1933-02-17 — Page 9

THE COLONY'S TRAFFIC

PROBLEM.

REVIEWED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING

OF H.K. TRAMWAYS, LTD.

BIG PROFIT CN TRAMS: LOSSES ON 'BUS SERVICES

At the annual general meeting of the Hong Kong Tramways, Limited, which was held, at Messin, Jardine, Matheson and Com- pany's board room yesterday, the Chairman, Mr. A. B. Stewart, referred to the failure of the Company in competing for the con- tracts for motor bus operation'la the Colony and explained that the conditions with which tenderars were required to comply were of much drastic and onerous nature that--in "the case of the Main- laad it was found impossible to accept them,

Mr. Stewart referred to the excellent year's "working of the Company, and said that the passengers carried and mileage operat- ed by the teams were the highest in the Company's records. Although more than a million dollars profts were made by the trams, however, considerable loss was sustained by the bus services both in the Colony and the Mainland,

-

Those present at the meeting were: Mr. A. B. Stewart (Chair- man), Mr. A. H. Compton, Hon. Mr. C. G. S. Mackie, Mr. J. E. Joseph and Hon. Sir Shou-son Chow (Directors), Mr. L. C. F. Bellamy (General Manager), My W. F. Simmons (Secretary), Messrs. D. V. Steavenson, F. Austin. H. Owen-Hughes, G. S. Hub. bard, J. F. Wright, inr.. J. D. Kinnaird, B. Wong Tape, Hon. Mr. T. N. Chan, W., Allen, W. Clmy, G. H. Wilson and Choa. Senk Chon (Shareholders).

CHAIRMAN'S SPEECH In addressing the gathering the Chairman said :-

Gentlemen,

To deal with the. Mainland first,

the outstanding condition which we rogarded as the inost dangerous was the provision that no tender for the licence or licences should be other than a royalty by way of percentage on gross receipta.

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1933.

DEMAND FOR WATER METERS

QUESTIONS BY SIR HENRY POLLOCK

During the meeting of the Finance Committee of the Legislative Coun- ril yesterday when supplementary estimates totalling 800,812 were ap- proved, Sir Henry Pollock, with re ferenca to one of the items asked: "I should like to knów whether those entitled to apply for meters in the rider main areas have substan- tally applied for them "

The Hon. Mr. Houderson We have not got the exact number el houses in the rider main areas but the number of applications we nu tually have, are greater than the number of houses we thought were in the rider main area and so per- haps thero are very few who have not applied.

ii economically possible to put for- ward.

The fleet of Dennis busts on the Mainland in addition to the Guy buscs on this side of the Harbour have been excellently maintained and are in first class condition. Negotiations for the sale of these Bases are proceeding.

-Before coming to the accounts it may not be out of place to inform you that I have seen the tramway figures for last month.

Fassangers Record, Not only are the receipts higher than in any previous January but

BUILDERS

OF.

OF EGYPT,

BABYLON AND GREECE

PROFESSOR REDMOND'S PAPER AT: ENGINEERS INSTITUTE

HOW THE ANCIENT, PEOPLES BUILT WITHOUT MORTAR

Professor F. A. Redmond gave a very interesting lecture "at the Engineers Institute yesterday on "Building Cornents" Au. cient and 'Modern, The first part of the lecture reviewed the methods of the peoples of antiquity, Egyptians, Babylonians and Greeks, who had no cement and achieved amazing results with out it. In fact the lecturer spoke of the Great Temple at. Kemac as "the most magnificent building" perhaps the world has ever seen, and the period that produced it is "ponsibly the most glorious period of architecture of all time"

We give below this fascinating review of the history of the subject, and the more technical section of the address will appear to-morrow in our Building and Engineering Supplement..

IF THE GREEKS HAD HAD PORTLAND

CEMENT'

paratively modern building (1,000- 1,200 A.D.) This was constructed of massive blocks of various colour- very great accuracy and without the ed sand stones fitted together with aid of mortar.

The lecturer said:- Our familiarity with ordinary Portland cement and our tendency building material make it difficult to regard it as an indispensable for us at times to realise what a; modern material it is. It seems Now an important point about almost incredible that only a bun all these famous buildings is that dred years have elapsed since they were built exclusively on the Aspdin produced the first, crude post and lintel' plan; that is to samples of modern cement and that say they consisted of vertical posts barely 50 years ago many engineers or columns, supporting in sim- and most architects regarded Port ple manner horizontal being lin land cement with grave suspicion tela and slabs. The great merit of and distrust. It comes to us rather this form of construction, in theory at any rate, is that (apart from that far from its being indispens the pressure of wind) the only forces able the world has been able from acting on the structure are purely venient, if arbitrary limits to members are massive enough and struggle along satisfactorily enough the foundation of the building firm, cement. without the sid Portland nothing short of an earthquake can

And whether it disturbs destroy its stability. us or not we have to accept the famous buildings, the great mar- fact that all the world's most vols of architecture," all the great monumenta which testify to man's genius as an architect and builder have, during this period of 6,000 years, been erected entirely without the assistance of a single particle of Portland cement.

We have had a very good year. Traffic receipts were $2,082,001 or To quote from a lending, article approximately six per cent more in the Hong Kong Daily Press on the number of passengers carried than in 1931, passengers numbered January 20 last, comparing motor during the last 10 days of the 33,541,085 and car-miles operated bus problems here with similar pro-month-1,134,012 (excluding rides were 4,325.038, whilst the net problems in Northern Ireland; which by monthly ticket holders-marks as a shock, in fact, to be reminded fit amounts to $1,029,450. I had recently been under considera- a new high record for a Chins New exceptional prafit on investments in tion by a tribunal of experts:- Year period just ae January 25 the year 1924 be excluded it can be said that traße receipts, car-miles

"One of the findings of the with receipts. 89,535 and passengers 4,000 B. C., to 1,850 A.D.-to fix oon vertical and therefore, provided, the operated, passengers carried and net profit all reach figures which are the highest in the company's re. cord. This, I think, you will agree is highly satisfactory.

Tribunal was that fares have to be such as will cover working expenses and general charges, provide reasonably for renewals. depreciation and reserve, and afford a reasonable return upon the amount of capital necessarily senger mad transport and properly invested in the pas taking.

under-

It will be remembered that in the closing months of 1931 the rails of both tracks between Pedder Street and City Hit were renewed. Dur- ing the autumn of last year the track between City Hall and Ar Estimates based on the experience senal Street was dealt with simi. gained in operating the Kai Tack larly so that we now have new rails Motor Bus Company indicated that all the way between Pedder Street the reasonable.requirements outlin. and Causeway Bay the length beed above were unlikely to be re tween Causeway Bay and Arsenal ulised under present conditions and Street having been completed dur- to offer a percentage of gross re- ing 1930.

ceipts by way of royalty was there fore out of the question.

The work and expense of replac. ing all old Brill trucks with mo- The accumulated losses on this dern long wheel-base trucks fitted subsidiary for the 4 years 1929/1932 with new motors has been pushed are $242,000, of which 8230,000 is forward and 67 out of the 91 tram in respect of the past 3 years. Ad cars have now been so converted. mittedly we are not operating on All cars have been equipped with the best routes in Kowloon but this 43 proved type of sanding gear substantial annual loss-without which should enable instormen to any provision for royalty--must pull up more rapidly on a greasy make a serious inroad on any pro-

יי,

163,000, beats our previous record for China New Year's eve. already referred to the record Traf To deal with the accounts; I have

fio revenue of $2,089,691,30. The total to 9886,535,34, are slightly less eparating expenses, amounting in than in the previous year. After charging Depreciation and Govern ment Royalty and including invest ment, interest and other net sundry earnings as per the Profit and Loss Account, the very gratifying result of 81,029,456.50 being a profit of $118,842.06 greater than in 1931-is returned for the year in review.

The further amount of 8155,482,38 brought forward from the 1931 ac counts makes a total balance of $1,194,818.95.

of

The Temple of the Planets.

and lintel' construction was the A magnificent example of "post hypostyle hall of the Great Temple at Karnac. The roof of this great hall, 340 x 170 ft, in area, was supported by 134 columns, roughly

ft. apart centre to centre. The great central.columns 76 feet high "How then" you will ask "were and about: 15 feet in diameter had these buildings erected "In what their centres 30 feet apart. Ob manner, for example, were tha viously only an adequate supply of stones of the Great Temple at huge monolithio beams and slabs, Karnac in Egypt or of the Parthe- 20 to 30 feet lang, made such a non in Athens or of Angkor Vat building possible. The columns in Of this 888,000 is written-off to held firmly together, in order to the Temple of Ephesus in Greece Goodwill and Construction Ex. provide the necessary stability ?".. varied in spacing from 28ft, to laft. penses as annually hitherto; an

From the very earliest times, in 4inch. apart. Beam and column con. appropriation of $100,000 is passed India and in Egypt, clay either by struction

in masonry, then, on to General Reserve in accordance itself or combined with chopped anything like a grand scale is mani- with the policy in this regard men-

straw, reeds, hair o. plant fibre festly impossible where monolithic tibned in my speech last year; and, wis employed as a building mor- beams of large size are unobtain. 8100,000 has been transferred thr. It was almost certainly the able. We know, for example, that the Investment and Loan, Reserve first form of mortar to be used in in the great city of Babylon, where any country. Gypsum was used stone was not procurable, the benma An Interim Dividend of-8325,000 extensively by the early Egyptians and columns had to be made of was paid on August 15 last. The but more as a plaster than a marwood. The Babylonians, incidental- tar But we have it on good nuly, unlike the Greeks and Egyp- Directors now recommend a Final distribution of 70 cents per share thority that a certain amount of tians, and probably because of amounting to 8455,000, making ing the Great Pyramid at Gizeh obtained effect by building upwards..

gypsum mortar was used in build their lighter form of construction, total dividend for 1032 of 81.20 per (3,700 B.C.) A form of crude The ancient temple of Birs, Nim.... share.

gypsum plaster was also used corn- ruud, for instance, was a real sky monly in Asia Minor and neigh scraper six storeys high, while the bouring countries. In Babylonia later Temple of the Planets" was bitumen, of which there was a built in seven storeys. plentiful supply, would appear to have been used extensively, in the very early days, for cementing toge: ther sun-dried bricks.

rail. The tramcar depot has been fit which may be earned on Te- Account, slightly extended to accommodate muncrative routes. 媳 further 5 tramcars and-as

foreshadowed last year-we have When it is realised that a 30 acquired a valuable site on reason-seater bus must eara about £250 able terms in the Quarry Bay area profit per annum to meet deprecia where we expect to build a sub- an charges alone, the difficulty sidiary depot when the new Shauki-cf meeting royalty payments on Wan Road is completed,

gross receipts with the local dollar below 1/4d will be appreciated.

Traffic in Shaukiwan

Traffic on the Shaukiwan section royalty based an net profita may be I have heard it suggested that a continues to grow. I told you last found either unworkable or diffi year that there were strong indica-cult to assess but, so long as pro- tions that this route would require per accounts are kept I cannot see a 3 minutes instead of the then 4 why there should be any difficulty. minutes service in the immediate In the case of this Company, the future. Passengers on our Shauki-system has worked perfectly smooth wan raute increased last year by y for many years. nearly 1 millions and I can now say there are indications that the present 3 minutes service may soon become inadequate,

Scheme Submitted. After careful consideration it was decided to offer to operate the To cope with this situation from Mainland services un certain con- an electrical point of view we have ditions and two schemes were sub-

during the year-purchased the mitted. equipment for an entirely addition-

This represents an increase of 20 per cent, over the last dividend de claration.

01

There remains J balance

8136,918.95 to be carried forward to

the next account.

The

to

These materials however, are re- They

Hundred Pyloned Thebes.

We must conclude then that 'post

and lintel' construction-the only form of masonry construction re- quiring no mortar-in spite of the fiet that it has made possible so much of the world's grand and

noble architecture, bas nevertheless with its massive beams and many supports, very serious limitations, not the least of which is the fact that apana exceeding 20 or 30 feat were only rarely possible.

allocation of $100,000 Investment nad Loan Reserve Acally not genuine cements. count" is a further necessary pro posses practically no tensile strength vision on account of our unprofitand are useful, only as bedding' able Motor-Bus subsidiaries. This

material.. appropriation together with that of the previous year creates a re- serve of $200,000 against "Motor

The first important point we must Transport Investments and Loans” on the opposite side of the account, buildings is that nearly all of them the discovery that, as a means of We do not know who first made grasp about the world's famous and it is anticipated that this figure that were erected before the Chris spanning the opening between two will be sufficient to cover any lossestian era and a great many erect supports, a most effective substitute al traction sub-station and this has Scheme No. 1 provided for cer in this connection not otherwise ed since were built entirely with for the beam is the

arch. The been installed for us by the Hong tain trolley vehicle routes and such provided.

out the aid of mortar. This, when history of the arch goes back a Kong Electric Co., Ltd. in their oil-engined and patrol-engined bus

The new head, "Investmente" ons comes to think of it, is a rather very long way. The Egyptians, we Ming Yuen premises,

routes as were regarded as reason 8363,171, appearing among the as- astonishing fact--and yet it is true. know, built arches-small ones no The number of cars we can operateably necessary and which would re-

sets represents the investment of Those builders in the truly grand doubt at least 2,000 BC. The on the Shaukiwan route is now only turn at least the bare cost of opera- surplus funds, not immediately re-alyle, the Egyptians, used little of Greeks were fully acquainted with limited by the stretches of single tion. Under this scheme we offered quired, in carefully selected divi any mortasin their very finest principle of the arch. But the idea track which remain and which will, Government 25 per cent, of the net dead bearing shares of certain local work. The wonderful buildings of of employing the arch deliberate of course, disappear when we have prosts.

companies and Government loans. "hundred pyloned Thebes," erectedly as a substitute for the beam and been enabled to lay our new double Scheme No. 2 was entirely dif There is only one other item call during the period of the second of employing it thus on large track on the completed 100 foot ferent and called for equal parting for particular mention. The Theban Kingdom 1,400-1,300 B.Cesta does not appear to have oc- nership between Government and additional expenditure of $128,708 possibly the most glorious period curred to either the Egyptian or Heavy Loss in Motor Buses, your Company. Each would have to Other Property account re of architecture of all time were the Greeks.

Origin of the "Arch, held 30 per cent of the shares in presents the land purchase effected certainly bailt without the aid of Motor Buses involved us in a total the Mainland mechanical transport at Quarry Bay as the site for avon-jortar. The Great Temple at The chances are that this idea loas (after providing for deprecia undertaking. Government would tual construction of a supplement Earase, the most magnificent build- tion of approximately 898,000, not have received anything by way ary depot to which I have previ-ing perhaps the world has ever originated in Babylon. The archi 813,000, on this side and 888,000 in of royalty but would have parti- ously referred. connection with our subsidiary, the cipated in dividends (if any) to the Kai Tack Motor Bus Company. In extent of their holding as ordinary view of what I am about to say on shareholders of the Mainland Com- -the new entirely changed outlook

pany.

road.

in the mator bus sitaation you

will not expect me to take up your Neither scheme.commended itself time with details of motor bus re-to Government who accepted the ceipts and expenditure during the tender of the Kowloon Motor Bus past year.

Company.

Island ServiGDA,"

I now have to propose:-

Bon, was built of massive blocks totes of Babylon, as the city waxed. of sandstone, connected together more and more mighty, faced with only here and there with dowels of the impossibility of building in the "That the Report of the Direc wood or metal cramps. The bean grand style in wood-far too perial tors and the Statement of Actiful. temples of Greece, erected able a material, anyway, for an counts of the Company, as pre- during the golden age which reach architect with ambition-had only sented, for the year ended Decem ed its zenith, hetween 480 and 220 one hope, and that was to shape ber 31, 1032, be adopted, and that B.C. were also built without mor. their somewhat interior bricks into Final Dividend of 70 cents per tar. Most of these famous temples the form of arches and vaulte. The share for the year 1939 be and were built throughout of marble but fast that their walks were built On September 2 laat Government

is hereby sanctioned."

a few fine examples were construct entirely of brick (mostly sun-dried) announced the termination 20

The motion was seconded by theed of lime stone. The workmanship tells us the Babylonians made con from June 10 meat-of all existing

As regards the Island services, carried. Unanimously. permits for motor bus, operation it was considered that a reasonable

Hon Mr. T N. Chau and was of the Greek craftsmen was worthy stant use of mortar. And, given of the beauty of their building bricks and mortar, arches are easi within the Colony and invited ten-profit an operation might be anti- On the proposal of Mr. D. V. vellous.

The jointing and finish were mary built The question is did they Stones were filled toge- build them? All this of course is ci motor bus services both on theciated and a tender (in toy view Stevenson and seconded by Mrther like, the parts of modern largely conjecture on my part Island of Hong Kong and on the very high tender) on the condi. Anatin, the Hon. Sir Shomonaching and there are cases on re- Not only has Babylon fallen; it Chow, Mr. A. B. Stewart and Mr. cord of stones having actually adhar completely disappeared! There Mainland. Some of the conditions tions laid down was submitted. with which tendieters were required This was not accepted and it Choa Po Sien were re-elected Direc-hered together in the course of, none the less, some evidence that We time. In their best work the this is not entirely guesswork. The to comply appeared to your Direc must be presumed that the successors. tors to be of such drastic and ful tenderer-the China Motor Bur Messrs. Lowe, Bingham, and Greeks, like the Egyptians, made Ayrians, we know, although they onerous nature that in the case of Company-offered, Government an Matthews were re-elected auditora um of dowels and cramps. As a had any amount of excellent stone to build with, slavishly copied the the Mainland--it was found imposeven greater royalty than we found an annual remuneration of last example we shall take the won 19 sible to accept them.

(Contiqued on next Column)"*"*"'82,500.

derful temple Angkor Vat, & com- (Continued from Page 11.2"

ders for the exclusive maintenance

Lincoln

"

Bennell

THE "SNAP-BRIM” style is perhaps the most popular of all soft Felts. The unbound edge permits the wearer to adjust the tilt of brim at back or front to suit his parti cular taste.

$19.50

50 Les 10% Cash

Discount.

HATS

SOLE HONG KONG AGENTS—

LANE, CRAWFORD, LTD,

Men's Wear Stylists.

Columbia Nedd RECORDS

New Standard of Realism

CHICK ENDOR

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Ice House Strent.

Tel. 21822.

Imperial

BRAINS

BRITISH DESIGN

RIGHT THROUGH

LABOUR CAPITALEN MATERIALS

The "Imperial" is designed and made in England by people who understand English 'requirements. Foreign made typewriters, imported from countries using the metric system, lack such typically English signs as "+" The Imperial" keyboard has six extra characters

just those symbols which the English typist has always needed but never possessed.

La construction, the Imperial is a sound British -engineering job”—with all that the phrase implies.

REISS, MASSEY & CO LTD.

Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong.

FAMI: "JOSSTREE??