1933-04-20 — Page 7

Chinese Children's Day

LARGE GATHERING ATTEND OPENING CEREMONY LAST NIGHT

FIRST EXHIBITION OF ITS KIND IN

HONG KONG

The Hop Yat Tong Church in Caine Road was filled last, night when the Hon. R. H. Kotewall, officially declared open the exhibi- tion in connection with Chinese Children's Day. The exhibition will continue to-day and to-morrow, when children of ages between 3 and 12 will be physically examined in connection a health com- petition which the organisers are also rumming.

Yesterday, a number of doctors who are supporting the move. ment, examined children from three to five years of age. To-day children from six to mine will be examined and to-morrow the examination will be of those from 10 to 12 years of age. Од Saturday the children taking part in the contests for physicst fitness will be assembled at Caroline Hill where Sir William Hornell will address them. There will be sports for the children during the afternoon,

FULL SUPPORT OF CHINESE COMMUNITY

The holding, of Children's Day in, learned, and this technique Hong Kong has the support of have to hear well in mind is child many Chinese members of the com-psychology. As an European writer munity and quite a number of had said before the War: La terre Chinese medical practitioners are appartient a l'enfant toujours a identified with the movement.

A very attractive booklet.. con taining valuable hint on child welfare has been published by the Committee and the various stalls at the Hop Yat Tong Church are well] worth a visit, the exhibitions of Messrs. Nestle Milk Company being particularly attractive.

CHAIRMAN'S SPEECH

Mr. J. D. Bush, the Chairman, in calling upon Dr. Kotowall to open the exhibition, sa:-1 am ton- vinced that few annual events in Hong Kong aro ha important as the opening of this Exhibition to- night. This occasion indeed marks the culmination of all endeavours for the promotion of juvenile wel

fare in the Colony.

T'enfant. And every day it is more realised by the medical profession that wrong mental hygiene in youth, Jays the seeds of some of the most intractable diseases of later life. The functional nervous dis- orders and that temperament which is commonly known as "neuortic" ur nervous can be traced, in the opinion of doctors who have paid special heed to nursery hygiene, to the early mismanagement of the physical and mental conditions of the child. The warping of the joys of many a home and the havoe wrought on the national assets of a country are due in great measure

J.

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1933

LIVELY EASTER IN THE SIU TAI" TRAGEDY

SWATOW

Masonic Installation

!' INTERPORT ^^ GAMES

HONG KONG'S SUCCESS

(From Our Own Correspondent,)

Swarow, Apr. 17. Swatow's proverbial monotony was broken over the Easter holidays by two very interesting events-a Masonic Installation, when Mr. A. Whitmore became the local Worshipfut Master, and, secondly, the playing of various matches be- tween Swatow exponents and Hong Kong visitors. The latter event cannot be called "interport in the strict sense of the word.. It happily turned out, that some of the sportsnien who had specially cone up from Hong Kong for the masonic function were in a posi tion to combine business with pleasure."

Masonic Installation.

Mr. Bert Whitmore last Satur- day night was promoted to the ránk of Worshipful Master of the Swa- tow Lodge. After the ceremony and the dinner the party repaired to the Kialat Club where Meeting was held.

Sports.

& Race

and Billiards matches were played. Hockey. Cricket, Tennis, Soccer The following are the results and we have to congratulate the, rišitors on their success.

Hockey-A drawn game (2-all) Billiards-Swatow won all the

four games

Cricket-Won by Hong Kong by

over 100 runs

Tennis-Swatow won both Singles Hong Kong won all the

4 Doublea Soccer-Swatow lost 2-0.

In Billiards the home team

showed marked superiority over the visitors in contrast to the latter's brilliancy in Cricket. The reputa

to the cause of wrong physical andtion of the HK.C.C., has certainly mental hygiene.

been upheld

One of our leading educators in the Colony, amely, Father Byrne, has been trying to drive home to

our mind this essential of child In inaugurating this Children's training. The good life of a city Day, the Committee aim at achievor anation and the real world ing one or two objectives. First, improvement for which the whole we want to fall in line with the world yearns to-day depends in the National Child Welfare Association main in the amount of attention in Shanghai to set aside a special that we are willing to give to the day every year to educate and training of children from the age arouse public opinion as regards the of two to twelve.. adequate care of children, physical as well as psychological-incidental- ly, to eradicate the evil of neglect. ing and ill-treating children in various forms.

ter in Tennis and won in both Swatow was expected to fare bet- Singles rather comfortably. The

honours in the four Doubles were captured by Hong Kong deservedly

The result of soccer was a source of disappointment for Both sides were fairly even in Swatow, strength, except that Hong Kong made the best of the opportunities in scoring. John Robinson and H. Owen Hughes were the outstanding

INQUEST INTO DEATH OF CHIEFTM OFFICER

JURY'S VERDICTS ALLEGATIONS

The recent tragedy on board the s.s. Sui Tai in which Mr. John Gentles Smith, chief officer was found dead in a bathroom with á bullet wound near the heart had its sequel at Central Magistracy yes! terday when a Coroner's enquiry into the circumstances surrounding his death was held.

Mr. E. I. Wynne-Jones sit as. Coroner, assisted by a jury com- prised of Mr. P E Baskett (fore- man), Mr. A. A. ́d'Azevedo and Mr. F. J. da Salva Loureiro, De toctive Sub-Inspector M. Murphy attended the enquiry on behalf of the Police.

Before taking evidence, the Coroner pointed out to the jury that at first the Chief Magistrate did not think an enquiry was necer- sary as he thought it was a caso of suicide, but at the request of the Board of Trade, it was decided to hold an enquiry, “

A letter had been published in oga of the local papers two days after the tragedy in which serious allegations were made about cor- thin incidents regarding the re- and he desired the jury to find if moval of the body to the Mortuary,

there was any truth in them.

Captain's Evidence, Captain Arthur Hugh Lake, the master of the Sui Tai, stated that he took over the command of the ship about two months ago. The day previous to the death of Mr. Smith (March 21), he sailed from Hong Kong at 10 am, and arrived at Macao at roughly 2 p.m. with Mr. Smith on board as chief officer, Between the hours of 9 pm, and 0 p.m. Mr. Smith did not go ashore antly reading, for he was a great and remained in his cabin appa

reader. At 8 p.m. they left Macao for Hong Kong, and the deceased the steamer reached Cheung Chan was in charge of the bridge until

Beacont

and when he saw the deceased at Witness then took over

that time ho appeared quite till Kong, witless told the deceased right. When, they arrived at Dong that he would stay on board and that he (deceased) could go ashore if he wished. However, deceased

BOOK it was surrounded by a group of indifferent jabbering coolies.

"Is it to be wondered that his shipmates were horrified, The corpses was all that remained of our dear old John Gentle Smith. the most beloved officer on the China Coast.

"These words are penned with the hope that they will catch the eye of someone in authority who can ensure that such a disgrace- ful procedure may never be ngain perpetrated in this British Colony.

4

Witness replied he had read it when it first appeared in the paper, and he was shocked because it re flected on, the ship of which he was the master. Several facts contain- ed in the letter were incorrect, namely:-

1.-Mr. Smith died in the morn- ing when the ship was in Hong Kong, and not on the trip back from Macao. 2.-The Police were already in

board before the dead cart ar- rived, 'and

3. The flag was hoisted at half mast when the ship, was alongside the wharf and ant when she was berthing.

But witness said he had heard that the corpse was not covered when it was removed to the cart.

Quiet but Cheerful,

Continuing, Captain Lakę said he had known Mr. Smith for over three years and that he was of a quiet disposition, but cheerful and sociable. At times he drank quita a lot but not continuously.

(March 18) he had to reprimand In reply to the Coroner, witness mid on the previous Sunday

the deceased for excessive drinking

tion." He took it very badly in. and for a grave error in naviga

deod," said witness, for he said 'Good God I didn't think I would По have done such a thing.

took it very much to heart.

as very reserved after that and

Witness thought the deccased felt it strongly that a younger man (witness was younger than the de ceased) should have to point out

been a captain.

I see the time is creeping fast players in the home and visiting merely replied "Thank you" and technical errora tó one who had

and I must now will on Dr. Kote- wali to address us and declare the Exhibition open.

tems respectively:

The visitors returned to Hong That this Explong this afternoon by the 6.5.

Svale. sympathetic

hibition

strikes A. When Children's Day was ob chord in the heart of Dr. Kotowall served in 1831 for the first time in is quite obvious. He is one of the Shanghai and North China, it was few leading citizens of the Colony decided that the annual Children's who have given much time and Day should be held on April 4. On thought to juvenile welfare. Let account of Ching Ming and Easterne have the pleasure of asking Dr. this your falling on the first two Kotewall to address 113. weeks of April, mjny were away for their vacation, and we are ob liged to observe the Day now.

From the programme in your hands, you can see that arrange- ments have been made to hold the Exhibition and Children's Health Contest in this. Church for three days, legiming from to-day and that Children's Sports and prize distribution will be held at The South China Athletic Field, Caro- line, Hill, on this coming Saturday, the 2nd instant, at 1: p.m. Mrs. Ngan Shing Kwan will do us the honour of distributing the prizes and Sir William Hornell, the Vice Chancellor of the University. baa kindly consented to address us that afternoon.

DR. KOTEWALL'S SPEECH.

Dr. Kotewall, who spoke in Chi- Children's Day observed in Hong neae, said that this was the first

Kong, and it afforded him especial pleasure to perform the opening deremony, as he considered that the movement was one of great importance to the future of the community.

Most of the civilised countries observe a Children's Day, and such observance is attended with great enthusiasm

youth so that the young in the families of others shall be similarly treated."

Parents Asked to Reip.

In this hall to-day the public- spirited gentlemen who have pro moted and organised this movement have arranged for

did not appear to wish for any con- versation.

Deceased was a quiet man but being that from that day until the Captain Lake concluded by say. seemed at that time more reported day of the tragedy, deceased had hardly spoken more than two words to him apart from duty.

than usual.

About 6.30 the next morning. boy who told him, "Chief Officer witness was awakened by his room died in the bathroom.".

Witnes

Medical Evidence,

fired at most two feet away or probably very much nearer.

opinion, the shot must have been

Removal of the Body. After evidence of identification and anding of the body had been Inapeator Murphy then told Ser- given by two Chinese cabin boys, geant MeRobbie to send for a dead Sergeant MoRobbie then gave evi-

Inspector Murphy to enter the body was put on a stretcher witness went to his own room with body to the dead cart. He stated box to remove the body. Later dence regarding the removal of the

matter in the official log book. way to the box. The body was un

before being taken down the gang- been removed during his absence, Afterwards he found the body had covered, but as far as he knew, do so until he was present. though he thought they would ot

there was nobody present except a few coolies

then got up and went to the bath-

Medical evidence was then given room and found the deceased lying by Dr. R. S. Begbie who stated on the floor in a pool of blood with that he found two wounds, one on A revolver near-by.

the front and the other on the back Witness e- amined him, and found a wound in

of deceased's body. The wounda the left breast and blood was com

must have been chased by the samo health contesting from his mouth. He then lock bullet, for,

post-mortem hihition of various articles of food, telephone the police. The police was due to the bullet wound in the among children, and for an ex-

ed the bathroom door and went to examination, he found the lungs clothing and toys which careful arrived about twenty minutes later

had been pierced through. Death study and practical experience have proven to be more suitable for body after which witness and In-The wound was such that, in his and together they went to view the heart and haemorrhage and shock. children." We have therefore an admirable opportunity of learning sector Murphy, who was in charge, how best to bring up the young.

went to deceased's cabin. There Those of us who are parents should share. script, a will and ʼn letter, to they found about $80 in money, à fully avail ourselves of this op- portunity to learn all that the or-.

the deceased's sister in Glasgow, all of which were dated March 21, in Great Britain, ganisation can teach us. But even In the twenty-second year of the those who are not parents should

1933. Chinese Republic the Ministry of not negloqt this splendid chance Education in Nanking ordered that to acquire some knowledge of the the 4th day of April in each year In the programine, you will also should be observed as Children's of every citizen, whether he or she care of the young, for it is the duty And many an interesting and valu- Day; and so to-day inany people has the responsibility of a parent able feature. The Committes has in China know more or less what or not, to assist in promoting the gone to great pains and expense that day means. A year or two health and happiness of the younger in their preparations and I do hope ago, the Chinese Y.M.C.A. in Hong generation! you will all obtain a copy. These Kong held several meetings for tho

Dr. Kotewall said that he had articles from the pen of the medical purpose of promoting child welfare board quoted rather glibly a say- profession on how to take care of in the Colony. This publib-spirited ing of Confucius in refutation of children are well worth your closest work of the Chinese Y.M.C.A, de his contention. It was this: "There attention,

Before introducing Dr. Kotowall, nately its scope was somewhat re-

serves great credit, but unforti: never has been a girl who learned who has honoured us with his prestricted. Now Hong Kong has de might afterwards marry."

to bring up a child, so that she sence in opening the Exhibition to aided to fall in line with the other saying was merely used by Con night, I will touch but briefly on countries in the observance of a fucius as an argument to illustrate one further objective that the Comproper Children's Day. This proves a point, and was not applicable to mittes desine to emphasise and has that our community is over pro-

the Children Day activities, nor set out to achieve. It is this: Thegressivo in deed as well ne in to present-day conditions," time has long since gone by when thought. the civilized nations of the world

I earnestly hope," continued That the position of the child in Dr. Kotewall, could afford to be thoughtless and the community is all-important parents will show even greater en

"that next year haphazard in respect to the care there cannot be and upbringing of children, The When young, the child constitutes contest. It may be argued that any dispute thusiasm in participating in the whole purpose of child-training,-the the root of the community; when Confucius deprecates contentions; entire world. has realised now, is grown-up he is its prop. to transfer to the child in the fonu therefore essential that every care

It is but even Confucius conceded that in, of habits, all the good that civiliza- should be given to the upbringing manhood and national defence. a matter concerning the virility of koncipoveciti country of the child, both mentally and physnok as archery, contentions could sically, so that he may become a not be avoided. If it was thought better asset to the nation. The an- cients in Chine paid special atten. tion to the young. "My wishes in regard to the young," says Con fucius," are to treat them tendon ly." Mencius also has these words "Treat the young an your own family, with the kindness due to

group, and family, have attained and thou to set free the youth well grounded in these habits.

True enough, the teachings of the zagos had such ends in view. The frui tion of their teachings has, how over, only come now. It takes all these years to wake up to the fact that as in everything worth doing, there is a technique that must be

(Continued on next Colums).

This

necessary to allow competition in the case of archery, how much more necessary is competition in the case of children who are to be the fathers and mothers of the future, and upon whom, the happiness and prosperity of the family and of the nation so largely depend," (Ap- plause.)

The Letter.

The Coroner then read out the Better which was published in ore of the local papers, and asked wit ness if there was any truth in it.

The letter was as follows

Inspector Murphy then went into the witness box and stated that after he had made careful inves tigations, he came to the conclu sion that, the deceased must have committed suicide.

The Verdict.

"Wandering along the fea

In eumming-up the Coroner said front on the morning of the 22nd the fury had to take a certain inst, one saw the s. Bui Tai amount on trust they had to making her berth with her fing at take what the Folice had produced half-nust Curiosity immediately There, was no evidence regarding aroused elicited the information | the state of the dopeased's mind that the Chief Officer had died at the time, and the only possible on, the trip back from blacso, verdict, he suggested, was that of

Imagine one's horror a littio“ ikićide."

ater on to see the dead cart Referring to the letter publish brought Nongside the ship and ed in the loon paper, the Coroner the a Government offenisgo said they had heard the exidepict board to bring off the corpse given by Captain Lake in which he just as it had been found. No stated several facts contained in effort made to find some sort of it were incorrect, but the jury covering, all exposed to the idle could make comments about it if gaze, and then dump it on the they wished, quay whilst the usual preliminary enquiries were being made.

"How long the body was al lowed to remain like this is hard to say, but to those who were around it seemed a life time, and

Without retiring the jury return ed the following verdict We find the deceased had committed suicide, and there is no truth what soever in the allegations contained, in the letter."

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