1928-09-04 — Page 5

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BULLYING CANTON

MERCHANTS.

GOODS BEING SEIZED.

"BOYCOTT COMMITTEE USURP

POWERS OF A GOVERNMENT.

[FROM OUR CHINESE CORRESPONDENT]

CANTON, September 3rd.

The pickets of the Anti-Japanese

DR. CHAO HSINCHU ON WAY BACK.

LI TSAI ESIN STILL TARRIES.

STILL MORE CONFERENCES.

1780M OUR CHINESE CORRESPONDENT.)

CANTON, Sept. 3rd.

Dr. Chad Hsin Chu, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Nationalist Government and Com-

Kwangtung, is expected to be back missioner for Foreign Affairs of

· Boycott » Committee have of Inte

in Canton to-morrow or the next been exceedingly active and are day. The Canton Foreign Office is giving what they term "unpatriotic and selfsh merchants no little in receipt of a cablegram from Dr. trouble. Many seizures of goods of Chu from Shanghai stating he left Japanese origin have been made on Shanghai on Saturday on board the River and on the Bund but on the ss. Empress of Aria. Accom- account of the smuggling at

goods Canton, the panying Dr. Chu are his two Committee has decided to increase Pecretaries and St. Wu Tab Shing. a member of the Kwangtung Pro- vincial Council..

the number of pickets. Heretofore there have been only twelve groups. of pickets but the number has now been increased to sixteen. The extra four groups are to guard the River. They have hired two steam boats and are vigilantly patroling the Canton Harbour day and night,

MERCHANTS HOLD JUT.

The merchants are still stubbornly refusing to comply with the de- mands of the Committee as to having their Japanese goods regis tered and to paying 30 per cent. of the cost of their Japanese goods.

THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4th, 1928.

MRS. MATHESON AND HER CHAUFFEUR.

INDIAN'S CLAIM FOR $277 NOT PROVEN,

HIRE OF MOTOR-CAR FOR TWO BOARDING HOUSES,

CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE.

The case in which Mrs. R. T. Matheson, proprietress of "Huntingdon" and "Flowerbara," two well-known boarding- houses in Stubbs Road, was sued by her Indian chauffeur, Mahomet Din, for the sum of $227 in respect of the hire of public motor- cars, was concluded at the Supreme Court before the Puisne Judge (Mr. Justice Jacks) yesterday afternoon...

Eis Lordship gave for the defendant with costs,, remarking that the two stories told by the plaintiff and the defendant con- tradicted each other and that" plaintiff had not been able to prove his case.

||

Ulaim. For $77. The claim made by Mahomed Din and his partner, Maroj Dia, was for 5277 for the hire of their two public vehicles during the period when Mrs. Matheson's own car was under Marshal Li Tsai Hsin was sup-going repairs. These cars were posed to have come on this liner. But as Mr. Hu Han Mia has mail- ed for Shanghai, he postponed bis return so as to meet Mr. Huin Shanghai The latest report to hand indicates that the Marshal will most probably have to make another trip to Nanking to confer with Chiang Kai Shek. No de finite date has been set for his return to Canton,

TRANSFORMING CANTON.

WORKS NOW IN PROGRESS OR PLANNED.

registered nor paid the 30 per cent. which, when carried to completion,

"Under Pressure She Pald."

Mr. Strellett said that the plain tiff's duty, when his cars were used,

was to check the number of trips made and account every night to his co-partner, who made an immed- inte note of it. Accounts for May hired by the defendant to take her and June were rendered, $150 and guests to and from Chater Road for 2935 respectively, but they were not which it was agreed that Mrs. paid. Although the plaintiff was Matheson was to pay $1 per trip the servant of Mrs. Matheson be when there were one or more passen- had to keep on asking her to settle gers. If the car returned empty of the account and eventually, under charge was to be made. The plain- considerable pressure, she paid tiff seat in his bill for a greater $150 on account at the beginning number of trips than the defend- of November, which was admitted ant would admit that he had made

Mr. Andrewes interjected that his client did not admit paying that sum on account, but in settlement of the whole amount due.

Mr. Strellett said that at the end of February plaintiff had no alter

and also for the hire of his cars during a short period when Mrs. Matheson maintained that her own car was in use. The records of the number of trips made kept by the two parties differed and the plain-native but to leave Mrs. Mathe tiff was unable to prove that his son's employ in order to recover what was due to him. There was was correct.

no suggestion of inefficiency of any thing else.

Mr. D. L. Streflett was for the

plaintif, and Mr. L. R. Andrewcu,

of Messrs. Johnson, Stokes *

Yesterday (Saturday) saw the ex- piration of the period of voluntary registration. As far as our corres- pondent was able to ascertain, only ten small shops in the whole of Canton have voluntarily gone to the Committee's Headquarters and registered their. Japanese goods. And only six stores complied with The Municipal Bureau of Public the demands of the Committee and Works, of which Mr. Pang Wui promised to pay the 30 per cent. is the Commissioner, has mapped tax! All the rest have neither out a big program of public works, The Committee is now embark-will make Canton yet more unre- cognisable as the ancient City' of ing on a course of "strong action." with a view to bringing the mer-Rams, says the Canton Gazette, Master, for the defence.

Construction and extension of chants to their knees. At a meet- ing held yesterday it was decided bunds and bridges, improvements to force the merchants to register to public parks, are some of the their Japanese goods with the Com-things that it is proposed to take mittee and to pay up. The strang-in hand to make Canton a better

city in which to live, est measures" will be adopted, A partial list of the works pro- and registration must be completed before the 25th of this month. At ected or already under way ful

lows: the expiration of this last period. Japanese goods found unregistered in stores will be confiscated, the money to be turned over to the Founda; tion Funds for the Promotion of Native Industries. This is the pro gramme of the Committee.

Construction of a mole between

During the morning session Mr. Strellett said that at all material times the plaintiff was the joint owner of two public motor-cars, Nos. 391 and 414, which, according to his story, were let out on hire to the defendant on certain dates at rates which were fixed accord

Dutch Folly and Honam, this coming to an agreed contract, with the necting Canton with the south bank of the river.

I

Maloo along Hung Tak and Fung On Kino Streets in Hogam

But land.

how the merchants will respond is

not as yet known, as they have

so far taken no concerted action.

PICKETS DO WELL.

W

A large number of seizures were made yesterday by the pickets of the Committee, all of which were goods of Japanese origin. Four sacks of chemical fertilizer were seized at a wharf on the Band as they were being shipped out." A Case of Borted electric supplies belonging to a big firm, with a branch in Hong Kong, was seized in the Koon Shan River Junk Eight hundred sacks of soy beans were seized in Honam Other seizures made in the same day in clude the following items: Five boxes of woollen goods, twenty-five barrels of nails, six rolls of liten cloth; 1,490 sacks of Dairen beans, 140 large crates of matches, and 23 packages of medicinals.

1

In view of all these activities, the Committee has now found it neces sary to increase the number of its offices. It has accordingly rented the three three-storeyed buildings to the right of its old Headquarters on the Bund.

MERCHANTS IN CONFER-

ENCE.

Maloo from Kee Lap Village to

island.

the Cement Factory in Honam

Rebuilding of the Five Storied Pagoda on the Hill of the Goddess of Mercy.

Construction of maloo from Sap Yat Po to Mei Fou via Sam Kai Mino Street.

Surveying route for a new maloo

along Po Hing San and Dor Po Streets in Saikwan.

Surveying route for a new maloo from Dor Po to Yu Yee. Fong

+5

Streets.

Construction of maloo from Po Chai Bridge to Hau Shing Ban Street.

Construction of maloo along Hiu Chu Li, Yang Hong, and Cheung Lok Streets.

Construction of maloo, along Cheung Shou Li and Lo Pai Nam Streets

Construction of maloo along San Kee Sai Street.

Construction of maloo in vicinity of Small Northern Gate.

Surveying route for the Fat Ching maldo.

exception of certain dates at the end of the period, for which a special contract was made.

The total amount of the bills came to $197 while the plaintif admitted that on November 4th, the sum of

$130 was paid on account.

The plaintiff was at all material times chauffeur to the defendant, whose employ he entered sometime in 1923. He left her employ at the end of February, 1929. "Mrs. Mathcion kept a car, No. 575, which travelled at regular intervals from Stubbs Road to town and back again for the convenience of her guests. In addition special short trips were arranged by Mrs. Mathe-

Concluding, Mr. Strellett said hat Mrs. Matheson was taking advantage and he could put it at no less than a very wrongful ad- vantage of the fact that the plain tiff was a chauffeur in her employ ment, and that she took the fullest credit that she could do with regard to the accounts. When the plaintiff gave her notice she made up her mind that he was not going to get another cent.

PLAINTIFF'S EVIDENCE, The afternoon session was "taken up with the evidence of the two parties. Maroj Din, licensed driver and garage owner, examined by Mr. Strellett said that two rivers were employed by him to drive the cars which he hired out to Mrs, Mathe son. He made up Mrs. Matheson's account from the report given him On each evening by the drivers. or about the 13th of May an ar rangement was made by his partner, Mahomed Din, with Mrs, Matheson by which the charges were to be according to the number of trips, Mohamed Din being responsible and reporting to him at the end of each day what was to be charged. Previous to May, 1921, Mahomed He strenuously denied the sugges- Din became the joint owner of the tion that the drivers in his employ two public vehicles Nos. 321 and might have been accepting casual 414. Before, May 13th, he told Mrs. fares, putting the money in their Matheson that he had become part own pockets, and charging the trips proprietor of the cars and asked to the defendant or rather to his partner Mohamed Din (chauffeur her to recommend him for any business that might come along, in the employ of Mrs. Matheson) either from herself or from her who had accepted responsibility for guests. Defendant's ownership did ber account. not interfere with his duties as I Know He Would HavS

Dineully." chauffeur to Mrs. Matheson.

On May 13th, last year, the de

Asked why he had made this fendant's car (875) broke down, and arrangement he said: I knew he she requested the plaintiff to allow would have difficulty in collecting Opening of maloo along Hou her the use of one of his cars. It it. I know Mrs. Matheson. She Cheung and Tien Ping Streets.

was agreed that 81 was to be paid had not paid me so I told my part Construction of a steel bridge for a trip from Chater Boad to ner that I would only hire her my between Pear! Park and the Bund.

Stubba Road and the same for the cars if he would be responsible for Construction of the Po Chai,return trip provided there was one collecting the debt. Shun Mo and Tai Ho Chung or more passengers.

If the ear Mr. Strellett: It has been sug- Bridges, all to be of reinforced returned empty, there was to be no gested that you and your partner

charge.

were quarrelling about outside ac- counts 1-No...

Hao

concrete.

Construction of Tung TRADE REVIVAL DISCUSSED bridge in front of the Government

[FROM OUR CHINESE CORRESPONDENT. ]

Mint.

"FINE WORDS!

At the opening session many prominent Government officials were, present and Mr. Chaw Ting Pong, President of the Canton Chamber of Commerce, was in the chair. Among the high Government officials who spoke were Mr Fung Cho

and Rehabilitation Commissioner of

Accident To Mrs, Matheson's Rear Axle. Mahomed Dia took the broken rear axle of car No. 575 to the Hong Kong Garage on May 13th and the car came out of the garage on May 24th, after which it was in use for two days. Mrs. Matheson then complained that the rear of the car was too high and she in atructed the plaintiff to take it back to the garage and ask them to lower it...

Mr. Strellett: Mrs. Matheson's venture then was the one rift in your luts?-Yes.

the records of his garage with res

pect to thas ear. The repairs | executed on Both decations were cash orders and he understood that in' such cases the owner would on Do account be allowed to have the car until the' repair money had been paid. This-point was stressed in cross-examination since the re- ceipt given to Mrs. Matheson was dated June 9th for a cheque paid in on the 10th, while Mrs. Mathe- son contended that she had re- moved her car on the 8th, and in consequence had not hired the plaintiff's car on the 7th, 8th or 9th as he alleged.

Mr. Strellets: In these cases do they deliver a car before cash has been paid-No.

Mr. Strellett: Are such cash ar- rangements usual in Hong Kong 1- No,

it!

Mr. Strellett: Significant, isn't

Mr. Andrewes pointed out that aince the witness had not been at the garage at the dates referred to he was not speaking from know- edge bus from an adaption based receipt was produced from Mr. Decker, of the Hong Kong Hotel Garage, for $18 dated the 9th June, and Mr. Andrewes submitted that a special arrangement had been made by Mrs. Matheson by which she was allowed to remove her car on the 6th on the understanding that she would send a cheque.

MES. MATHESON'S STORY.

Mrs. Matheson was next called Mr. Andrewes, she said that on to the witness-box. In answer to

May 13th her car was taken to the Hong Kong Hotel Garage for re- pairs where it remained until May 24th. It was taken "back on the 28th and remained there till June 6th. On the 28th Mr. Decker had tried the car which broke down in Stubbe Road and had to be towed back to the garage. She had sent the cheque on the 8th, by the chauffeur (plaintiff) but had had to go herself to get the receipt on the 9th. On the morning of June 7th she had gone shopping in the car and because it was not going well she had taken it to the Dragon take it until the 10th when it was Garage but they were unable to taken to the Dragon Garage and stayed there till the 15th.

Checked Runs From Verandah.

The arrangement was made with Mahomet Din on May 13th for the hire of his ears, She checked the number of journeys made from the verandah of her house, and was positive that no more runs could have been made than she had number of guests in her house to She had not a sufficient noted. warrant the number of journeys claimed; most of her guests were business people, who went to the town in the morning, and returned at night.

According to her reckoning her indebtedness for May and June wag $150 for which she gave plaintif (with his consert) a post dated cheque for November for 8150. The deduction was for misbehaviour. On several occasions she had tried to hire a car from him in August but he refused, and she got one from another chauffeur who charged her by the hour. He had sent in a bill for $70 for which sum she handed a cheque to Mahomed Din to pay to him and she had to threaten to withhold his wages be- fore she could get a receipt

Witness said that plaintif had several times pocketed mall sums Pay which she had given him to bills for her. She had paid him $80 a month and on no occasion had she deducted anything from his wages.

"If he says I did," added the witness, "he is a liar.”

The chauffeur's duties were to drive, the car and he was generally free by 9 p.m. She never saw him while her car was undergoing re- pairs since he had Chinese drivers. for his own cars which she hired.

"Flung It In His face.""" Mr. Andrewca: Was Mahomet Din pressed for money?

Witness: "Yes, he was always, wanting to borrow, but I don't be- lieve in lending to servants." He had presented her with a bill in February. "I tore it up," said witness, and dung it in his face and told him to get out."

Ha left with his wife and mother-in-law who were allowed quarters in "Flowerburn."

Mr. Strellett cross-examined the defendant as to whether, she had over complained to plaintiff of his conduct.

Witness: Often.

31r. Strellett: Why did you not

After he had received the $150 in CANTON, September 3rd.

November be had not sent in any Merchant representatives through-

other bill as the, affair, was in the out Kwangtung have arrived in

hands of his partner, but he had Canton and are holding a confer-

never agreed to accept 8150 in full ence in the Canton Chamber of

settlement of his various accounts.

Cross-examined by Mr. Andrewes, Commierce. The Conference began on Sunday and will last until Wed-

the witness refused to admit that his drivers had given him incorrect nesday, The number of delegates attending is alightly over 160 10-

The car remained at the Dragon information with regard to the presenting Home 80 or so merchant Cho Man, Commissioner of Fin- Garage until June 19th, but after number of trips made on Mrs. guilds throughout the province. aace; Mr. Chiu Tsbon, Commisit had been in use for a few days, Matheson's behalf. He said that

sioner of Reconstruction: Mr. Wu further troubla developed in the Mahomed Din was always at the give him notice I did, but he The occasion is a big affair. On Tai Ping Road in front of An Koon Ki, Chief of the Bureau of back axle and the car was taken corner of Chater Road at the times came meaning to me about being a

poor man so I let him stay, Kung Street where the Canton Relief; and General Chen Tsai back on the 23rd. The car broke when the cars arrived and left and

She admitted that he had twice. Chamber of Commerce is situated, Tong, Commander of the 4th Army

down again in August, when it so was able to check the trips a beautiful puiluu has been erected.

was not used for a period of three made to Stubbe-Road-When Mr. given notice himself, once, she the West Region of Kwangtung weeks.

Andrewes suggested that his part alleged, because she had bad a lock After Floral designs, flage and banners

Previous Debt.

ner was not always there, witness put on the gasoline tank. bearing words of welcome are dis All of these praised the merchants played on the front of the Cham-for their substantial help in rais-

The plaintiff's story was that remarked that since Mrs. Mathe- several more questions with regard ber.

ing money for the Government dur- The conference is to discuss mea- ing its long military compaigns immediately the car broke down he son had deducted. $18 "from his to the dates on which Mahomet sures for trade revival throughout against the northern militarists was approached by Mrs. Matheson wages on the day when she gave Din said he presented his bill to the province, the promotion of However, two points were strongly for the use of his cars again. He him leave to be married it was not Mrs. Matheson Mr. Strellett asked native, industries and the general emphasized, namely, the necessity asked his partner about and he likely that he would be off duty if plaintiff's story that she had welfare of the merchants. Also to of the boycott against the Japanese said that Mrs. Matheson could not frequently. When at Mrs. Mathe- used his car after June 6th was Mrs. Matheson (emphatically); bow foster better and closer co- goods and the promotion of native have the car unless Mabomed Din son's request he went to Hunting false,

Mr. Strellett: Where are all the operation with the Government, to industries. No mention was made cared to make himself responsible, don ta see her in respect of his not pay because Mahomed Din had eliminate obstacles to trade, to of the 30 per cent. assessments of since she had not paid her previous account she had said that she would Absolutely

debts. rcorganize the Canton Chamber of the Committee on the Beverance of

The plaintiff was bound to de broken her car on several occasions. bills he gave you 1 --

Withem: He only gave me one. Canny Garages. Commerce to lower substantially Economic Relations with Japan...

liver that message and, although the membership fees, and to discuss

The merchant delegates from dis- he was in her employ, she had to

Mr. Flake an employee of the Latore it up and threw it in his face

as I told you. the problem of admitting Women tant quarters are being lavishly go to a stranger and borrow a car Hong Kong Hotel Garage, who was Judgment was given for the de merchants into the Chamber on the entertained with banquets and Auto for three weeks af rates which not, however, working there at the fendant with costs as the judge beid same basis as men.

mobile visits to every place of in- were in excess of those paid pre- time when Mra Matheson's car was that the plaintiff had been unable (Continued on next_Column);

térest in the city,

viously.

under repair, was questioned as to

to prove his claim.

Wm. POWELL, Ltd.

(AND REDUCED)

Telephone C. 4578,

We Have Now

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GRAND

TATTOO Sookumpoo

4th, 5th, 6th October

Commencing at £30 Nightly,

THRILLING MILITARY SCENES

In Addition to Special Events Nightly Thurs., 4th Oct. Chinese Display,

Khattak Dance 5th Oct. Maypole Dance.

Motor Car Parade. Satur., 6th Oct. Highland Dancing,

Fri,

Portuguese Display. Japanese Fireworks.

TICKETS $5, $4, 83, 82, 81 & 50 Cra.

16648