1928-01-21 — Page 5

Page

BAD YEAR FOR CANTON TRADE.

OUR CHINESE CORRESPONDENT'S REVIEW.

PIRACY, TRADE UNIONS AND MILITARISTS RUINING THE CITY.

STRONG GOVERNMENT NEEDED.

Our Chinese correspondent, gives below a comprehensive review of trade in Canton, ali eading forms of commercial activity being mentioned It is not very optimistic. practically every line of enterprise having to admit losses owing to increased costs and diminished demands caused by piracies, strikes and military exactions. It is the price which any trading community pays for not controlling its own destinies and for allowing inbour unions and militarists." whose ony object is exploitation, to get the upper

hazd

"It is interesting to note that two of the tiny minority of trades which report good business, namely market garden produce and jade do so thanks to continued business with this Colony..

Ten houses have done well. They cater for a fixed hahit, and will be the last of the simple pleas ares of the people to be fors. gene. Theatres and cinemas seem to have done exceptionally Ladly.

Part of the loss of trade is traced to changing social customs- to short hair for women and simpler wellings, for instance, but the. main cause for the trade slang is the tailure, to secure a strong and able government.

(FROM OUR CHINESE CORESPONDENT.] | triged ́a strike against certain

steamship companies, thus causing Trade in Canton during the year lors to exporters whose goods were just closing according to Chinese held up owing to no fault of their calundar was as bad as might be. Canton merchants in this line expected, in view of the circum have connections far and wide, in

cluding Yangtze River ports. War as brought loss.

stances.

Banking.

I

Piace Goods.

Piece-goods, for which, Canton is more of a transhipping ageat than a consumer, did practically no busi- ness owing to civil war and inter-

dealers in Canton made any pro this year.

Et may be recalled that last September, Mr. Koo Ying Fan, then Commissioner of Finance of Kwanglung, foresd the bankers to subscribe per cent. and the general merchants, 40 per cent., of jruption of river traffic. Very few thei: registered capital towards a $10,000,000 loan demanded by the Central Bank of China as security against a new issue of notes. This drastic levy, it is said, has been responsible for the failure of more

· than 90 native banks. Of the 80 or more large native burks in Canton, only about 30 are able to say that they have done any proft. able basiness and will be able to pay a dividend after Chinese Now

Year.

יו

Silk."

"Nothing doing" is the reply given by merchants in the silk piece Hoods retail trade to enquiries about present conditions. Owing

frequent disturbances and labour Lyriday, big weddings and other celebrations which usually involve large order for costly garments "have been reduced to simple affairs!

Jewellery,

More than 50 per cent. of the Exhmongers in Canton City report

luss over the whole year. "Early in the year, the restaurant workers had trouble Grst with their en-

ployers and afterwards between

themeires and torn time "restub rant business nad to be suspended. restaurants cobejane large quanti ces of fish daily, and these strikes caused a great lass the fish tomeket.

"Canton

potus

toj

of

THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY,

READY FOR THE MANSLAUGHTER

COMMUNISTS.

1

APPREHENSION IN CANTON.

PEOPLE BEHIND THE GOVERNMENT,

[ROM OUR CHINESE CORRESPONDENT.]

CASE.

MAGISTRATE'S DECISION

TO-DAY.

SPEECH FOR THE DEFENCE.

JANUARY 21st,

HOLDING UP A JUNK.

PRISONERS HEAVILY

SENTENCED.

FIVE YEARS' HARD LABOUR FOR POSSESSING ARMS.

Yesterday morning the evidence

The Criminal Sessions for January was concluded in the case in which were concluded at the Supreme. Lo Chi Hing is charged with the Court yesterday, when the verdict] manslaughter of a fellow student at was returned in the case against St. Paul's College, Ho Kwong Hoi, three Chinese for attempted robbery Agitalers in a quarrel at the South China on a passenger junk plying between

Athletic Association on Christmas Taipo and Sai Kung. Day."

There is certain amount of apprehension in Canton of further trouble from the Reds. are still working upon the traile unions and the unemployed; These

two sources of extremist influenes

The two witnesses heard yesterday know that the policy of the Govern mording, Kwok King Tong and Li Bent is to break the tyranny that Shui Fan, were both eye-witnesses they have been able, thanks to their of the quarrel, and their evidence Communist leaders, to exercise over was corroborative of that which has the city and they are not prepared gone before." Kwok King Tong, who to submit without a further blow. was sitting next to deceased on the The Government is well prepared sofa prior to the quarrel, said that and will suppress any outbreak with at the moment of impact of the the ruthlessness that bus charac-smack he saw defendant's wrist just terised the great struggle between Communism and the rest of the people of South China.

The Snancial problem is still the Government's gravest concern, but the troups have received their pay- and can be depended upon in the event of trouble. The attitude of the public towards the Bolshevists is one of fear and intense hatred, They will be heartily behind any measures taken for suppression of the Reds.

All this uncertainty on top of the currency depreciation, and now the rumours of reverses to the Kwangsi will make this New Year the worst troops in the East River District,

within living memory,

in the way of profits. Some mili- tary commanders have gone eo tar as to appropriate private launches! for military use uitinate confisez tron.

Timber And Bamboo,

North and West River districts- Timber, and bamboo-products of are still over-stocked in the out- exirts of Canton City, There have not been many demands during the year on account of high prices. Unsafe transportation has increased

Fruit And Vegetable Trade Fairly

• Good.

Yangtais Valley Trade,

of produce cöst. importers trou Yangtze valley 'anu praer

stern

were, stres, hard hit by the suspension

Fruit and Vegetable Guild niem el smpting there as a result of the win Cantonese who thought that bera, while not complaining of dull the departure of the Kuomintang trade, have not given a very en romer Party hom South to encouraging report, although business try and East China would lessen has been fairly profitable. But for the frequent interruption to ship- ping, 'this line of trade might have heen much better.

the mustortunes of Canton found

their reasoning unsound. The fail ure ut the Northern Expedition has re-acted inuly in Canton

Charcoal. Charcoal is an important com- mounty in Canton and the ustricts ornaments, ong the West und the North and vers turnish most of what the

Dealers m

Files,

-CUN

More than 25 per cent. of the express companies in Canton City had to close down during the year, and perhaps more will have to do so before the year coses. Bad trade has been responsible for lack of shipping business.

Jewellery-particularly the pro- ducts of Chinese gold and silver- smiths-have found their worse epemy

the new fashion of shinging and Bobbing the hair Hung Chinese girls of better cines families. The hair bracelets of native other articles have given place to City consumes, foreign wrist watches, and many ane have not reported good trade Camese girls spend their money olur good pront. rirates on the prin toilet articles. Instead of loitering cpu rivers demanded heavy only line ard counters where hair nets bule betore allowing the junks and pns are displayed. Merchants carrying the cargo to pass.. The in Chinese jewellery will have to quantity of charcual entering Can arck a new outlet for their wares.

Dried Fish.

Los uuning the year was below the Average.

Wine And Rice, Wine and rice, a trade going "Canton, should have Logether in been fairly good under ordinary cir

The trade ecmalances.

was not problubie uuring the year owing to nigh'costs, increased wages and the general disturbance brought about

y toour tyranny and this sings.

Deater in dried fish, etc., Irom Japan and other sea coast ports, report the failure of more than 20 firms in Canton City alone. Prova- ence of piracy has made it impos sible to ship goous to the conuity districts without danger, and the boycott against Japanced goods during the summer of 027 has added further diiculty to trade.

Chinaware trade in Canton de- pends much on the state of affairs

Red up-

One Bright Spot. Fire-crackers cujoyed fair trade during the year.

The restaurant and tea shop buai- Jst articles in this tine are inport- nese which caters for the greatest of the populace, should have bad nothing to complain of;

in Kiangsi, from which province the

ed Military operations in North-demand

not

are

་་

When the case opened on Thurs- day, before the Puiane Judge (Mr. Justice J. R. Wood) the prisoners. were charged with various counts of robbery, assault with intent to rob, common assault, and possession of arms. The offences were alleged to have been committed in the Tolo Channel, mid-way between Taipe and Sha U Cheung, on December 19th. below the jaw and chin of deceased. All the prisoners entered pleas of Both bore witness that the deceased" not guilty." Mr. H Somerset appeared in no way distressed by Fitzroy prosecuted on behalf of the

Crown. the blow.

M:. Turner's Speech."

:

Yesterday, when the case was re- Mr. Turner said that at the close sumed, Mr. Fitzroy said that in of the prosecution he had submitted view of the nature of the evidence that the defendant should be dis-given on the previous day, he wished charged. After calling evidence for to withdraw all charges with the the defence he did so even more con- exception of that of possession of fidently.·

If it had been a bully's blpw| which had been struck at a small boy it would have caused a stir in the club. But nobody discussed it, no one took sides; it was utterly unimportant and hence there were

Could one expect uniformity in de- slight differences in the story

tail after 3 or weeks !

arma.

this His Lordship agreed to course.

Witnesses were then called who

spoke of the prisoners producing They identified prison- revolvers.

ers.

The Defence. Each prisoner made a statement from-the deck, but their stories, to However, there was agreeme all intents and purposes were the Hame. They all said that they were "over the nature of the blow, except

for the evidence of Lo Chi Ming.told that this was the junk for Tap Man after man said that it was a Mun. It was not until the junk had slap, and one only said that it was left Taipo some distance behind that & hard blow with the fist, and he they overheard that the junk was

on its way to another village. had been hopelessly discredited.

Kowloon Tragedy Recalled. Mr. Turner recalled a case when one boy, having a knite in his bad, chased another boy who slipped and fell. The pursuer tapped over hun and accidentally stabbed him in the back. In that se, waere there was a chase and a fatal weapon the jury did not convict. It was inconceivable that a jury could con vict on the evidence.

Mr. Turner added that the de- fendant was cutatted to the benefit of the doubt, at any douot existed in "s Worship a minití.

A Most Dcult Case,

They each, in turn approached the master of the junk and told him they wished to go to Top Mun. The master was offered extra money, they Anid, if he would go on to Tapfun with them, and to this he agreed. The course of the junk was altered to this direction. Later the wind rose and the sea became rough, and the master refused to proceed any further and turned the junk back again.

on.

According to prisoners, a quarrel then started as they wished to go Prisoners then alleged than an old man, became frightened, ap Having now the whole of the evi-parently fearing he was going to be dence before me, said Mr. Lindsel, robbed, and jumped overboard. 1 should like some little time for When picked up by the police consideration of this case. 1 Snd launch, which was just behind, they it certainly a most uncult case, said, he told the police that they and I agree with you on this point, (prisoners) were robbing the people on the junk. They were then arrest that even if a Judge directed a jury that there was evidence to ed justify. a verdict ot manslaughter, it is most unlikely that the jury verdict. would bring in such That is my feeling in the matter. What the exact result or that feel- ing is, I would desire time lor con- sideration.

Mr. Brooks then asked leave to address his Worship, but permission

was not granted.

Mr. Lindsell indicated that in view of the near approach of the Chinese New Year, he was prepared to give his decision to-day at 12.30 p.m.

INTERPRETER'S PROTEST.

That popular Chinese institation the tea house appears to be the which has nothing to grumble about. Tea drinking is a habit which the Chinese will have no idea of dropping, and despite all difficulties, people will go to the houses for their morning, after noon, and sometimes, their even ing tea..

Bakery. Bakeries have done good business. There too many modern weddings these days, snu the custom of Chinese, bridegrooms ordering a hundred or more cases of cakes as gifts for the ride's relatives and friends is not always At the opening of this case yes- roilowed. Instead of sending lor terday morning, Mr Lindsell men ane's bride in a flowery sedan chaar, tioned that his interpreter had com- many Cantonese now we come themtained that some of Mr. Turner's interpretation in decorated motor-cara.

might lead the public to think he was to some extent biasaed in the case, Mr. Turner replied that he could intended to convey such an impres- sign. He felt so strongly on the matter that he would ask his Wor-- ship if he also was labouring under that misapprehension.

the

comment on

the

Each prisoner emphatically denied possession of arms, and asked how they could conceal arms in the cloth- ing they were wearing. The first prisoner remarked that in British territory it was not possible to have arms without being found out. ."

In the course of his summing-up, ..that His Lordship pointed ou although the jury might feel that prisoners had been guilty of in timidation, that did not concern them. The Crown had had an op- portunity of alleging intimidation; but had not done so, and they could still do so at a later date if they so wished, but that did not enter into this case. The men were only charged with possession of arms, and it was only for the jury to decide whether they were guilty on that charge or not.

later At

His Lordship stage, commented that if anyone on the junk wanted to draw the attention of the police launch to the junk he posely selected a lame old man as the person to jump overboard,

After a retirement of about ten minutes, the jury returned a unani

agninst mous verdict of guilty each prisoner on the charge of possession of arms.

1928.

ern Kwangtung around Nanyung un but business along this line was has been expressed at the anal assure his Worship that he never did not think they would have pur-1

Boots And Shoes."

་|

There were big demands for flour and sugar throughout the year in Canton market, but regret

1027 have prevented goods from

Business was entering Canton by that route, unprofitable this year. There has quantity imported.

been trouble with the fish mongers particularly good during the latter and during the year under review, they had to be shipped in by sea, guild and instead of buying their part of the year.

ish from regular guild merchants, thus adding to the cost of trans-

the restaurants went to out-of-the-

Mr. Lindsell: Certainly hot. The boots and aboes manufactur- portation.

Sending goods by sea also involves further duty through way places to procure their sup

ing trade was bad throughout the

Mr. Turner went on to say that causing extra cost to the Customs. Last year most of PS thus

year. The several strikes brought the interpreter was entirely wrong. the usual Canton chinaware export were not satisfied with the extra themselves. Patrons of restaurants

ruin to many employers. It is fear-la a case of that kind very serious business was done in Hong Kong.

ed that many shoe factories may issues were involved and there was cost they had ultimately to pay and Second Hand Clother.

not open again after Chineze New ap even stricter duty than usual on a aller demand for Esh meant Year.

the interpretation. Referring to a The young women of Canton are lower returns for the restaurant

Jade Business Good.

remark What's the matter with just as keep as their Western sisters ¦ Keepers.

Mr. Turner said that it The jade trade was good. Since you!"

might have had a very special

ce keep up with the latest fashions,

Fawnbrokers,

Butchers Do Well.

the same way. The seamen's strike the sales of unredeemed articles Butchery business and piracy during the year made did not realise much profit.

27

His Lordship passed sentence of five years hard labour on each prisoner, and thanked the jury for their services.

Mr. Turner: I quite agree, but BRSUTC you and and the discarded, but not neces Pawn-shop business outwardly the resumption of trade between significance in the case for the de- I should like to sarily old dresses and coat, etc., looked good throughout,, the year, ness had been done with the out-

Carton and Hong Kong much busi fence. He was sorry that the inter- Mr. Lau that I had no intention at find their way into second hand but according to reports business side world through, Hong Kong.

proter should have made that misal of making any aspersions. I stores for shipment to the country was bud Too many persons were

take and he could assure his Wor- merely wished to caution him to be towns. Men's wearing effects go failing to redeem their pledgee, and

ship that he (Mr. Turner) never particularly careful.

Mr. Lau said that Mr. Turner. was fairly intended to convey that meaning. Fur-good, and a decreased supply of

Mr. Lindsell: We must appre made a remark to the effect that sentences in which it would be convey a different mesning in his rather difficult to get the exact interpretation, and that that was the shade of meaning in interpretation allegation he was complaining' of. "I do feel strongly that Mr. Turner into English,

had no right to mention this in Court."

Mr. Turner: I simply appeal to your Worship again. You did not labour under the same misappre- hension and I feel certain that you will accept my explanation, Mr. Lindself: Certainly.

river traffic unsafe and put extra thermore, the currency, problem has hoga. from Taiping, Yeadgkong, ciate that there are many Chinese the interpreter seemed always to

coat on freight on account of charges for water police and other expenses. Desiers in second hand cothings have reported a bad year in their line.

Oll And Bean Dealers,

many others.. affected this line of business like Suitung, and other places has main-

tained the price of meat.

Theatres Not Wanted.

"

War and that.

1.

Ship Owners. Practically every ship owner has

The theatrical business never had Mr. Turner: I do appreciate complained of bad trade. There seen such a bad year. The hardest hit of all were prob- have been too many strikes by the riots in the City and districts have Mr. Lindsell: In many circum ably the oil and bean dealers en-seamen and too much commandeer given the people no

heart for stances the interpretation of that ing of ships for troop transporta amusemente Many theatres gaged in inter-port trade. It will

in particular remark might be quite be recalled that the Cantor Har- tion by the military to leave much Canton and vicinity have not been correct. bour" lightermen and stevedores (Continued on mext Columni) ruaning for months.

(Continued on next Column.)

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