1932-04-13 — Page 7

"THESE BULLION "BROKERS.

WITTY ADDRESS BY MR. A M. BOWES-SMITH" AT ROTARY MEETING HELD ON "PRES. HOOVER. "

SOME UNKNOWN TRIALS OF A BULLION BROKER,

The members of the Rotary Club held their weekly luncheon yesterday on board the s. President Hoover when Mr. A. M. Bowes-Smith delivered an extremely witty and humorous address

These Bullion Brokers."

on

The full text of Mr. Bowen Smith addrons will be found below. There was a fairly large attendance of members and quite a num- "ber for distinguished guests amongst the gathering.

CHINESE. BANKER'S HUMOROUS REPLY.

The

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 1932-

methods. MENINGITIS SCARE.

frightening

QUESTIONS AT SANITARY BOARD MEETING,

SERUM SUPPLY SUFFICIENT.

subblety to find out even a Irnction thing wrong with of what he wants to do; you have lock too exaltech got to try and pierce the sphinx-like them of” mask of his poker face and hope So he slows down and saunters that by some cunningly contrived into the offer of the remaining well- question you will aucceed in catcher, hoping to conceal his inward ing him unawares and forging him excitement. This time he doesn't to admit that hó is rather a buyer shout I can buy £5,000 Bean- thunello By great good for- quiras oxutionaly Are you selling lund, you may go one of them to at 147 Then when the bankör anys The Meningitis soaro which is say that he will notually buy or sell {Fos," he can seize a contract form causing grave anxiety in Macad, at a certain rate, but if he ham go and fill in his order. But the man Canton and Hong Kong formed the far committed himself he will prob. doesn't

*Yes." He Kay ably qualify it at ones by saying Shanghai's gone easier. I'm buying

provided the market doesn't get now." [stronger or wenker" or "It de-

pends on what turns up."

So great is my sympathy for that broker that a Itimp comes in my

Bays inbin subject of discussion at tho fortnightly meeting of the Sanitary Board. yesterday when Mr. M. K. Lo asked the following questions:-

"In view of the prevalence of After calling on a dowon or throat as I think of his bitter Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis cases in Bankers and putting them through anguish and disappointment. Most the Colony, will the Head of the the third degree, you are still com-galling of all is the fact that ho Sanitary Department obtain tho pietely hazy as to the actual market, must confess to his buyer that he nevessary information and Inform Chairman welcomed the scane, they invariably make way and when definitely asked what it has failed. Possibly while he was the Board as to:- following guests:-Rotarians P. H. und say "After you, sir," oven, you answer non-committally that sprinting, the business was done by

(1) What is the total number of Stevenson (Peking), Yinson Lee if they know that it will probably it ought to ho so-and-so." That another broker who used the tele oases reported up to and including (Shanghai), L. L. Goodman (Sings-ho twenty minutes before he comes a why you me so many exchange phone. But sometimes the market Monday, the 11th April? poro), B. Thorpe (California), Aqut again. And when a lady stops brokers at a quarter to ten in the can rise or fall 1/Bd. or more with

A.-Sixty-three. · P. Drakeford (Manila), Froider one of them in the street and asks morning halling one another in out any transactions being put

(2) What is (Manila), 8. Frazer (Manila), to be directed to the Peak Churolt rickshawa and begging their com、

"the incubation Gilleland (Manila), and the follow for the Virgins' Retreat, he promptly petitors to tell them what the

through.

period, and what are the charac ing

teristic initial symptoms of the non-Rotarian guests:- Mr. loaves his job and seas her safely market is. Being very frank in

disease? Douglas Jenkins (Consul General en route to ber destination. dividuals, we promptly give our for U.S.A. in Hong Kongh, Mr. F. (Laughter.).

competitors what little information Hinke (Consal for U.S.: Canton). Those positive qualities are un-we have acquired-with suitable re- R. Bell (British North fortunately not recognised sufficient. sorvations-and carry on, feeling Bornco) Captain T. W. H. Hoso. ly, and so it is that the fraternity that we have done our good deed good, Dr. Ernest To, Dr. Y. S. of which I am, a humble member for the day. Wan, Dr. Bernado de Souza, Mr. comes in for a lot of misinformed P. Kerloy, Mr. R. Satherland, criticism. I hope to prove to you Mr. R. A. Greaves and Mr. R. in a few moments, gentlemen, that Cryan.

instead of being criticised, Wa derve your sympathy for the many buffetings we receive in the execu- tion of our duty..

The Chairman announced that on the occnsion of Gootle's centenary, "Faust" would be presented under the auspices of the German Club at 8. Paul's Girls' College on April

14.

MR. "BOWES-SMITH'S

ADDRESS.

Mr. Bowes Smith said:

إلى

ارسی

F

Reticence of Bankers,

Most of the bunkers are reluctant to tell you anything until they have bound out what you are trying to do, and they only make their wants known, when they think you are Their Private Lives.

going to be of some use to them. It Consider, in the first place, what therefore most unwise to be put these brokers are like in private off by a Banker's statement that he life. One of them plays the piano.is doing nothing. No banker over I've always maintained that a man does nothing. There are a thousand who plays the piano must have aand one things he wants to do. But streak of goodness in him some, he won't tell you. That is the He slab writes letters to humiliation of the position. the newspaper: a harmless sort of Take my friend here, Mr. Kan lunacy which cannot lead him very Tong Po. When you ask him some- for astray. Several of them play thing he shakes his head lemnly golf, which is another harmless sort and of lunacy, and only loads them as slack" Whether he is referring to

Very slack!

1

says

י

Yery

As a guest both of the Rotarywhere. Club and the Dollar Steamship Co., it gives me much piensure to stand before you today, but as a bullion broker I do with that diffdeneg which is such ́characteristle of the members of my profession. Ex-fr 13 Farling. One of them ipsiness or to the broker is not dange broken as a body so often spends his spare time frolicking on at all clear. You press him again up to be shot at in the Press that the bench; while my old friend and he says "See what happens. when one of them rises in public, Champkin has a weakness for BoyWhat he wants to do will be reveal he half expects to be the target for Scouts and anti-aircraft bananas and rotten apples.

ed in due cours-and then probably Quiet, innocent enjoyments, which to one of your competitors. ing, however that we have

But they certainly deserve after the you have got to keep on pegging bananas to-day and that such

triala and tribulations of their away. a thing as a

He may suddenly like your rotten apple has never been seen on a President boat, that at least one of them is interest-

daily task. I should perhaps admit thee and give you an order. I hope that my remarks will be ed in the turf, but a man can even - greeted with nothing more than an-

enjoy horse racing without being Occasional raspberry. (Laughter.)

thoroughly dishonest..

Docile and Harmless.

See.

guns.

"I will not my any more about There is no section of the com-

their private lives, for they are munity which is more maligned than friends of mine.

But I hope to the bullion brokers, unless it be those proved that they are no worse, Frontcasting Committee, the civil if no better, than any of yourselves, servants and the inhabitants of Ice and that it is unfair to put them House Street. Yet a fáure docile in the same category as car bandits

or racketeers.

Their Calling.

Now what is this calling of theirs, which seems such a mystery to the general publie? They are termed Bill and Bullion, Brokers, but in reality they only sen a bill once in a bhas moon, and if you were to ask

T

What Makes the Market Move?

1h

"Disorset. Enquiries.

To keep pace with the rates. you have also got to try and find out

A.-The incubation period is un- what your competitors are doing in known. It is probably not more the interbank market. But though than ten days," usually stated to be left, you may not known in the least you Bee signs of activity right and four to five days, but the avidence what it is all about. It may not be on which this estimate is based in interbank business at all. A man inconclusive. The initial symptoms can get just 49 hot and bothered over buying a draft for fifty pesos. are generally influenza in type You therefore set out like a varying in severity with the severity sleuth-hound to gair the desired of the attack. Headache of varying knowledge. Some bankers just sit intensity is a constant fenture. burned upside down, and defy your More Serum Being Manufactured, with their contracts bafore them, efforts at thought reading, with a bland smile on their faces. You won't

(3) Whether there is a sufficient get much help from those quarters, supply of anti-Cerebro-Spinal Mon- But some will reveal a transactioningitis serum in the Colony?

ctfidence: some will talk quite

A.The Hon. Director of Medical done while others- very small and Sanitary Services informs me naturally about what they have minority-will blurt it from the as follows-There is chase of £10,000 becomes 530,000 in serum for three hundred cases in housetops. In the latter case pur. no time, by the mere process of stock at the Bacteriologien In- rumour-mongering, and an hour stitute. Mart.is being manufactur later it will be reported that they have bought up the whole market.

Help From Brokers..

ed.

sufficient

Mr. Lo then asked two supple- mentary questions. They were:-

(a)-As regards the serum in

its efficacy look in Hong Kong, is is prepared locally and how long does it retain

A. Yes. Indefinitely if kept under proper conditions.

ported in Hong Kong of a malignant (b.)-Are the cases already re-

type 1

On the whole, however, you will

work; and the next step is to tackle not glenn as much as you would wish, in the course of this detective your broker compatitors, in the hope that one of them will be in an ex- af cigarette, or the gift of a piece pansive or boastful mood. The offer of chocolate; will sometimes work the oracle. Under the spell of your friendliness, the other fellow may

A-I am afraid I cannot give confess to you that he has just done anything approaching, an sccurate a quarter of a lac of yen or a wad answer to this question. So far as I am aware, the case mortality is. of rupees. Ons of my friends can always be wou over, by telling him not abnormally high. the latest after dinner joko. When he has finished laughing, he is in sech a good mood that he will tell it never amounts to very much, you all he knows. Unfortunately

Frustrated Hopes,

Other Items.

Other items of interest that camio People have often asked me Who

up for discussion were with regard dreides on the rates?" "What is

to the appointment of Mr. M. K. it that makes the market 1/4 at ten

Lo to be a member of the Sanitary o'clock and 1/3 7/8 half an hour

Board via the Hon. Mr. T. N. lator "

"How does the fall ac definitely but I shall be getting the in approving the appointment, said. Well, gentlemen, I could go in- | Chuu. Mr. Sayer, the president, tually takes place ? "

place, It is a question of supply show that, like all of you, we have but at the same time, he offered his bankers on my track. However, I that he very much regretted losing How does any fall in prices take hope that I have said enough to the services of the Hon. Mr. Chau, and demand. Usually in Hong our worries, and that life with us sincero congratulations to Mr. Lo Bang there is neither supply nor is not one long rickshaw ride. Next on his appointment. one buys £10 to send home to his street and are nearly knocked over were--Mr. GR. Sayer (President), demand, though occasionally some time you hear a shouting, in the.. Those present at the meeting wife But theoretically it works by a hullion broker's coolics, do not Hon. Mr. Harold T. Creasy (Vice out like this and I am speaking of vent your anger on him, even if he President), Dr. G. W. Pope, the interbank market, which enables looks as though he owned the Pre-Messrs. Wong Kwong Tin, M. K. us to get such wonderful rates forsident Hoover. Think rather of his Lo, FC. Hu, R. A. de Castro car merchants:-

frustrated hopes and agony of Bisto, L. O. F. Bellamy' and J. H.. A broker finds about six banks mind, and remember that under- Gelling (Secretary)..

trying to buy sterling at 1/4.1/16 neath that pretty buttonhole his and only one selling at 1/4 He heart may be as heavy as the silver anye to ong of the buyers You market.

ting 1/16. There's only on sellor you again on this subject for the haven't an "earthly chance of get. I do not suppose I shall address any of them to quote "for" bulion at 1/4. Grab it while you can."next fifteen or twenty years, but if

[

TWELVE CASES ON

MONDAY,

and harmless lot of human beings it would be difficult to find Accus- ed of almost every crime from rig- ging the exchange markes and rook- ing the public, down to exceeding the rickshaw speed limit, these, mild- -mannered gentlemen find it hard at times to hold up their heads and look their fellow citizens in the face. (Hear, Hear!): Even the they would think you mad It is So the rate of 1/4 in dono, The I have dwelt to-day on the draw. sharcbrokers lock askance at them, the broker's business to find cut other buyers liear about it and some backs of our profession, you may as though they have deliberately each morning what the state of the to-so the market has become 1/18d strike a more optimistic, note.

say that, they will buy at that rate rest assured that next time I shall meningitis were reported on Mon- engineered the rise ia the dollar to exchange market is, and inform his easier.

The fucky broker who put shall be just thinking of retiring. depress the stock market. In time

morchnat and kanker clients. through the transaction has earned and must got SOMEONE to buy my they nequire i sort of inferiority Thereafter he is supposed to know pared to spend the rest of the day

his brokerage, but he must be present! (Laughter and Applause.) complex, feeling that no matter how everything, from the drawing rate getting his pants kicked by the five they present their case to the pub-on Damascus to the course of the disappointed buyers for not using

lie, no one will believe a word they say. As a matter of fact, I have never known as exchange broker felt a untruth. (Hear, hear)

Examples of Good Conduct.

intest byphoon:

But what worries and anxieties are concealed by that phrase "find- ing out what the markot is!!

his persuasion with them.

Practical Difficulties.

Not So Hard,

-1

I

No fewer than twelve cases" of

VOTE

Aberdeen and one from Kowloon, day-nine from Victoria, two from

During last week, there nineteen case notified, of which threo ware imported, with ten deaths Both Victoria and Kow- In thanking Mr. Bowes-Smith for logh contributed nine cases, And his address, fr, Li. Tae Tong of the Shaukiwan öhe. "Bank of East Asia, said that as a Besides meningitis, there wers banker he had to interview bullion notified last week 12 cases of small. brokers overy morning. "Many pox (two deaths), seven of typhoid bankers consider that these inter-(all non-fatal), two of diphtheria views are a theer waste of time," (one fatal), and 56 deaths from said Mr. Li, amidet, laughter. pulmonary tuberculosis.

In practice, however, the market does not always stand still while In an ideal market, every bankos, a broker makes his rounds, weighs would any frankly I know what up buyers and sellers, and then puts . Far from being undesirables, those information you require." and then through transaction. When be Sometimes they are rather useful gentlemen, are angularly free from proceed to quote you his rates for approaches the solitary seller, ho if not actually helpful. When busi, evil intentions and vice. Have you various currencies and different de usarlly finds that the man bas gone ness is slack, the coming and going Øver RCC?) exchange braker liverios rates which would be firm of selling. Even if he thinks he of brokers gives the appearance of magnificent hospitality. (Applause). anatubing a lady's handbag OF and unalterable for at least five can rely on two or three sellers at great activity (Laughter.) And quite realise the admirable re- trafficking in women and children 7 minutes. You would only geed to 14, he may still be unable to con

when business is briak, their views staurant in which we generally meet Have you over known him cut his say "Thank you." neighbour's aerial or appear in

nact business. Of course when he on piang, music, racing and golf could scarcely compete or hope to public improperly cladi Oura w

first gets an order to buy at a gives me great relief from the compete with a Dollar Line steamer, Finding Out the Bates.

feasible rate, he will scurry from routing work which has to be done bil hope the Rotarian brother who practically the only profession not There was an actual case where the manager's room in a state of as quickly, a possible." Mr. Looks after, that restaurant has been, included in the list of prominent a banker, in a place where rates high clation. It is in frenzied mo went on to any that the life of taking notes. I would suggest he residents, soldiers, lawyers and were very atationary, who used to ments such as this that you have ullion broker was not as intoler-misht, profitably spend part of the what-nots who recently expressed a sit back with his feet up, amoking so these fellows take a flying leaple as Mr. Bowes-Smith had tried soon in discussing with the desire to go about naked.".

a cigar and reading his corresponon to the pavement, jump into a to picture it and concluded by say Chlef Steward of this ship and Actually, the exchange brokers done. When the brokers care in moving rickshaw, and dash among ing that if Mr. Howes-Smith contem able to produce such wonderful Even with the Cook how it is he is set an example of good conduct and they found his buying rate chalked the traffic, looking liko Ben Hur plated selling his seat, he (Mr. Li) lehes. I also wish to thank the gallantry which it would be well on the sole of his right foot and his in a chariot race. for others, to emulate. When they selling rate on the left. When he Entering the sanctum of the, Arst

pengers, who are non-Rotarians and the narrow thoroughfare of Ice wasn't a buyer he dropped his right seller he says "I can buy £5,000 at

on this ship, for having borns with House Street blocked by pedestrians, foot or crossed his legs, Icdying only 1/4" But the banker regrets that

u to-day. I didn't notice any Doflar Line Thanked, they frequently get out of their the selling rate visible; and nice he no longer has any cover

rapbarrics coming towards the For

The Chairman: Before closing the bananas, I believe there were some speaker but no ha said there are no prevent the jobbers being jolted into the gutter. When they are waiting

ed, the broker rushes to the next with and in thanking the Dollar outside a bank manager's door, and

seller and is told the same thing. Steamship

The Socratery was instructed to Company for their write a letter of thanks to the Com a merchant or lawyer arrives on the

He probably says to himself "Some. (Dontinued at foot of next column.) pany and the Captain.

would be quite prepared to give him an offer (Laughter) subject to satis factory arrangements,

rickshaws and proceed on foot to verin if he wasn't a seller. But all you know, ha inny have been meeting, I would ask you to join in the fruit callara..

that was quite exceptional

In reality, you call on a bankor knowing full well that you have got to use every form of artifice and

quoting merely for fun. Undaunt

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