1929-04-17 — Page 7

BUDGET PISENTED IN COMMONS,

BETTING T AND TEA DUTY REPEALED.

BUT ME TAX STILL UNCHANGED!

MR. CHRCHILL, AND TORY RECORD.

There w little of a sensational or dramatic nature in the presentationf the Budget in the House of Commons by Mr

selection slogan Winston Cychill. The rumour of a rousing for the Cervative Party hardly materialized.

27

Mr. Orchill made the claim that the Government have saved £7,000,00 early on armaments, compared with the year when the Labour verament was in office, and Civil Supply Services have been reced by £3,500,000.

Obations imposed by existing Debt Contracts are down in fours by £175,000,000

Testimated surplus at the end of the year 1991930, is

£4,00000,

יי

་་

no duty of 4d. per lb. on tea is to be abolished immediately, anjan immediate reduction to the consumer is anticipated.

The Betting Tax is abolished, but bookmakers are to be taxed per annum on every telephone installed in their offices. The Income Tax -No change!

[REUTER'S AGENCY AND BRITISH WIRELESS.] LONDON, April 15.

The "Bookies" Tax.

THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1929.

THE SHIPBUILDING THE DISARMAMENT | JAPANESE TROOPS

INDUSTRY.

LATEST FIGURES INDICATE "REVIVAL.

BRITAIN'S SHARE,

(THROUGH 'EKUTER'S AGENCY.]

LONDON, April 16.

A revival in shipbuilding is in- dicated by Lloyd's Register of Shipping, which shows that 1,337,000 tons were being construct- ed in Great Britain and Ireland on March 31, and 1,480,000 tons abroad, increases of 114,000 and 103,000 respectively as compared

with December 31.

COMMITTEE.

PROBLEMS CONFRONTING

DELEGATES.

יי,

TO REMAIN.

TSINAN" WITHDRAWAL

POSTPONED.

AGENDA AGREED UPON.

(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

CHINA'S REQUEST.

[THROUGH REUTER'S`AGENCY. ]»

Tokyo, "April 16,

GENEVA, April 16. It is learned from a Yeliable

At the meeting of the Prepara-source that the Government, after a torr Disarmament Committee, M. joint conference of leading officials, has decided to seek Imperial sanc- Litvinoff déclared that the Soviet tion for the postponement of the scheme of Disarmament was the withdrawal of troops from Shan- only practical one.

tung.

This is owing to the Nationalists' repeated requests that they will remain, on account of China's pre- sent inability to guarantee the safety of Japanese lives and pre- perties if the troops are with- drawn.

The Chinese delegato outlined a Figures for Great Britain and scheme for the abolition of com- Ireland comprise 200,000 tons for British Dominions and 139,000 for pulsory military service.

Count Bernstorff hoped that the sale or for foreign shipowners.

Tonnage commenced in Great German delegation would not leave Britain and Ireland amounts to 32,000 tona, a decrease of 60,000 Geneva before a solution was reach compared with December 31, anded upon outstanding points, namely 180.000 launched, while abroad the questions of effectives and war 285,000 tons have been commenced

material of land and sea forces." and 214,000 launched.

Tanker tonnage under construc- The Committee then adjourned tion is 231,000 tons, showing a fur-until Wednesday after agreeing to | F. Sinclair, multi-millionaire, ther reduction.

The tonnage of motor ships under the agenda by which the draft con.

SINCLAIR TO GO TO PRISON,

FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT.

Washington, April 8—Mr. Harry petroleum magnate and head of & fining concerns, must serve three months in gnel for contempt, ac cording to B decision of the Supreme Court.

The bookmaker, in the future. construction in Great Britain and vention for the proportional and number of oil producing and re-

The House of Commone was rowded to the doors for the pre certificate duty of £10 per annum, would pay the present license or sentation of the eagerly awaited and in addition he would pay £40 Budget, among those present being per annum for every telephone in- the Prince of Wales, a large num-stalled in his office. ber of Peers, and representatives of the Dominions. The galleries were

packed.

In reviewing the. financial posi- tion, Mr. Churchill said that the period of the Government's terms of office had been chequered story. There was an industrial disaster in 1926, but after two years of quiet there had been a sensible improvement in the situation.

Prosperity at Home.

Despite the injury of the general strike folly, by which the Ex- chequer lost at least £8,000,000, the Conservatives had realised a res pectable and solid Budget and a surplus

A hal per cent. would also be levied on the taking of "the totali- aator which he had been led to believe would be a fair equivalent to the license duty on bookmakers. The yield of these levies would be £850,000 in the current year and £900,000 in a full year. He admit ted that the betting tax had been a failure and a fiasco owing to the. volatile and elusive character of the betting population. The tax was also unfair in operation because it was paid by the honest bookmaker and not by his slippery rival.

Publicans Assisted.

Ireland 669,000.

is D3T,000. and abroad

ANOTHER TRAM SMASH IN JAPAN.

40 CASUALTIES NEAR KYOTO, (THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.Į

OSAKA, April 16. The lure of cherry blossoms eos. tinues to exact a human toll.

Another accident occurred this morning, and there were 40 casual

22 collision of ties reported in

near Arashiyama, suburban cars

noted Kyoto, where there are cherry blossoms, and a beautiful. τίνες.

progressive reduction of all arma ments will be the first item dis cussed.

THE LASH FOR SOUTH

AFRICAN FARMER.

NO CABINET INTERVENTION. SEQUEL TO MANSLAUGHTER

OF A NATIVE.

(THROUGH LEUTER'S AGENCY.]..

The Court's decision ends a legal battle of more than four years dur- ing which Mr. Sinclair has spent thousands of dollars and employed the ablest legal counsel of the land.

"IRONSIDES " TO CLEAN UP WUHAN.

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT GAIN GROUND.

AMERICAN SHOT INTERN" - AFFAIR.

ANOMALOUS POSITION OF SZECHUAN.

Besides the three members, of the crow of E.M.S. Tern, wounded by firing on the Upper Yangtzo, Mr. John Marshall, an American news correspondent, was also hurt. He is described as being a passenger abcard the river gunboat.

General Chang Fat Fui and his Ironsides have been ordered by Chiang Kai Shek to clean up the situation above Wuhan. The complete control of Hupch and Hunan by the Nanking Government is expected shortly.

The town of Changteh, Hunan, is being besieged by its former commander Tan Tao Yuda, who, emboldened by Nationalist ano- cesses, is endeavouring to regain his ascendancy..

Vernacular reports are that fighting is going on between the Szechuanese and Kwangsi troops near Shasi.

** IRONSIDES" IN THE

FIELD.

KWANGSI LEADERS OFFER TO SURRENDER.

(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

HANKOW, April 16. Representatives arrived here last night from Tao Ohux and Hu Trung Tu offering to surrender.

H.M.S. TERN ATTACK.

ANOTHER CASUALTY ON BOARD.

AN AMERICAN PASSENGER.

(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.).

Bazow, April 16. Mr. John Marshall, an American correspondent, and a passenger aboard H.M.S. Tern, was wounded when the warship war fired on near Ichang.

newspaper

It is understood the move was

(Three members of the crow were actnated by the adrace of Changeported yesterday as wounded at Fat Fui's Ironsides" from Wahan the same time.] ander orders from Chiang Kai Shek to subjugate the Wuhan stragglers.

Further, the Generalissimo has instructed Ho Chien to drive cut all Ewangsi troops from Hunan.

It is generally expected that Hupeh and Human will be com pletely under the dominance of the Central Government very soon.

Teapot Dome Scandal. The case grew out of the oil scandals of the Harding Adminis tiation, in which Mr. Sinclair's name was mentioned as a leading figure. He was cited to appear before the committee of the Senate investigating a lease obtained by his Mammoth Oil Co., on the United States naval oil reserves in the Teapot Dome district of the state of Wyoming, to testify re- garding details of how the Mam- moth Oil Co., obtained the leases

This he refused to do on advice then cited him for contempt of court and he was found guilty by the lower courts. The Supreme Court to-day upheld the lower courts deable. cisions and Sinclair now serve his sentence.

Fighting Reported."

LATER.

It reported that fighting has broken out at a point between Shaai and Ichang, between Chars Taung Tu's forces.

CHANGTEH IN STATE OF SIEGE.

TAN TAŎ YUAN SEEKS CONTROL.

(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

HANKOW, April 16.

The prosperity of the country and spirits, which was decided upon all schemes in which not less than merey in the case of the farmer, of counsel. Government prosecutors Fat Fui's "Ironsides" and Hui Ping was ousted by Wuhan, Tan

had maintained its steady advance. The savings of the smallest class of investors had increased while the Government had been in power. by £170,000,000. The cost of living had declined by at least eighteen points, while the symptom on which he dwelt with more confidence than on any other as indicating the general condition of the masses of the people was the increased con- sumption of ten and sugar, and a notable decline in the consumption of alcohol, which he believed to be due to a change in national habits and the growth of alternative beverages.

Tea and Sugar, Before the Great War, the British people consumed every year 6.35 ibs. of tea and 81 lbs of sugar per head. Last year, they consumed 9.15 lbs. of tea, and 20 lbs. of sugar both of which constituted record in consumption of those com modities.

+

Mr. Churchill claimed that the Government had saved £7,500,000 on armaments every year as com pared with the year when the Labour Government was in office, while he said that the Civil Supply Services had brea, reduced by

5,100,000.

The obligations imposed upon the State by existing debt contracta had fallen, he said, by £175,000,000 in the space of four years, a figure which represented almost exactly what Mr. Lloyd George proposed to spend in two years in trying to win the General Election.

Another concession announced was a 25 per cent. reduction in the licences for the retail sale of beer in view of the curtailment of the hours of sale since the War. This would cost £2,000,000 in a full year.

ware

An additional grant of 15 per cent, would be given in respect of fifty per cent of the men drawn from depressed areas.

The Government's deliberate view was that unemployment could only be reduced to normal by a revival the reduction of certain harbour of industry generally, which was dues to assist the fishing industries, far preferable to setting, the unem were announced, while Mr. Chur-ployed to work on road construc- chill also said it was proposed to tion and on other forms of public grant improved telephone facilities work.

Other minor concessions, such as

in the rural districts. These con- This was regarded by Mr. Chur- cessions would reduce the estimated chill's hearers as a counter-blast to Budget surplus to £10,346,000. Mr. Lloyd George's schemes.

I

Mr. Churchill also announced that the relief of rates for agricul turista would operate as from April instead of from October 1. Super- tax and income tax would be un- changed. The abolition of ten duty will date from April 22, but coffee, cocou and chicory will be unaffect ed.

Totals.

The total. estimated expenditure for 1929-30 was £629,584,000, while the full revenue would be £820,680,000, leaving an estimated surplus at the end of 1929-30 of £4,096,000.

M

J

Country's Erospects. On the general question of the state of the country, Mr. Churchill said that whatever might be the future of a particular industry or of particular localities, we were undoubtedly to-day a more power- ful, more wealthy, more securely founded community than five years ago. We were steadily improving aur conditions and compared with most European countries, were maintaining.our pre-war level.""

PRETORIA, April 13. The acting Minister of Justice has announced that the Cabinet, after full consideration, has decided that they are unable to recommend the Governor-General to exercise Nafte. The lashes will accordingly he administered.

A Capetown telegram, dated April 5, stated that a sentence by the Bethel (Transvaal) Circuit Court of ten lashes and seven years' hard labour on a white farmer, named Jack Nafte, found guilty of the manslaughter of a native em ployee, had caused a senzation amongst farmers all over the coun- try. It was alleged that the native GOVERNOR'S DRAMATIC END. was flogged severely, tied by a leg. to a tree head downwards, and died "from shock

result of the in- juries, which included broken ribs and breastbone General Hertzog ordered a postponement of the lashes pending investigation.]

FRENCH REVENUE RETURNS.

·A GOOD SURPLUS.

(THROUGH HAVAS AGENCY.]

FARIS, April 15. The revenue returns for March totalled Frs. 2,930,000,000, showing a surplus of Frs. 432,000,000 com pared with Budget forecasts and of Frs. 242,000,000 on March of last

Gold Standard. Speaking of the gold standard and the cost of living, Mr. Char- chill admitted that the gold stan- ward carried with it privations as well as reward. His hope and faith was that the privations were minor and temporary, and that the reward would be major and permanent. For the first three months of the Producing industries as well as the year, the surplus reaches Fra entrepot trade had derived a lasting 1,303,000,000 on the Budget forecast benefit from the resumption of the and Fis. 999,000,000 compared with

the same period in 1928.

Tea Duty Repealed. Explaining the tea duty remis

Mr. Churchill said that son. although three-quarters of the tea drunk in Britain was produced in the British Empire, tes from Jay entered appreciably into the cheap. est brands used by the poorest people, and-to-retain for Imperial reasons the tax on foreign tea gold standard. would exclude from the benefits of He referred to the benefits it had remission the very class which the conferred on Overseas Trade which Treasury was seeking to beneft. constituted the keystone in times of

The abolition would cost ap- peace of our economic position. "The nation's meagre savings are: apparently to be butchered to make proximately £8,150,000 in the pre- a showman's holiday," declared Mr.sent year, and he had every reason Churchill, amid loud Ministerial to, believe that the consumer would benefit by an immediate reduction cheers.

in the price of tea by 4d per Ib. The old tea duty was 4d. per lb.

Balance of Trade. Continuing, Mr. Churchill spoke of the country's trade, saying that the balance of trade had sensibly improved. The power of the com- munity to export and invest capital abroad, thus fostering the export trade, had risen from £56,000,000 in 1994 to £149,000,000 in 1928.

New capital issues for Home in vestment in 1928 showed a growth

London, despite the sacrifices made by Great Britain during the War, had regained its solid inter national prominence.

We were still the greatest inter- national market and we had been able to maintain money rates lower The Blik Trade.

than those which normally prevail- Defending the retention of the ed in New York, while bills of silk duties, Mr. Churchill said that exchange an London which after the the imports of foreign artificial silk war were so seriously menaced, had yarn had shrunk to one quarter and in the last few years regained their British exports had increased by time honoured position as the fifty per cent Home production of favourite international instrument artificial silks had risen from and token of commerce. £20,000,000 worth to £51,000,000.

of about £100,000,000 over 1924. Twenty-one artificial silk fac Exchange activity and the flotation tories had been recently erected in of new companies had yielded £2,000,000 last year, and be estim- England, some by foreign firms, and the number of persons employ ated a further growth this year, ea in the silk and artificial silk in- bringing the total to £2,000,000 industries had risen from 20,000 to excess of the estimate for last year, over 70,000. and the total of £31,000,000.

He estimated to receive £58,000,000 from super-tax this year.

Burplus Figures.

Mr. Churchill estimated the expen- diture for 1920-30 at £741,004,000, and the revenue on the existing basis of taxation at £753,040,000, giving a prospective surplus of 11,978,000 on the existing basis of taxation.

From taxes be expected to receive 2874,850,000 and from revenue other than taxes a further £78,290,000.

No new taxes would be imposed this year. On the other hand, the tea duty would be abolished im mediately, the cost to the Exchequer being £6,000,000,

Living Costs.

.

There had been a decline in the coat of living as the result of our allegiance to sound money. This decline of eighteen points meant an increase in the purchasing power of wages equivalent to a remission of £160,000,000 a year in indirect

year.

PRIMATE AND THE HOLY L'AND.

REASONS FOR DELAY IN VISIT.

(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

LONDON, April 15. A statement from Lambeth Palace says the only reason why the Arch bishop of Canterbury will not visit Jerusalem is that his host, Mr. J. P. Morgan, had been unexpectedly detained in Paris by work in con- nection with the Reparations Com- mission,

FARM RELIEF IN U.S. CONGRESS HOLDS FORMAL MEETING.

The home price for artificial silk taxation.

[REUTER'S...AMERICAN SERVICE.] had fallen recently by 25 per cent. In regard to the debt operations and the quantity available for home of the present Parliament, the

WASHINGTON, April 15 consumption had increased by 50 Chancellor said the nominal dead- The Congress met in extra per cent. The tax, incidentally, weight of £7,698,000,000 bad fallen ordinary session to consider the produced assured revenue of over to £7,501,000,000. The interest on Farm Relief Tariff Revision. £6,000,000 per annum.

the debt by the operation of the Mr. Nicholas Longworth was re- sinking fund had been reduced by elected Speaker of the House of Representatives and ather formal nine and a half millions a year.

business was completed

Congress adjourned till to-mor-

Government's Record. Mr. Churchill dealing with the Government's efforts in the pro-

Resolution Agreed To. Mr. Churchill announced that vision of public works, said that in the past five years, the Govern- there would be two finance Billa, ment had spent £300,000,000 on the first to contain only the neces housing, roads, agricultural de- sary provisions for the protection velopment, and providing trade of revenue, such as income tax, the repeal of the tea and the betting facilitice.

They have reorganised the electazes tricity supply system, and they He further announced that the proposed to increase the percentage betting tax would be repealed. It of grants for the maintenance and was the one tax for which he had construction of roads and bridges been responsible which had been a by from 33 per cent. to 60 per cent., failure. It had been more trouble according to classification." than it was worth.

(Continued on next Columan),

All the complicated consequential clauses would be left to the next

Parliament.

The Commons agreed to the Bud get, resolution including the repeal of the tea and betting duties. The House then adjourned.

TOW.

GENERAL PANGALOS. ́(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.

ATHENS, April 18. The ex-Dictator, General Panga los has been committed to the Assizes our charge of firing on the crowd on the eve of the elections.

[The incident referred to occurred in November of last year.]

must

FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH.

Further details are to hand of the sudder death at Montreal ont March 28 of Bir Lomer Gouin, Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, who was seized with a heart attack as. he was entering his office on the way to prorogue the provincial legialature.

He died 20 minutes later in his It was first thought wife's arms. when he recovered consciousness after the collapse that he was fit for the day's duties.

he

"You Can Sign.”

It appears that trouble at Chang- teh is being caused by the efforts of Tan Tao Yuan to regain control of the city from his former sab ordinate Li Yang Chih. When _Lu

Tao Yuan was forced to fee, and Up to now no details are avail. Li Yung Chih declared for Ewang-

It is learned that from now on upper river boats will proceed under mvai convoy.

The Thestre Of War. (Wah Te: Fat Poo.)

SHANGHAI, April. 16. Government troops are marching against the rebels in five sectors, The gunboats, of which Chen Shao Kwan is in command, have taken Machiasai. The Kwangsi forces in Patung and Ichang are being at tacked by both Government troops, and troops under the Szechuan General Liu Hsiang.

Sbasi

si.

Now, encouraged by the Nanking successes, Tan Tao Yuan is attack ing Changteh, which is said to ba in a state of siege.

As far as can be ascertained, up to now, foreigners are all alive and well, though it is reported some mission property has been burned.

[British Naval Wireless, resterday. however, gave details of a message from Mr. Gabb, on the staff of the A.P.C. at Changteh, in which be described his capture, wounding, and escape.

He added that the station had been wrecked, and his personal be longings looted.

been looted.]

Further, he said that the Catho- They are also engaged in Hunane Mission (at Changteh 1) bad and Riangst by Nationalist troops.

Wuhan Troops Paza

BRITISH NAVAL WIRELESS,

SHASI, April 13.

غرام

A large number of "pro-Kwangsi troops under General Hu Taung Ty passed through Shasi to-day, still marching up-river and wheeling Do southwards into Hunan province.

In addition to the prorogation was to communicate the royal Bent to a number of Bills. He foresaw the complications that would be caused by his appearance and with his dying breath he cried to another Minis- ter: You can sign !"

It is reported that pro-Nanking gunboats has been in action (with

AMERICAN MISSIONARY -

KILLED

TRAGEDY IN KWEICHOW.

ĮTEROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

PEKING, April 18. The Seventh Day Adventist Mis- sion at Kweiyang reports it has received despatches from Huang taaopa in the south-west corner of Szechuan "Defed,

Kweichow that the American mis sionary. Mr. Herbert E. Smith has —ICHANG, April 15 been killed Details-as-to-the-cir Liu Ho Tung, the holder of cumstances are lacking, but the chang, is said to have mobilised American Consul in Hankow is the matter. Mr. his men in readiness for joining the investigating war, on the side of Nanking, but Smith was on an evangelistic tour he will oppose the Szechuanese. of the province from Kweiyang.

The Speaker ruled that this the retreating Kwanggi-ites) below would be in order, and read the Shari. Bills without the actual presence of the Governor, who it was thought. would complete them later, but he died before this could be done.

His death leaves Quebec without an officiel head.

Gouin's term of office was the shortest on record. He began on January 10, succeeding Governor Perodeau.

BRITISH TRADE DELEGA- TION WELCOMED

IN MOSCOW.

RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF TRADE CO-OPERATION DESIRED.

FENG'S LATEST.

PEACEFUL AND LAW. ABIDING.

(Wah Tas Fat Pao.)

SHANGHAI, April 16.- Marshal Feng Yu Hsiang's latest statement is as follows:---

CHINESE STEAMER AGROUND.

-RUNS OVER WRECK AT WOOSUNG.

(THROUGH RIUTZE'S AGENCY.)

SHANGHAI, Apr 16. The Chinese steamer Tungshin, plying between Shanghai and Foo. For the participation of the cam chow, in reported badly aground. paign against the Wuhan rebels, six over the Woosung breakwater, fol of Feng's divisions were detailed, lowing her running over a sub but were immediately withdrawn merged wreek early this morning. as soon as Wuhan was captured by The passengers have been taken the Government troops. He has ashore. obeyed the Central Government absolutely from beginning to end." Feng is now recuperating in Hwashan in Shensi, and will go to Nanking upon recovery.

*

Damage Hot Ascertained.

LATER. The Yungshin suffered no casual ties. Tugs are standing by in the hope of refloating the veracitat high tide.

Moscow, April, 3. M. Litvinov, Soviet Commissar for Foreign Affairs, to-day received leading members of the British In- dustrial Delegation to Russia.

The committee of the delegation later issued a statement indicating that the prospects for establishing a basis for economic co-operation between the two countries had been frankly and informally discussed

It is my nature not to be con- in the course of a conversation with

"the" proclamation con- M. Litvinov. The view has been tentious," expressed by both sides that no in tinues, and I am quite satisfied ascertainable. superable difficulties exist in the to be a member of the Kuomin way of a settlement of outstanding tang!!!... problems.

SUN LIANG CHENG'S DUTIES.

The extent of the damage is mot

THE CHINA COMMAND.

H.Q. ESTABLISHED IN

HONG KONG

[THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

SHANGHAI, April 16.

M. Litvinov,, who is leaving shortly for Geneva, informed the delegates that the Government had deputed M. Pintakov, acting chair- man of the State Bank, to discuss

(Wah Ter Yat Pao.) questions with the delegation. The British delegation comprises Mr.

SHANGHAI, Apri: 18 Ernest Remnant, editor of the

The headquarters of the North English Reviews and a member of Sun Liang Cheng, Chairman of

Provincial

Government of Chine Command ceases¿to exist as the Produce Exchange, London; the

from to-day on the departure of Sir William Joseph Isherwood, Shantung, has arrived at Tainan,

He states that under instruction the rest of the Headquarters Staff shipping engineer; Mr. George H.

There are now in Shanghai two Drummond, chairman of Dram of the, Central Government, he is for Hong Kong. mond's Bank; and Mr. Henry Wil-responsible for the military and

the pro- battalions of troops and the liam Wolt, a prominent Leeds civil administration of

vince.

Brigade headquarters staff. 'manufacturer.