1932-04-07 — Page 9

HONG KONG DAIL

DAY, APRIE 7, 1932.

RETRENCHMENT COMMISSION'S PROSPECTS OF PEACE BRIGHTER

REPORT

CUTS RECOMMENDED $515,000:

ACCEPTED $281,000.

Split Up Of P. W. D. & New Water Department Suggested,

But Not Accepted.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.”

The Public Works Department is the largest of the Government Den partments, including as it does

THE FOUR-POWER CONFERENCE

PRIME MINISTER TO PRESIDE

(BRITISH VIRELESS" SERVICE.].'

Ruday, April 3.

SITUATION IN MANCHURIA

JAPANESE OCCUPY

FANGCHENG

(THROUGH REUTER'S ‘AGENOY. J

HARDIN, April 6. There are

strong rumours here that the Japanese troops operating along the eastern sootion of the Chinese Eastern Railway have suf- fered a bad reverse,

NO RUSSIAN POLICE FOR thirteen sap-departments, some of Foreign Secretary, Sir John Simon, hundred miles north-east of Har-

HONG KONG

The report of the Retrenchment Commission and the Govern ment's commentary thereon were issued yesterday in blas Book form. Considering the field covered it is not a particularly bulky 'document, but every line is fiercely controversial, and will be read with general interest

:

The appendix to the Government commentary states;

Whilst some of the recommendations in the Report can readily be reduced to terms of dollars and centa, many, including--some of the most important and far reaching, cannot be so expressed. The Commissioners themselves refraingd generally from giving monetary value to their proposals. Several of the recommenda- tions are still under consideration, and in a few cases recommen- dations which had been accepted at the time the Commentary was ,written, have had to be reconsidered in the light of subsequent de

velopments.

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4

Such figures as it has been found possible to give, on those sections of the Report on which a decision has been reached, are appended below. They must not be taken as a summary of the Report and Commentary.

Recommended by

Commission.

Public Works Department......

8. 08.000

-Accepted by Government. $ 38,880

Police Department.

158,163

* 114,883

Prison Department.

39,000

97,000.

Benior Clerical and Accounting

Staff

46,200

38,100

Junior Clorien) Service

130,340

10.380

Education Department

81,825

$515,378

$291,098

Among the Recommendations are:-

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Ramsay: MacDonald, will preside over the Four-Power Conforamen which opens at the Foreign Office to-morrow to consider the situation in the Danu- bian countries

The Government of the United Kingdom will also be represented" by the Chancellor of the Excho- Mr. Noville Chamberlain, the which are larger than ordinary de-and the President of the Board of partment. It is the department Trade, Mr. Runciman. with which the public in one way or another most frequently comes yesterday's Anglo-French

All these ministers took part in inconthet. Also it is the one which spünds more money than any boon the deciding factor in reach- sations which may prove to have other. For these reasons it is not ing an agreement among the four unnatural that it should be the Powers. target for a good deal of criticism, both justifiable and unjustifiable.

conven.

The Japanese are attacking at Fangcheng, which is situate A

bin. This city is strongly hold by Kirin troops who refuse to recog nise the Manchukuo regime.,

Haho, April.

been occupied by Japanese forces It is reported that fangcheng, has

Although those preliminary con- after heavy Aghting and that tho versations were regarded by the Kirin troops are retreating to Sun- The department consists of a participants as so helpful as to sing being pursued by Japanese. Director of Public Works, the justify the general adoption by Assistant Directors of Public European statesman of this method It is reliably learned that three- Works, one for Hong Kong and one of approaching, the problems besat-large mixed bands of Russian, for Kowloon and Now Territories,ting the Continetit, no decisions Korean and Chinese partiaana, with thirteen sub-departments were made. Both the French and Russian momanders, are operating Architectural, Drainage, Electrical, British delegates, although now

and

+

Bridges, Waterworks Mainten change those views after hearing

General Works, Part Development, helpfully familiar with one. 00- between Pogranitchnayn, Muling Public Health and Buildings Orother's views, can enter to-morrow's and Hengtaohotze. nance Office, Roads Piers and conference with perfect liberty to

well ared with machine guns, The partisans are stated to be

automatic rifles, and bomba

ance), Waterworks (Construction), the opinions put "forward by the Crown Lands, Surveys, Valuations Gorman and Italian ropresenta and Resumptions, and Accounts tives.

and Stores. In charge of each sub- M. Flandin, the French Finance department is an executive engin-Minister, has remained in London eer, except for Waterworks (Con- as the chief of the Fronch delega atruction) where there'is un Assist- tion and Horr Ton Bulow hend ant Director of Public Works and the German Foreign Office,

of except also for Crown Landa, Sur-roaches London early to-morrow veys, and Accounts and Stores, for from Berlin, It is expected that each of which there is a Superin- the conference will last for two or tendent, and Valuations and Re-three days. sumptions which consists (European staff) of one engineer and one over. Beer, only...

Unwieldy,

IMMEDIATE OBJECT OF CONFERENCE.

(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

LONDON, April s Grandi the Italian Minister, has Arrived

The first thing that struck the a Commissioners was the unwieldi- ness of this conglomeration of de-

Signor partments all grouped under the one head. In no other Colony of Foreign 32,105

any size are Waterworks, Crown London, this completing the Lands, or Surveys for instance, delegations to Fonur Power under the Director of Public Works Conference (British, French, Italian In many Electricity is a depart and German) which is to discuss. ment by itself. The natural result of the Danubian Deonomic Federa- putting so much under one head of tion department is that he cannot pothe Foreign Office, and is to be The Conference opens to-day at sibly be expected to cope with the work; re-organization is as importer, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald. It is presided over by the Prime Minis unt as, and is the first step towards,

Setting up a Water Department, entirely separate, and the price-costing of water.

This was rejected.

Splitting up of General Worka Office among Departments- Accepted.

Placing electrical department (lighting, "telephones, wireless and broadcasting) under the P.M.G.--Rejected.

Crown Lands and Surveys be Amalgamated, and more Chineas surveyors employed.-First suggestion accepted..

Senior Officers to be Director, Deputy Directors and Technical Secretary. Nou accepted.

force.

Promotion to take place within Sub-Departments--Now in

HARBOUR.

Warning issed against two vigorous regalations, especially in the matter of Marine Surveying. Higher fees suggested. Abolition of pest of Assistant Harbour Master and several minor officials.

MEDICAL "DEPARTMENT.

No reductions suggrated in view of conjested nature of Hong Kong. Extended use of Chinese bacteriologists and nurses, and higher fees at Government Hospitals recommended.

SANITARY DEPARTMENT.

No reductions of staff but, street cleansing by contract and Asiatic Banitary Inspectors recommended. Former rejected, latter to he tried out. Government rejects suggestion not to limit and livence hawkors

POLICE.

In accordance with 1.G. P's suggestion there is a recommenda- tion to replace thirty British sergeants by Russians. This would savy a lakh Rejected.

Other reductions, of about 70 Chineso police and about 71 Indian police. Apparently accepted. PRISON...

Nood for new Gaol emphasised; reduction of European staf and greater use of Indians suggated.-Modified acceptance of the latter.

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

Director not to be a Schoolmaster; general economy especially on British Schools, and tightening of terms of teachers employ- ment. It is auggested that the Diocesan, Boys' School should be taken over for the purposes of the Central British School. The Government likes the idea but cannot accede "TREASURY.

No economy, and greater importance to be attached to post of Trmaurer.

The report is signed by Messra, M. J. Broen (Chairman),,,J.

“J. Patterson, J. Scott Harston and W. N. T. T'am,,

---We give the following extracts from the Report bus hold over the Government, commentary owing to lack of space.

"

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9

retrenchment.

hoped to conclude the sittings by the week-end in view of the re Frankly Obstructive Witnesses.

sumption of the Disarmament Con- ference at Geneva on Monday. In the course of their inves

The immediaté object of the Con- tigations the Commissioners obference is to prevent the banfcruptcy served a tendency on the part and cessation of trade of the Danu of many of the witnesses from bian States by a system of tariff the Public Works Department to

preferences and loans. refrain from responding to the avi- tont necessities of the situation in regard to retrenchment: some being merely reticent and others frankly obstructive, Aften making every allowance for the cireurastances the Commissioners feel that a consider able amount of time might have been saved had the witnesses in question been less Recretive. In certain instances suggestions put Germany and Italy, which take forward" by tho Commissionera, a vast amount of produce from which would obviously have met the the Danubian States, are anxious difficulties referred to by the wit- to enter the Federation, but Franeo messes were received with extreme and her satellites of the Little diffdenco,

Entente, are adamantly opposed thereto and fear they may swamp the smaller partnera,

British Investment. British, French and American capital is deeply involved in the Danube States British to the ex- tent of £200,000,000. Hence, apart from the humanitarian nepect, the urgenty of nursing the bankrupts so that millions sterling will not be finally lost.

As a ccramencement the Con missioners recommend the sever ance from the Publia Works De- the Federation would approach, in In any case, with Germany in partment of the two Waterworks French eyes, dangerously near the offers, Maintenance and Constructi Austro-German Customs tion. One of the reasons why the which France successfully tomedo Union water question has been so misman-ed last year. aged in the past is because the head

of the Waterworks Department has GLORIA

been enly one (albeit an important one) of twelve other sub-depart

mental heads competing for the SECOND

time and attention of the Director of Public Works, with the result that his views have failed to filter through to the Chief Executive,

The Commissioners realize that their proposal to set up a new de partment may appear to be the re verse of retrenchment, but the money spent, in order to bring water to the Colony and to atore it during the drought of 1820, sufficiently de- monstrates the result of neglecting this all important question. They feel strongly that a settled program me should be prepared and definite. ly adhered to, so that there ahol be no recurrence of the untoward happenings of that year. There is a full tanyear's programme in front of the department.

JAPANESE ATTACK

FUSHUN

JAPANESE MAY GIVE MORE

CONCESSIONS

BUT HARDEST NUT YET TO BE

CRACKED

[HROUGE REUTER'S Ornor.]

SHANGHAI, April-6.. PROSPECTS OF THE SINO JAPANESE ARMISTICE CONFERENCE TOOK A TURN FOR THE BETTER TO- DAY, WHEN THE MILITARY SUB-COMMITTEE REACHED A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT IN REGARD TO POINTS TO WHICH THE JAPANESE FORCES SHOULD THEMES PORARELY WITHDRAW PRIOR TO COMPLETE· BVACUA- TION TO THE SETTLEMENT,

MEMBERS OF THE "SUB-COMMITTEE, ACCOMPANIED BY THE ANGLO · AMERICAN · AND FRANGO - ITALIAN. MILITARY ATTACHES, WILL "NSPECT THE POINTS IN. QUESTION TOMORROW. D WILL THEN CON FIRM THE TENTATIVE AGRMENT WITH POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS.

THIS MARKS A DEFINITE STEP FORWARD, BUT THE TOUGHEST NUT, NAMELY, THE TIME IN WHICH THE TOTAL WITHDRAWAL OF JAPANESE FORCES TO THE SETTLEMENT SHALL BE ACCOMPLISHED REMAINS TO BE CRACKED.,

*

THE OUTLOOK IN THIS MATTER IS NOT TOO BRIGHT AS THE JAPANESE CONTINUE TO TURN A DEAF EAR TO THE INSISTENT CHINESE DEMAND FOR A DEFINITE TIME LIMIT.

SHIGEMITSUS NEW INSTRUCTIONS

Tokyo, April 0. The Government, it is under stood, have agreed to Mr. Shige mitsu declaring that as soon as MURDEN, April 6. conditions in and around Shanghai aeroplanes are launching an offen a sense of security to Japanese Japanese forces co-operating with bare improved sufficiently to ensure sive against a band of fifteen hun-nationals regarding the protection dred Chinese who are active to the of lives and property and of their north of the Japanese mines at legitimate pursuits, Japaness troops Fushun

will be further withdrawn to the The Chinese attacked the Yents Internations Settlement and extra mines on Monday after which they settlement roads in Hongkew dis withdrew to the mountains near trict, as prior to January 28. Fusha.

Mr. Shigemitsu will also be in. structed to intimate that if the

cammit them. selves to participate at a round table conference after a trace has beon' concluded. Japan is prepared le consider further concessions, in cluding the setting. of a time limit for the withdrawal of het troops..

The Japanese forces in that are are mobilising with the object of Chinese definitely eliminating them.

CHINESE SILK INDUSTRY

NANKING NOW CONSIDER-

·ING ASSISTANCE..

[THBOUGH REUTER'S AGÈNCY.]

NANKING, April 6. The Ministry of Industry is con- akdering plans for assisting the Chinese all industry which has boon badly hit firstly by Japanese competition, then by the world de pression, and lastly by the fighting In the Shanghai area.

It is stated that ten million people. engaged in the silk industry are affected in Chekiang alone.

It is proposed that the Govern- ment should purchase large quanti ties of cocoons, exempt silk from an export tax and increase the duty on imports of foreign. silk.

.

CANTON CENTRAL

BANK

SERIOUS DEPRECIATION IN VALUE OF NOTES.

(Wah Tae Yat Pao)

CANTON, April 6 Serious depreciation of the Can

SWANSON'S ton Central Bank notes follows the DAUGHTER

BORN IN LONDON YESTERDAY

(THROUGH REUTZE'R AGENCY.]

LONDON, April 6... The film star Gloria Swanson, thirty-three years old, gue birth to a daughter at Mayfair, London.

She has a ten-year-old daughter and an adopted son.

Farmer, last year. This is her She married an Irishman, Mr. fourth husband

REMARQUE'S BANK ACCOUNT GARNISHEED

Central Bank headquarters announcement issued jointly by the and the Canton Government Treasury to the effect that the redemption of Central Bank notes of $1′ and $100 denomination's will be tem- porarily suspended.

CANTON BANKING-

SENSATION

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

of

CANTON, April e ...A senestion financial circles bere to-day when was created in

the Provincial Bank of Kwangtang unexpectedly refused to roedem ang more of its notes, wave those the five dollar denomination. The bankers, merchants and the people in general in possession of these Opportunity should be taken of

Government banknotes were keenly the re-organization of the adminia. | |-

disappointed over this sudden and [tration of the Waterworks office to

anexpected decision of the Govern put upon a proper basis. The gal

ment. No announcements, were made beforehand, and those, speci lon of water should be sold as a commercial article; sufficient being

ally the comparatively poor ones, charged to cover ita coat of produc

going to the Government deposi The Berlin bank account of tory this morning to have their tion. As corollary there will be Remarque the author of All banknotes redeemed wore struc no water rate,except for water-ro Quiet on the Western Front, hasduzib when they were confronted. quired for public purposes such as been garnisheed by. Customs with a notice stating .f The Pro. street cleansing, no free allowance, authorities on the suspicion that vincial Bank of Kwangtung has, and the rider main system will Remarque who lives in Locamo, is temporarily stopped redeeming any have f

eto po abandoned."

contravening the foreign exchanges more of its notes, except those of (Continued on F^ge'®), regulations.

the $3 denomination.

[THEOUGH EEUTER'S AGENCY.]

LONDON, April 6.

TAZANG SKIRMISH

GENEVA, April 5. Dr. W. W. Ten, communicating with the Secretary-General of the League, denies, on the basis of a report from General Chinng Kwang Nai, the Japanese statements re- arding the origins of a lively fusil lade between Chinese and Japanese soldiers on the north-west edge of Tacang.

Dr. Yen, on the contrary, states that the fring near Tacang wie due to the fact that Japanese plain clothes forces, attacked the Chinese positions.

ATTACK ON JAPANESE RESTAURANTS

COMMUNIST OUTBREAK IN BERLIN

(THROUGH RESTER'S AGENCY.]

LONDON, Apel Two Japanese restaurante in the west end of Berlin were completely wrecked by a gang of Communist rowdies today, as a protest against "Japan's aggression in the Far East.

The raiderswooped down upon the premises outing Down with the Japanese peace-breakers and war agitators

The windows were shattered end the interior smashed up, chairs and tables being roken up, the whole of both place being rapidly converted into a shambles.

The raiders escaped leaving be bind a quantity of pamphlets.

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20

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