1932-10-04 — Page 7

A REVISED PIECE-GOODS

CONTRACT

IMPORTANT RESOLUTION PASSED BY CHAMBER

-OF COMMERCE

PRINCIPAL IMPORTERS TO MAKE

FIRM STAND

A largely attended meeting of textiles importers of the Colony was held in the offices of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Cominerco Inst night to consider a revised contract between im porters and Chinese dealers following representations by the Chi- hese Pires (loads Guild that the contract in force since 1923 required amendment. The Piece Goods Sub-Committed reported to the meeting that the most important point of divergence between the Guild and the Committee of the Chamber voncerned buying The Committee hoped for for arrival" or" for "shipme it.”* unanimous approval of its view that guaranteeing date of ship- ment from port of origin, and not date of arrival at port of destination, should continue to b the basis of the trade as it has been for many years past.

The Chairman of the Chambor (Mr. J. A. Plummer) prisided and was supported by the Vice-Chairman (Mr. T. H. R. Shaw) And the Chairman of the Piece Goods Sub-Committee (Mr. P. S. Cassidy). A list of the Armie rapresented is printed below.

OUTSIDE FIRMS AND CONCESSIONS

THE CHAIRMAN'S SPEECH.

The Chairman and This meet-

Fair and

the

Reasonable.

decision at this

Pouding, ing has been called in fulfilment meeting we have not yet directly or

of the promise made by my pre- deyessor at the general Meeting of Piere Glands Importers held under the auspices of this Chamber in April last.

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1932.

THE LINCOLN'S ARRIVE.

ARGYLL'S HOSPITABLE WELCOME.

Amid glorious sunshine the det Battalion The Lincolnshire Regi inent arrived in Hong Kong aboard H.M.. Suffolk yesterday after- noon, As the big cruiser steaned slowly into the harbour, sharp on the appointed time (2.30. p.m.) lines of khaki-clad troops could be discerned along the full length of the ship.

For the first two hours there was a general bustle, as is, usuaf when a vessel domes into port, Steam launches and pinances were

DE LA SALA NOW GRANTED BAIL

MAJOR CASSEL GIVES EVIDENCE: LENGTHY, CROSS-EXAMINATION BY DEFENCE

ALLEGATIONS OF MADNESS: REFERENce to FOREIGN LEGION

Bail of $1,000 was granted to Mr. B. de la Sala, who is charged in connection with threatening Mr. R. O'Shea of The Critic with a knife and also with threatening Major L. Cassel.

Bail had previously been refused, but, when the Magistrate heard Major Cassel's evidence yesterday be observed that the case was not as serious as he was at first led to believe.

The prosecution called Major Cassel to the witness-box yester day and Mr. O'Shea will be called on Thursday when the case re- sturies.

in attendance but it was not until QUESTIONS REGARDING THE nearly 1:30 p.m. that the troops felt H.M.S. Suffolk in Jaunther Shamshuipo." and proceeded to Here they were met by representa tivey of Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and members of their own advance party;

CRITIC"

Major Louis Cassel, giving evi- habitually accustomed to use which

1.shall not repeat in this Court

dance said:-Im interested in the weekly paper called. The Critic, which was started on June 18 this

Language of the Legion.

All thanks are due to the kind hospitality of the Argyll and

His Worship: You mean bád Sutherland, Highlanders, for rather year. For many weeks after, I was than put their visitors under canvas ill and took no part in the actual language-Extremely had; the for the month of October, they business administration of the paper language of the Legionaire.--I cleared all their stores and baggage but I contributed many articles, tried to calm him down and left him from the Nanking lines, and made On September 21, my partner, Mr. for a moment to, go back to my everything ready for the incoining

Raymond O'Shea asked me to own office. I returned to the ac rogiment.

peak to accused on a matter of cused's office. He was gradually business. I saw him on the verandah becoming less violent, the paroxysm outside the office of The Critic, had passed. At seven minutes or French Bank Building.

The officers of the Lincolnshire

approached the Manchester Bradford Chambers with regard to the revised Hong Kong Contract, regiment are to be boarded in the but the Committeo feel that the al-Argyll's Mess, thanks to the good terations which will be necessary fellowship of the Highland Regi

five minutes to six he threw on his ment. It is arranged that the You will remember that at that in the Home Contract are so fair Argyll's will give a special dinner

His Worship: How did you come coat, put his hat on and announced his intention of getting blind drunk meeting you approved the appoint and reasonable that there will be to the officers of the Lincoln's in ment of a small committee "to little difficulty, and I am informed honour of their arrival, and the to meet him there?

compliment will be returned by the

Witness: Ho came along from his and whoever interfered with him ho consider, and if found advisable that in some cases merchants have Lincoln's on the departure of the to revise, the Chamber's Standard' actually negotiated business on the Agyll's for Shanghai in November, office and I stepped out of my would kill as they did in the Foreign

The Battalion is in charge of Lt.offico. He came to the verandah Legion."' Form of Fancy Piece Goods Con- new torma.

Col. E. J. de C. Boys, MO with and I asked him if he could speak Before putting the Resolution to Major H. St. G. Choyte, M.C. an tract, with a view, if possible, to

the meeting, gentlemen, there 38

second in command. The advance to me. We discussed financial making it a standard for all Tex just one other point which I would party which arrived on H.M.S. matters and the conversation end like to touch upon. I have been Keppell laat work was commanded ad with the accused in a violent Such Committee was duly ap- asked whether, in the event of the by Major J. A. A. Gifin. D.B. temper. He then left me telling pointed and

the while the rear party which will for the past four Contract being approved, modis has laboured unceasingly Chamber will soo that it in strict! leave Shanghai on H.M.T. Nour- me to go to hell. to draw up a contract which would enforced. My reply is that while alia next month will be in chargo

que man can lead a hores to the of Major E. H. Imper, M.C. bo acceptable to all parties, and I can assure you that it has been pond, a dozen cannot make it no envy matter. The Committee drink! Whatever influence Chinese went most exhaustively into all Guilda may exercise over their raints of difference with the repre- members this Chamber possess no sentatives of the Chinese Piece powera of coercion and therefore Goods Guild and studied very care- it rests entirely with you, for your fully their grievances. I think the mutual protection, if you adopt it, Guild must admit that whorever to live up not only to the letter the spirit of the agreement. Izdebip was found to exist, their reasonable cause for complaint or but objections have been met.

tiles"

A A

The Officers now serving with the battalion in China are:-Lieut, Colonel E. J. de C. Boya, M.C., Commanding, Major J. Griffin, D.S.O., Second-in-Com- mand, Lt. F. W. Young, Adjutant, Lieut. C. H. King, Quartermaster, Major E. H. Impey M.C.. Major

"Shortly after that he asked to see me again. He had calmed down and we come to an arrangement.".

His Worship: That's over this financial business Yes.

"Knowing that the man was suf fering from the experiences he had been through and to prevent murder being done if possible, I suggested to him that it would be very much better if he went home and went to bed instead of looking for trouble. He said he did not care and the rest I can leave out, I presume: the bad languagé part of it that he did not care a dama and he was going to get somebody preferably & policeman. With that he opened a drawer of his desic took out an automatic, showed it

Dead Executed. "We parted in a perfectly friend: 11. St. G. Thoyts, M.C., Capt. R.ly manner. The following morning, Unless this is done the value of a W. Cave-Orme. Capt. LC Crick September 22, we met in my to me in the palm of his hand and standard form is largely lost. M.C., Capt. O Pennock, Capt. H. Without going into details of the have always held a very high opina. Baxar. M.C., Capt. T. H. R.solicitor's office, where a deed was slipped it quickly in his pocket. long discussions which have taken on of the business integrity of Riggs, D.C.M., M.M.: Capt. C. T. executed." place, I may tell you that the main Hong Kong merchants, but recent Ingle, Capt. 1. G. Dickinson, issus throughout has been the ques-ly there have been allegations that cuts. F. Curran, A. U. Macken- tion of buying and selling for this or that Importer has been giv-zie, J. E. T. Pim, E. D. S. Powell, arrival, ca against buying and ing concessions, or in one way or J. G. M. B. Gough, J. H. Hoc solling" for shipment." The Chin- another getting behind the contract quard, 2/Lieuta, S. P. B. Brans in order to gain some temporary bury, D. P. St. C. Roissier. · A, Pse Peer Goods Guild claimed very advantage. If this sort of thing Wall. strongly that they should buy. "for

are that in a arrival," and that all risks prior goos on it is easy

FA

drift back to the very unsatisfac all importers as soon as possible. tory and chaotic atate it was, in before the introduction of the Standard Contract.

to arrival of goods in the Colony few months' time the Contract wil' should be for account of the Im-, be valueless, and the trade will porters. On the other hand, Im porters were found to be equally Adamant that, in accordance with the general practice, they would only sell for shipment," as has been the custom for so many years. This, gentlemen, is really the point which you are here to-day to de- cide, and I might add that your decision in this matter would ap- pear to be one of great importance to the trade in the future.

Firms Represented.

Protracted Begotiations, During the course of these very protracted negotiations I have been kept closely informed of all that

Firm Stand NecessarY. has been going on, and I can safely assure you that full consi-

Mr. Oscar May (Messrs. Bodiker deration has been given to both and Co.,) said: I have much points of view, every avenue of pleasure in seconding the resolution thought has been thoroughly ex and in supporting the Chairman's M. Gregory, & Co. (Mr. T. M plored, every suggestion most care-femarks. It may be that the out fully weighed, and every alterna come of this meeting will be a tem- tiva closely examined.

As a result, gentlement, the Committee have unanimously de- cided to recommend that the trade should continue to sell for ship ment." But the contract has becu tightened up very much in this connection, and we have, think, successfully combated the main Chinese objections. In the first place, the ten days of grace- have been entirely done away with Only "sbipped on board'

.!!.

Bille

His Worship: Has this got any thing to do with this financial ar- rangement ?-Very much,

"Which fully secured the Sha- meen Printing Press, of which the| accused is the Hong Kong agent, for all monies due to them to`The Uritic-ap to that time. After this settlement, accused returned to his office and later I saw hima.

"He then stated that he was sick of civilian life and he wanted to get back to the Foreign Legion wirere if you killed a man nothing happened. He became extremely violent, jumped up from his chair, ran to the other side of his office

It was a small calibre automátic. He left the office and I returned to

mine."

MAJOR CASSEL CROSS. EXAMINED

Mr. D'Almada (in cross-examina- tion): Was it you who started The Critic Witness:

O'Shea,

Together with Mr.

You two conceived the idea of

starting a weekly paper?—Yes.

What capital bad you for that —

Surely if you are a partner of Mr. O'Shen you had some sort of capital I believe I am not certain because I didn't see it-thilt'it was somewhore about $980 to $1,000.

The following firms were repre- Gentlemen, I, now beg to propose:sented at the meeting:-Mossra. That the revised form of Tex-Arahold & Co., Ltd. (Mr. B. tiles Contract issued under date Lobal); J. H. Backhouse, Ltd. (Mr. September 19, 1932, be approved J. Harrop); Bodiker & Co. (Mr. and adopted by this general meet. May); Bornemann & Co (Mr. ing of Importers; that it is ne-S. Reinecke); Bradley & Co., Ltd. cepted from this date as the Stan- (Mr. J. A. Plummer and Mr. K. dard Form of Contract for all. Morrison); Carlowitz & Co. and hit the wall with his fist, at I have already said that after June Textiles, and that the contract be (Mr. I. Schmidt); E. Connell & the same time' shouting that if I known as the Hong Kong. General Co., Ltd. (Mr. N. C. Horne): Davis or anybody cise interfered with him I had nothing to do with The Chamber of Commerce Standard Bong & Co., Ltd. (Mr. AB.he would do me or them in. He Critic, Textiel Contract, 1932"

Brown); F. "Feld & Co., Ltd. (Mr. then broke down, put his arm up O Hechtel); Fung Tang (Me against the wall and sobbed into Wong Tak Kwong); Gibb, Living his arm, I tried to calm him down ton & Co., Ltd. (fr. L. J. Davies and then left the office but not be and Mr. P. E. Barker); Gilman fore he was sitting quietly in his & Co., Ltd. (Mr. G. Miskin); -A. | chair.

ecke & Co. (Mr. H. Ammann);

"On Monday, September 26, saw him again and then went back Gregory); Griffith & Co. (Mr. T. porary deadlock, but it is to be Co. (Mr. T H. J. D.

S. Lec); Holland China Trading to my office."

His Worship: Nothing occurred hoped that importers will all adopt MH Labour); then 1-Nothing particular, occurred.

united policy in such an event. Cassidy); G. E. Huygen (Mr. O.

He was bad-tempered but nothing Many concessions have been made Hochtel); Jardine, Matheson & Co., particular sccurred, and discounts have been given by Ltd. (Mr. W. Brackenridge); Jeb.

Another Interview, he importers mainly on the strength & Co. (Mr. G. von Ehren); "He sent me a note written in of very doubtful reports by brokers Keller, Kern & Co. (Mr. H. A blue pencil peking me to sẽn hím and others, that neighbours, have Keller); Y. T. King & Co. (Mr. for a moment. That was just after made these concessions; this is 7. S. Lee): R. H. Kotewall & five o'clock. I turned round to Mr.paper 1—Not at all spite of the very low margins which Co. Mr. Ho Man KM); W. It. D'Shea and Mr. Rogers who were What was your idea in having it are hardly an equivalent for the Loxley & Co. (Mr. T. A Mitchell in the office and asked them to wait printed in Canton The arrange business risks importers are run- and Mr. F. G. Herridge); "John my return. I then went to his ment for the printing was made by ning A case in point is the losses allanners & Co. Ltd. (Mr. W. Hanoice. We spoke together for a few Mr. O'Shea owing to late shipments of cotton sen and Mr. K. Kastmann) Wm. minutes and. He repeated the per piece goods last season. We should Meyerink & Co. (Mr. W. Egge)formance of September 2

Resolution Carried.

That was contributed by you and Mr. O'Shea in equal shares -No.

By you alone 1-No, not one cent

M

Did Mr. O'Shea have that capital in cash 1Apparently. It went through the bank as such.

As the capital of The Critic 1- Yes 15

Which Bank The French Bank. It was to be purely à Hong Kong

of Lading will in future be ac

You know nothing about it No. copted as evidence, as to date of

thing at all,

byg shipment. Carriera receipts and do all we can to get this Standard N: S. Moses & Co., Ltd. (Mr. C. A. His Worship That is leaning up You know nothing about the ar "Received for Shipment" Bills of Form of Contract established, and Goldenberg); P. M. Pinguet & Co. against the wall sobbing,

Frangement made with the Blumaren Lading go, while there is introdus it the twenty or so principal im (Messrs. P. M. and A. R. Pinguet);

"Witness: I was coming to it. He Printing Press-No. nd a scale of allowances, which may porters stand firm, the sooner we Reiss, Massy & Co., Ltd. (Mr.

gave an exhibition of the same I put it to you that you did not bo accepted or not by the buyer shall succeed.

Denys Reiss and Mr. W. H. Adler); performance. Tostantly he turned print this paper in Hong Kong be in the event of late shipment.

Reuter, Brockelmann & Co. (Mr. around and saws Chinese office cause you did not have the $3,000 These alterations, I submit, meet

W. G. Fischer); Robertson Wilson boy" ar coolie or somebody and to deposit with the Registrar NO, all the reasonable objections raised by our Chinese friends, and I do Questions or comment on the& Co. (Mr. G. W. Sewell); Alex. not think that Importers can ren- draft Contract being invited, there Ross & Co. (China), Ltd. (Mr Jawore at him, and asked him what we didn't register because we didn't

With Registrar, sonably be expected to go further.was some discussion as to whether Robinson); Rudolf, Wolff & Kew, the devil he meant by gaping at know we had to,

td, (Mr. A. E. Kew); David him. The coolie fled. It was at Gentlemen, you have all no doubt the granting of discounts for clear Sassoon & Co. Ltd. (Mr. B. Stock); that moment that it dawned on me studied the new contract very care. anes before the stipulated perro Showan, Tomes & Co. (Mr. H. that the hecused was a result of Both of you?--Yes. We inquired fully and noted various other al of four months free storage would Dreyer and Mr. J. (Dick), EL Skott the school he had been through and we were told by the Assistant terations, and improvements, there be a breach of the contract. It was Co. (Mr. H. L. Fox) Steger & He was cafard as it'in called in Registrar in Hong Kong that it was fore I do not think it is necessary agreed that discounts would be Co. (Mr. F. Peterson); the Foreign Legion. He was mad unnecessary.

(Further questions on this point, for me to enlarge or comment there breach if granted after the con- Wetion & Co. (Mr. G. E. Watton); he was murderousky mad He ambiguities and roma loose phraseo-definitely stipulated when the busi W. Loe Jones). Harry Wicking His Worship: You say he then Interviewed the Assistant Regis on. I will only say that many tract had been made, but not if Edward Wheen & Sons, Ltd. (Mix threatened me; he threatened to do were ruled out by the Magistrate

Mr. Raymond O'Shea in,"

wilaess said that Mr. O'Shea logy which had crops into the old nass was booked:

& Co. (Mr. A. K. Mankonzi)Park j Fency Goods Contract have been The resolution adopting the conThe following representatives of tened you, how 1-He threatened to trar.) eradicated and the new Contract tract was then put to the meeting Manchester and Bradford firms do me in Heald threatened. Mr.

and carried unanimously were also presente Felor Raymond O'She

has been carefully considered and approved by the Chamber's legal advisera Ift is approved by you this afternoon, the Chamber is pre pared to adopt this form as a Standard for the future.

In view of the fact that the re Robertson (Mesars A & S Henry His Worship: How To do Inm solation brings the contract into & Co. Ltd.); Mr. Chadwick in

His Worship: In those words - force immediately the Secretary of Messrs. Kessler & Co, Lid) ME the Chamber undertook to distri P. A Dizon (Messrs. Blacker & In those words, with the additional buts printed forms of contract to Co. I Ltd.

Hey Malanguage which he is apparently

Mr. D'Almada: Did you at any time disclose your name or that of Mr. O'Shea h the editors or the prorristoré —No,

Why not 1-I simply can't answer that. I don't know

Conursed) Fe 10

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