated Tuesday:-The arrival of the members of the Nationalist Government is reported from Nanchang, where they were met by the Commander-in-Chief, General Chiang Kai Shek. They will proceed to Kiakiang with other high Nationalist Party officials and later wali go on Muchang where general meeting will be haldi

JUNK MASTER'S ALLEGATIONS.

SIONED DOCUMENT WHEN DRUGGED.

CURIOUS STORY DISCREDITED.

HAEAte was re-opened at the Summary Court yesterday in consequence of Justice Wood in Chambers that he had a junk owner having informed Mr. bein drugged and in that state had sign- ed a document agreeing to sccept $900 instead of $1,950 for junk hire. Of this amount 2960 was waived in order to bring the case within the jurisdiction of the Court. The defendants,, represented by Mr. Owen, were, the Tai Fung Loong firm.

The first contingent of Government and Party leaders lett Canton this morning. They are traveludg overand to Wachang, Their departure was the occasion for a

Plaintiff alleged that taking a cargo of. big populas demonstration. able. The Nationalist forces stand ready Cheong, near Kongmoon, on April 20th, Information from the front is favour-cement for the defendant Arm to Sara to face any Northern attack. The steele junk was delayed by strike pickets lent discipline of the Nationalist officers until July 37, and be had to return to and soldiers soon instilled confidence in Hong Kong with the cargo. Defendants alist power grows and is augmented by the urban and rural populations Nation had agreed to pay $0 a day for pasange. the enthusiastic support of all chusses who understand the Army, realizing its popular aspirations.

Telegrams from the North report the arrest of thirteen mere Kuomintang mem the Tientsin British Concession authori- bers, including several girl students, by

ties. It is reported that perfect co-opera- tion exists between the British Consular Fengtien Military Party. The search for and diplomatic representatives and the Nationalists contines and it is believed further arrests are imminent."

A BRUTAL ATTACK.

and the doors presumably will remain closed until the Unions come to their | SUBADAR HACKED WITH HATCHET senses, or have sense driven into them by the Government officials. There is to be a meeting of the Chinese Bank Man- agers in Hong Kong to discuss the whole wuation but it is not anticipated that

the policy outlined above will be changed. The Banka foresaw trouble and were able to take precautions in time and con sequently the strike means nothing more serious to them than the loss of business

done by their Canton branches.

"Clerks' Union since December 4th include

INDIAN SEPOY CHARGED WITH

ATTEMPTED MURDER.

Regarding plaintife accusation as to his having been drugged, his Honour reviewed the previous happenings. The plaintiff's ease had been fixed for hearing but on that day, Mr. Owen, for the de fendants, bad put in a signed receipt by the plaintiff had signed an agreement in the plaintiff for 8900, and indicated that settlement of the 'case.

Subsequently, the plaintiff had attend- and had alleged that he had been drugged ed in Chambers in company with his wife at the time he signed the agreement and accepted the money. In view of the plaintiff's statement that he had no knowledge of what he was doing, he (his Honour) had decided to hear the case.

No Collection.

Relating the alleged experience, plain- tiff said that on leaving defendant's offices when the transaction was made ho became dizzy and dimly remembered someone, suggesting that he should” lie down. He was taken to some building but had no recollection of signing any document or of accepting $200 in settle-

The alleged attempted murder of Subadar Lakku Ram, of the 8/3 Punjabis Regiment, on November 16th, was re- caled yesterday afternoon at the Kow-ment of his $1,000 claim. loon Magistracy when, before Mr. J. E. B. Nihill, an Indian Lance Corporal of the same Regiment was charged with attempting to murder Subadar Lakhu Ram with a hatchet.

Our Chinese correspondent writes:

The banks in Canton which have been forced to suspend business by the Bank

Captain Middleton of the 5/2 Punjabis the Tai Chung Bark, the Bank of East Regiment was on the Bench with Mr. Asia, the Industrial and Commercial JH. B. Nihil, and the case for the pro- Bank, the South China Hank, the Farsecution was conducted by ir. Whyte

Smith, assistant Crown Solicitor. Eastern Bank, the Bank of Canton, the Hing Chung Bank the Rue Min Bank, and the Kah Wah Bank, One of the larger banks in the group has already decided to close its Canton branch per- manently before Chinese New Year but

ADVICE TO TOURISTS.

WAIT TILL ORDER HAS BEEN RESTORED.

PROMISE REGARDING CANTON

Continuing, Mr. "Whyte-Smith said that the Subadar's quarters were in the same. building as the prisoner's and consisted of two rooms, a lavatory and a yard. The Subadar slept in one room and has order slept in the other.

On the might in question, the orderly went to bed at about 11.15 p.m. leaving the Subedar writing alone. As about 2.10 a.m. the orderly would say, that he was awakened by sounds of morning, He found the Subadar bleeding freely and saw gashes at the back of thể bend, A hatchet was found lying on the floor near the bed.

"An employee of the defendant firm's, agents said that it was on plaintif's suggestion that $200 was paid to him. Plaintiff, was certainly not drugged or diay when he signed the document. This witness had been called by plaintiff himself.

His Lordship said that he did not be lieve plaintiff's story. Judgment was therefore given for the defendants.

BIG PROPERTY DEAL, HỒ HONG BANK PURCHASES

ASTOR HOUSE BLOCK......

chased the black of property formerly The Ho Hong Bank, Ltd., has par housing the Astor House Hotel for 8050,000. The site is 13,560 square feet, and the purchase price works out at nearly $50 a square foot. The Bank has offices in the building. The deal is the biggest of its kind since pre-boycott days.

The purchasers have not as yet decided to what uses they will put the property.

Established in 1917, the Bank has a capital of twenty million dollars, the Managing Director being Mr. Ko Leong Ho and the local manager Mr. Choa Ee Fal. It is closely associated with the Ho Hong Steamship Company and about a dozen other commercial and industrial enterprises founded in Singapore, by Mr. Lim Peng-sing, who is now president of the whole of the concerns and who has for many years been identified with the fin- ancial and commercial development of Singapore.

said that he did not think it would be Outlining the case, br. Whyte-Smith any use adjourning the case pending the recovery of the wounded iAN. The Suba. "A few days ago mention was made

dar, Mr. Whyte-Smith said, was in

critical condition, and according to in the Daily Press of an Indian dealer's is doubtful whether it will be able to medical reports it was doubtful if the cargo being seized because the surtax do this as pickets are stationed at each wounded man would ever be in a fit state institution to prevent any transfer of was not paid. The dealer himself was cash or documents. (As suggested above the defendant had a gridge against him, to give evidence. Apart from saying if released after three hours' detention in it is likely that such transfer has already the Subadar would not be likely to throw the Surtax Office. But what about his been carried out.-En." II.A.D.P.). The cargo 1 He could get no satisfaction from Central Bank of the Kuomintang is not much light on the attack made upon him- anyone. No attention at all was paid to involved in the strike. Nor are the self, as the assailant at him from the his protests and at last, in sheer disgust, native banks, which do not do interas back, and the wounded man did not see he went to Hong Kong. Then a letter tional exchange business, involved. The who attacked him from the Surtax Ofice was sent to the strike is confined wholly to the modern man's address on Shamcen. The trader Chinesa bankı.” was informed and back he came in hot haste to Canton He went to the Surtax Omee and was quietly asked to sit down. Then he was, informed by a minor official that he would be fined $300 and that the cargo had been confiscated. As a plea sant after thought he was told that the goods would be sold by auction in a few days when he might have the opportu mity to purchase them back if he wished. The unfortunate fellow communicated with some of his friends saying that it the fine was not paid by bo'clock that afternoon he would be locked up in The Provincial Administrative Comel ves next door to the Sundar, and he The Paymaster, Mr. "Whyte-Smith said, prison cell

When the man's friends of "Kwangtang is instrating all local would also say that he was awakened by called to make enquiries they were calmly officials to advise foreign tourists not to sounds of meaning. Un going to his win WHITE COAT FOR "EMPRESS ' shown a proclamation announcing that visit, districts where order has not bee dow to see what was the matter, the anyone, foreigner or Chinese, who en restored. Fakien is regarded as terri- deavoured to evade the surtax would be tory which the tourists should not visiting and he passed under (the pay- Paymaster saw a man leaving the build- liable to three years' imprisonment or for the time being. to the payment of a fine ten times the The Canton Police are being asked to master's) window in a stooping position. cost of the cargo. The cargo of this select a large vacant house within their Apart from noticing that the man wore

The RM.S. Empress of daia came into particular trader is worth $1,100, Appar jurisdiction where the Strike Committee bors, and never by kommedans, port festerday from Manila with 31

a cup of the kind commonly worn by ently a fine of $500 only was imposed as may organise a training school for pro and that the man, was clean-shaven, the passengers and

176 tons of general an act of grace." The British Vice

pagandista ย and pickets. Conan then intervened and pointed out

Dr. Leung Pui Kie, a member of the Paymaster did not see anything to help cargo for local discharge. The liner also

brought 18" steerage, passengerą ji that the Indian was a British subject and Canton Kuomintang Committee

an identification and was being illegally detained. There was Chairman of the Kwong Wah Medical some suggestion of calling in the Ben- College, who has been in the hands of tries, but eventually the man was re- pirates for acme considerable time, has teased. His cargo, however, is still in now been released. It is reported that custody. So much for the surtazes the ransom paid is much less than that against which the Powers have jointly first demanded. protested,

General Conditions.

Let us now turn to general conditions in the City. On Sunday there was a fight between two factions of weavers Two men were killed and several wounded. The fokie of the silk piese goods mer- chants are disgruntled and are threaten- ing to strike if their demands are not complied with As you know, many of the banks are closed because of the strike of bank derks. It is reported that the employers met the men's requests as far as increased pay was concerned but other impossible demands were made and so there is a deadlock.

WATERWORKS.

[FROM OUR CHINESE CORRESPONDEST:)

The Canton Municipality, replying to the protests against its action in taking over the Canton Water Supply. Com: pany, states that it may release the pro- perty after a year's control when neces, sary reforms have been introduced and" the water service improved.

Silk Marchants Attacked.

On Saturday some silk merchants from Sai Chu, a place in Namhof, were bring- ing silk down to Canton by boat when they were attacked by robbers. The rabbers exploded o mine under the boat and one man was killed and two wound "The low and duck dealers have ored. Then the marauders opened fire ganised a guild and celebrated the fact with rifles but the merchants returned by driving round the City on Saturday the fire and managed to make good their letting of fire 'crackers.

escape. This incident has interfered "On Sunday night a Chinese official with the traffic from Sai Chiu and now hired & motor-car. When asked for the silk is not coming from this place. : fare he was so annoyed that he assaulted the chauffeur. Now the chauffeurs are

on strike and there are no motor-cars

I do not know who

blame in this case. It seems reasonable

Outside- Shameen.

Purchase of Hatchet.

BOATS.

ANNUAL OVERHAUL COMMENCES.

In connection with the annual over hauling of the Empress boats, the Empress of Ana went into Kowloon Dock yesterday afternoon, where she will be completely overhauled and when she leaves the dock she will be painted white,

As there was no direct evidence as to the assailant, the only course was to in vestigate the ownership of the hatchet, and from enquiries it was found that the hatchet was actually purchased on the The liner will sail from here on afternoon of the day in question by two January 6th The Empress of Canada, Indians from an ironmonger in Lascar which is a bigger boat, will go into deck Row. One of the alleged purchasers was

on December 30th." She will receive her subsequently, identified, and it was from: coat of white paint at Taikoo Dockyard. the information supplied by a man who The Empress of Russia will receive her saw the purchase made that the delen-annual overhauling and painting at the dant was put under arrest.

Kowloon Dock on January 20th.

This witness would say that he was in Lascar How buying & protractor, when he met the defendant, who was bargain- ing with the ironmonger over the price of the hatchet, and that he actually aasisted the defendant in making the purchase.

With regards to the motive, for the crime Mr. Whyte-Smith said that evidence would be produce to show that the defen- dant did bear a certain amount of enmity against the Suvadar.-

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arrived here yesterday, and both carried Two Messageries Maritimes steamers

a heavy list of passengers both for 1.C., medicat Major J, P. Lynch, R.A.M.C., medical Hong Kong and ports beyond. - officer in charge of the Kowloon Military The L Amazone arriving from Mar- Hospital, in his evidence said that be seilles and Saigon carried 80 European examined the Subadar at 316 am on cabin and 68 steerage passengers and November 16th, and found that thealad 9 Chinese cabin and 29 steerage The British and French police have wounded man was suffering from multiple passengers; the majority of whom dišem. complained to the Police that the rick-wounds, also shock and hemorrhage. barke bere sine outside of the Shameen gates were The Subadar was conscious, and showed The liner also carried 3 tons of general A charming collection of obstructing passage way and should be no sign of concussion of the brain. The cargo for Hong Kong and 800 tons for to suppose that even an official should kept in order. Apparently the rickshawound on the back of the head was four ports, beyond. She left yesterday after. pay the hire of his car if the amount ocolies have a strong Union. In any case inches long, clean cut through the skin noon for Shanghai with 5 passengers who Baked was a legitimate one. I mention the Police have not been able to effect and down to the brain about inches embarked from here. the incident to show into what a chaotic an improvement And so I might con- in depth. There was a small fraction of The an Paul Lecat came into port state everything seems to be falling tinue. There is. Do!! official boycott the skull lying loose in the wound. There yesterday from Japan and Shanghai with Some stormy petrels are sull striving now, it is true. But at the same time was sho na incised wound at the back 111 passengers and a fair amount of hard to form a Custous Union for the there is no oficial" anything else. of the left shoulder about 3 inches long freights. 35 passengers were disembarked micor employees." Up to the present they Law and order are terms which mean and a quarter of an inch deep, which here and when the liner left here yes buvo not succeeded, but it looks as if absolutely nothing in Canton. The mob went down to the mascles

terday afternoon for Saigon and Mar- there was trouble abend.

or rather a few mob leaders are in Further evidence was taken, and the seilles the carried 26 passengers who em control.

case was adjourned.

harked from here

(Continued on nert Column).

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