1928-09-08 — Page 5

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MERCHANTS' HOPES UNWARRANTED.

CANTON'S FRUIT TAX TO

STAND.

GOVERNMENT OBDURATE,

STRIKE TO CONTINUE.

EROY OUR CHINESE CORRESPONDENT.]

CANTON, September 7th.

ment.

The strike of the Canton whole sale fruit dealers, is still going on. and no satisfactory agreement has as yet been made with the Govern Ever since they closed down their businesses some three weeks ago, these merchants have "been petitioning the Government to abolishing the 2 per cent,"ad valorem import tax but without result.

CHINESE HIGHWAYS.

A ROAD TO WHITE CLOUD.

DELAYS OWING TO LACK OF FUNDS.

The bandits of White Clond Mountain of whom we had a story from our Chinese correspondent

THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY,

THE TAI TUNG DISTILLERY.

TWO OF FOUR DEFEN- DANTS DISCHARGED.

CHARGE OF CONSPIRACY TO BE CONSIDERED.

TO WHAT WENT ON,

FORTUNE TELLER'S ROUND

STORY.

SEPTEMBER 8th, 1928,

THE POLICE| COURTS.

ROBBED ON CASTLE PEAK MURDER CHARGE WITH

'ROAD.

THREE GIRLS AS DECOYS.

The case in hich a Chinese is charged with assaulting and rob

DRAWN.

AT THE KOWLOON MAGIS- TRACY.

At the Kowloon Magistracy. be-

Peak Road, with two other men not "morning, Inspector Fallon, on the in custody, was opened yesterday instructions of the Public Prosecu afternoon at the Kowloon Magis¦tor, asked leave to withdraw the tracy before Mr. W. Schofield. charge against the second of the Three girls were also charged at the same time with aiding and abetting.

two men detained in consequence

resterday will have to find another PROSECUTION UNCERTAIN AS bing an old woman on the Castlefore Mr. W. Schofield yesterday headquarters soon unless they take up the not dissimilar role of highwayinen, for according to the

Mr. J. D.. Lloyd, of the Imports Canton, Gazelle a road is to be and Exports Office" charged four built through their territory.

members of the staff of the Tai

of Public Works has submitted to"

The Gazette says:-The Bureau Taag. Distillery of Aberdeen with the Municipality an estimate of the

a number of offences whose object probable expense bill for the con

was to defraud the Revenue Depart ment of excise duties on liquor struction of the projected maloproduced the distillery. The between Shaho and the Wun Chuen Hain Koon Temple, at the foot of

White Clond Mountain.

Inbour, while #306 will be in the

Mr. Somerset Fitzroy -prosecuted, Mr. H. Lo was for the 2nd defen dant and Mr. Lee d'Almads, Jr., for the 4th defendant.

Mr. Fitzroy, opening the case for the prosecution, aid that on the Lindsell at the Central Magistraes to the complament's house and case again came before Mr. R.. E.

21st of August the three girls went

yesterday and the first two defen asked her to go with them to the According to the estimates the total outlay is expected to be dauts, the licensee and accountant, templo at Castle Peak the next morning which the agreed to do. around 890,000. Of this sum 818,000 were discharged as in the Magis. The old lady and the three girls ill be expended on material and trate's opinion no evidence of conwent by arranged as far as Lai Chi nature of compensation for respiracy had been given by the Kok by bus and then walked along. Castle. Peak Road. Three moval of tombs on the planned prosecution against them.

men were geen following them and route, and $1,200 will be for the

after they had proceeded some purpose of resuming land from

distance "these three appeared in private owners to make room for the

front of them from a side path, maloo, at the rate of 82.50 per

and set upon the old woman, cheng.

knocking her down and robbing her of 888. They then ran away the three girls accompanying them.

The latest report is that the Chamber of Commerce has taken up the matter on behalf of the Written petitions fruit dealers. were sent by the Chamber of the Caaton Branch Political Council, the Provincial Administration and the Canton Municipal Government. Both the Provincial Administration and the Municipal Government re- fused to consider the petition, mained to invite tenders for the con- taining that the tax should be struction of the rond at an early date. The Bureau of Finance will levied and collected. They anid in be instructed in due course to pro- answer to the Canton Chamber of ride the necessary funds for the Commerce that such a smali tax is building of this road. no burden on the merchants who

could easily add this very small

amount to their selling prices.

The Canton Branch Political Council, however, took up a some- what different attitude. It is in- clined to support the merchants and believes in ike repeal of the tax. But its decision on the matter was not clear. It merely decided at its last meeting to "leave it to the discretion of the Canton Municipal Government. The merchants were for a time led to believe that the Municipal Government would, in view of the action of the Political Council, rescind its former order,

DISILLUSIONED!

д

The remaining two defendante, a Freeru (loremau) and his foli were remanded on bail until noon on Wednesday as his Worship wished to consider the case against them. The budget has been passed by In doing so his Worship remark the Municipality, and the Bureaued to Mr. Lloyd that should he wish of Public Works has been instruct-o bring any further charges of n similar nature against any other offenders, he (Mr. Lloyd) should prepare a charge under the Excise Regulations to fall back on in case the more serious charge ahould fail The man defendant and one girl Mr. Lloyd replied that he and were first arrested and subsequent Mr. H. A Taylur, Assistantly the other two girls but the police had failed so far to arrest "Office" Superintendent of the went into the case fully with the the other two men.

Taishan.Chikkal Highway. The route for another public highway mapped out by the De partment of Reconstruction is.from Tan Shan to the town of Chihkai, and the Magistrates of the two districts have been instructed to raise the necessary funds from theon his own initiative inhabitants of their districts

Crown Solicitor and it was the latter who prompted the conspiracy charge. He would not have brought this charge against the defendants

A. Conversation With The Crown Solicitor.

conversation.

The Magistrate intimated to Mr. Lloyd that he would permit him to amend his charges against the re- raining two defendants.

At the outset of the proceedings, Mr. H. A. Taylor, of the "Office gave evidence of finding of a num uer of buckets containing fermented molasses arranged alongside the stills, during a surprise visit which he and other officials of the Revenue Department paid to the Distillery He said that the last month." quantity corresponded to the total missing from the fermentation ves- sels."

The section between Tau Shan and To Tou, a distance of about Mr. M. K. Lo, who appeared on 20 has been already completed, behalf of the defendants, informed but the next section, between Toma Worship that at the conclusion Tou and Chihkai has not been of the first hearing, he went to see started. This dilatoriness is causing the Crown Solicitor in connection Toishan people to hesitate to pay with the arrest of two of the de up for the shares which they have tendants and Mr. Holines informed taken for the

purpose of road

him personally that he had not gone building. There is a sum of several into the case but had merely thousand dollars due to be collect glanced it over and made his sug

d from the people of Wang Kong. There was general satisfaction and Chen How, while the inhabit gestion in the course of general and they sent a group of represen-ants of many villages are withold tatives to the Mayor's Office in ing payment of their proper quota the City Hall on the Bund to in- of the funds tor the road. There quire whether or not the good news is not even a sufficiency of funds was true. The Mayor was not in, to permit of the construction of and they were received by a score bridges in the section of the road tary who informed them that if

that is already built. the Political Council wanted to

Projected Motor Service, abolish this tax, the Municipality would have no objection.. The mer-The villages in the Tau Shan-To chants consträed this statement as Tou section are densely populated, a favourable reply to their request. and in their own interests the But their hopes were shattered yes villagers have put up temporary terday when Mayor Lin Wen Kai wooden bridges, and a flourishing told them that the Municipal Gov. ricksha service has developed. A ernment had no intention of rescind private auto transport company ing its order and that the 2 per has been organised to inaugurate cent, ad valorem fruit import tax a service on this highway, and this is going to stand,

company is petitioning the Depart The merchants are, however, still ment of Reconstraction to order holding out and are prepared to the immediate completion of the continue their strike. In conversa-highway to Chihkai terminal.ed with. tion with 4 wholesale fruit mer- Delegates are being sent to the chant, our correspondent learned various villages and it is hoped that in the near future funds will that the merchants do not intend to yield. The Municipal Govern be collected to enable the bridges ment would only get $30,000 per to he built along the finished annum from this source of taxation, section. The auto service will then which was insignificant compared be started on this section, and will with other sources of income, but no doubt prove of inestimable value it made a great differenon to the to the country folk. merchants. He could 820.00 res son why the Government should not cancel this abominable and oppressive fruit import tax.'

THE CENTRAL BANK.

NEW PREMISES AT KONGMOON.

DUTY ON SILK COCOONS.

KOCHOW SECURES

EXEMPTION.

1.

Evidence was also given of the derangement enused to the cycle of number of the production by a fermenting vessels being interfer

Witness explained at length the discrepancy in the amount of molasses mash which should have been on the premises and the total which was actually found here The discrepancy came to some 3,500 cutties, which although not a great amount would be equivalent to twelve kongs of mash.

Samples of the mash were taken and found to be the same as used by other distilleries. However, this distillery seemed unable to get the same results as the other dis tilleries!

The Detained roki,

In reply to Mr. Lo's inquiry a to what happened to the fourth defendant, Mr. Taylor said that he was taken away from the Distillery and "after an interview with Mr. Lloyd he was formally charged the same afternoon. The third defen- dant was away for 20 days.

Mr. Lo As regards the first de- fendant (the licensee) I put it to you that he was not concerned with

collecting ord, and attending the business which takes him to Hong Kong every day.

The victim got up and walked along the road. t the met meter-car. She told the driver her story and he took her to the police station.

Feared A Fellow Magić' Man In the witness-box the old worian gave her story. She said that she refused to see a European docfor, when this was proposed at the police station-because she was a fortune-teller

of the recent double murder in

Yaumati. The Inspector said the man had proved a strong alibi and him. there was no real evidence against

The second defendant was discharged accordingly and the first defendant remanded till Friday

next.

AILING MOTHER AND..

ANXIOUS BRIDE.

A Chinese who had returned to Colony after having been the banished for five years in 1024 was sentenced ten months' hard labour He and 15 strokes of the birch. told a sad story of an siling mother. and a lady who was waiting to be his bride: however, investigation proved that his mother was in the country and his purpose in return- ing to the Colony was to raise capital.

ARRESTED FOR NOTHING.

Since be

A Chinese told the Magistrate that he had been taken up for no apparent reason. arrested on the shop premises of the complainant in the early hours of Wednesday morning his plaint did him no good. Two witnesses for the defence failed to corroborate the accused's statement and he was sentenced to five months hard inbour.

A BATTLE ROYAL. .

Described as a respectable re- sident of Sham Shui Po who had been employed at the Naval Yard for some years a Chinese had to face a charge of assaulting his wife.

After describing the visit of the three girle the day previous to the assault, she told the Court how the assault had been carried out and said that she wae unconscious for a while. The first car which It appears that the lady carried she stopped was unable to accum on a trade in illicit opium and her modate her, but the second one husband disapproved. A quarrel took her to the station where che was started on Thursday by the found the 1st and 3rd defendants wife hitting her husband over the head with a broom. Having "a who had already been arrested. She stayed in the station for the razor in his hand the husband slash- night and went home next morned back at "his wife inflicting a Ing.

nasty cut on her foot which heces- .. The "case Wag adjourned till sitated her removal to hospital. Wednesday next at 2.13 p.m.

The defendant was allowed bail" in the sum of $100 and the case was remanded for" one week pend.. ing the discharge of the wife from hospital.

'After J long discussion Mr. Taylor admitted that he did not know the exact methods, and Mr. L expressed his thanks for this admission from the prosecution!

Questions were then put as to the possibility of an inexperienced refu adding mash that would cause a too rapid fermentation, overflow, and the loss of both mollasses and spirit.-This was all admitted by witness.

Mr. Lo Surprised At " Office," i

13 COAL SACKS.

A Chinese was charged with the larceny of 13 coal ancks from Kow, loon failway Station, and pleaded guilty Sub-Inspector James said that the defendant was arrested with the sacks in his possession and ad mitted having taken them from the Station platform. They had been In submitting to the Magistrate used to carry coal to the Au Tau that he had no case to answer, Mr. Police Station and were waiting to Lo said that he was especially sur-be banded back to the contractur prised that the Department should there were 15 altogether, but the bring a criminal charge of con- man had not stolen two which were spiracy against the Distillery. He marked. also made references to the arrest of the fukis and their detention, one of whom was in custody for several days. Mr. Lo said that he failed to see any evidence which could support a charge of von spiracy against his clients. Still less was there anything against the licensee and accountant who had no hand in the work whatever."The prosecution has not got anywhere near proving conspiracy," said Mr. Lo.

A fine of $20 or one month's hard labour was imposed.

AT THE CENTRAL MAGIS. TRACT.

UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

PRAISED.

At the Central Magistracy yes. terday morning two students of Hong Kong University were com Magistrate: But you must ad.mended by the Senior Magistrate mit that some evidence has been (Mr. R. E. Lindsell) for their given against the third and fourth defendants, suggesting that they. were working together to defraud

Assumption Only,

In reply Mr. Lo said that such vidence was only based on assump- tion. Mr. Taylor could not be certain of the alleged method of such fraud was committed.

arrest of a Chinese snatcher on Wednesday last.

"I understand," Mr. Lindsell said, that you two helped to get, this thief.. You did very well. I' congratulate you both on your ex- cellent conduct.!

The two young men are Kom Swan Tong, of St. John's, and Lai

means of encouraging the growth the work. He only concerned in fraud or of the day on which say Nyen Foong, of Elliot Hali

Witness: Yes, I admit that I have hardly ever seen him at the Distillery.

Under Suspicion. Mr. Lo: You kept a paternal watch on this Distillery prior to the raid. I would say for a week."

انی

The Sua Lat Sen University some time ngo petitioned the Branch Political Council requesting exemp tion from payment of transit duty The opening of new maloos in on silk cocoons produced in Kochow Kangmoon necessitated partial dend sent to various inland centres molition of the premises occupied of Kwangehow district. The peti by the branch of the Central Bank, tion asked that this exemption be and the removal of the bank has sanctioned for a period of five been decided upon. A roomy build years, beginning next year, as a ing situated close to the present bank building has been selected and development of the silk in and the Provincial Government has dustry. been requested to instruct the The falter was referred to the Kongmoon Municipality to take Department of Finance, which over this building and compensate recommends exemption, from the the owner of the property.

transit, duty for a period of two The premises occupy au area of years, to begin from January 1st Over 21 cheng, at the prevailing next. Exemption is to apply only land value of 8900 per "cheng the to parcels proceeding to inland market value of the premises in- points, the duties payable to the cluding the value of the building Shuitung Customs Station, and-Yes.

Inland Tax on silk cocoons intend Mr. Lo: I understand that on is $19,190,

your visits up till the 18th August In the course of investigations.ed for direct shipment abroad to made by the Central Bank of be collected as usual.

you did not want to excite their Canton, it was found that this The Department of Finance resuspicion as to your intentions -- building was formerly part of the quests that the Sun Yat Sea Uni-Yes."

Mr. Lo: You have also said that property of a. temple, and that the veraity be instructed to order the present owner purchased the lot Silk Cocoon-Improvement Bureau ten jars were missing on the 18th from the Department of Einance at to render reports annually on the I put it to you that those jars were a cost of only $200 per cheng for conditions of the industry, giving just beside the storage door."

The Bank submits that statistics on the production, during No, If they had been there I 84,300. compensation to the owner should the period when the duty is would have seen them." be enlculated on this basis, parti exempted. These reports and in- cularly as the bank being a Gov. formation are required as a matter .crament organ, the tranzaction of record. should be treated on special terma.

The Provincial Government sup- ports the contention of the Bank, and the Kangtoon Municipality has been instructed to notify the The Branch Political-Council at property owner to this effect.its 137th meeting sanctioned the Canton Gazette."

"exemption is abov

Mr. Lo: "But I have been in

Magistrate"But evidence" has been given that it had been carried on for some weeks and even longer.""

Mr. Lo: For all we know the 4th defendant may be guilty of that and on the return, after twenty days of the old seefu (ard defen- dant) he may have stumbled to it.

Mr. Lloyd remarked that even the Magistrate held that there was no case against the licensed, the charge still held good that the Distillery were conspiring to de- fraud the Government. The second defendant was the accountant, he kept the books, and went around with Mr. Taylor on his inspection.

The Magistrate replied that he agreed with Mr. Lo that there was no evidence against the first two de- fendants but there was strong sus picion against the others...

It appears that Mrs. Ruggles, of Government, Quarters, Park Road, had a bag snatched from her which contained $35. She ran after the thief but was unable to catch him. Revenue Officer Ward, who was passing on A motor-cycle, noticed a man running and follow- ed, and when' the fugitive turned down a narrow lane he shouted to the two students who were near-by to take up the chase, and thes ancceeded in catching their man...

The thief, who pleaded guilty, was sentenced to nine months hard labour and twenty strokes of the birch.

UNWHOLESOME PORK.

Two Chinese were fined $100 each for attempting to sell unwholesome structed that they, were there." I The Magistrate then discharged Pork at Saiwanhe

The Colonial Veterinary Surgeon am prepared to say that they were these two defendants and remarked said in evidence that an animal that he would give further con- which had been sent to the slaugh

ter house by the first defendant was suffering from swine fever and is dead before it reached the slaughter-house. The second de fendant was the caretaker of the slaughter house.....-

It is pointed out that this is an | not!! " exceptional case, and is not to be taken as a precedent by producers of other districts

Mr. Lo then cross-examined wit-sideration to the conspiracy charge ness as to whether he could describe against the third and fourth do the alleged cheme by which the fendants, and that he

he would go Distillery are supposed to have de. through the depositions again.·

The case was adjourned until frauded the Revenue.

noon on Wednesday, (Continued-on-hext "Column),:

W. POWELL, Ltd.

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