1933-12-07 — Page 7

FAMINE RELIEF WORK IN CHINA

-Details Of Disastrous 1920 'Quake

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1933.

NG KONG D

HONG KONG S.P.C. NO RISE IN DIRECTORS'

REPORT

Overcrowding in

FEES

Slum Areas Deplored Opposition To Increase At

Rope Company's Meeting

INTERESTING LECTURE BY MR. G.varing the period from November

FINDLAY ANDREW

at

The Hongkong Society for the Protection of Children in the course of their Annual Report, oo- 1933 to the end of October this year, state that no fewer than 916 new cases affecting, the welfare of 1,593 children were investigated during the year.

The onditions under which the poor of the Colony live has been given close attention and the fol lowing which appears in the report is illuminating

"Thers cair be no doubt that one of the most crying needs of the Colony is the clearance and cota- plete reconstruction (with open spaces) of the congested areas in the older parts of the city of Victoria. The existing conditiotis not only produce disease among the inhabitants of those areas but also render these potential breeding places of disease a standing minace to the health of the whole com- munity.

received offcial recognition and s It is good news that this Deed has promised attention if a profit arises from

Scheme, but it is unfortunate that the City Development

entail a heavy toll of lives cannot the removal of conditions which be commenced until the hoped for profit materializes

.....

"NO VALID REASON" SHOWN

There was a large gathering of shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Hong Kong Rope Manufacturing Company, Limited, yesterday called for the purpose of approving of the New Articles of Asso- ciation of the Company necessitated by the passing of the new Companies Ordinance last year.

The new articles were duly adopted, but share- holders declined to accept a change embodied therein whereby the renumeration of Directors was increased from one thousand dollars to two thousand dollars. Views for and against this increase in Directors' fees were voiced, but when put to the meeting, shareholders, by a vast majority, voted for the smaller figure.

:

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION REVISED

New styles in PULLOVERS

and

SLIPOVERS.

We have received many new styles this season, a particular nice line in Pullovers with turn down collar in striking designs, is very smart for Golf and other Sports wear. Then there is the new “JAEGER Tweedover in real

tweeds, dovegals, etc. The backs are made of knitted wool while the fronts have the neatness of a cloth waistcoat.

Pullovers and Slipovers with Stockings to match are another pleasing feature, also knitted and gaberdine "Jumpers - with Zip fasteners.

White Ankle Socks, Golf and Riding Glove, Stockings in plain and fancy patterns are in. the latest styles.

Mr. G. Findlay Andrew, one of As a consequence, during the up- the few Englishmen born in Kwei-heavals, many of the hills floated chow Province, who speaks and over the plains like a torrent "od reads Chinese readily and a notable | rains. The mountains simply worker connected with the China crashed, down in torrents of earth International Fainine Relief Com into the valley, below and buried mission and the Advisory Committee the houses about 100 ft. under for the Yangtze Valley, delivered a heath. Mr. Andrew also advance bighly interesting and impressive another reason for the vast number lecture at the Hop Yat Church,, of people killed in the Kansu Caine Road recently. Mr. Andrew Earthquake of 1990. It was due has been doing famine and flood ré- to the fact that so many lived by lief work in China for some years; digging caves inside of the cliffs, and what with his varied experi- The entire country was so denuded ence and his rich store of know. of trees that people could not ledge and anecdotes, na well as his afford to buy wood and build commanding height and appear houses. Therefore they must live ance, he stands before his audience in anves, and when the terrific an exceedingly fascinating earthquake came on suddenly speaker.

night, the caves collapsed with the clits and mountains, and buried the people alive. After the earth quake, Mr. Andrew was entrusted relief to the people stricken,, with with the difficult task of bringin starvation, building roads, houses and bridges. The most important

Mr. A. L. Shields presided over art of Mr. Andrew's work was bo

the meeting and was supported by the earth that stopped the flowing only in the old and over built slum. Turnet of Mesars. Deacons out through the mountain slide and

It would be erroneous to regare the. Han. Mr. J. P. Braga, Mr. J. overcrowding as a condition found Scott Barston, (Directors), Mr. M of the rivers. The work was ex

seconded, Mr. N. V. A. Croucher We allow 10% discount for cash. districts. ous." If these rivers were allowed ceedingly interesting but danger

(Legal Advisers) and the following to remain, there would be

The prevalence of the bed-space shareholders:-Messrs. Ngai Sze-! Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen- siltage getting down into the River perhaps be regarded as some cri tong, M. J. Gann Mak Ching.

more as a unit of accommodation may yam, Wong Pak-fun, Shun Hip-In view of the informal interviews Hoang Ho causing more floods interion of the degree of overcrowd- Joseph Gould. F. M. N. da Silva, with you. Mr. Chairman, the some of us shareholders have had. Hunan, Hupeh and Shantung Pro- ing and it is found that in the N. V. A. Croucher, Mok. Ying-ide. Board has been made aware that vinces,

Society's cases during the past year Leung Hau-yuen, F. H. Kew. P. H. We propose to move an amend- the Western District of Hong Kong Bin, J. F. Grose. A. C. Greaves. A ment deleting Article No. 11 from showed a percentage of 68.0 bed-J. Edgar, E. M. Ellis, Choa Po-min, the Resolution submitted to us. spaces while Eastern Hong Kong, L. Well, H. Dreyer, W. McLean, A. which embraces the newly built reA Botelho. C. W. L. Cole. Pang amendment that Article No. 11 be" I beg therefore to move an clamation area showed a percent Kit-wal, Wong Kit-wan, Tong Hee- deleted altogether, and I think I age of 69.46. Kowloon showed a percentage of 66.66

man. K. C. Mark 1 W. Shewan, am right that the effect of this Soo Ful-chen, Pang: Wai-hang, Li, amendment, if carried, will be that Sau-nam, Chau Shu-yin, E. Abra- the Director's fees will revert au- Ying-pui, Wong Wing-hong, W. A $1,000 each, ham. F. A. Xavier, Tae Wal, Mo tomatically to the old scale of Zimmern, HF. Cambell, G. A. Harriman, J. Dick and Mrs. Yeung Fung-shi

Mr. Andrew touched on his Relief work in Kansu after the disastrous earthquake in that Province on Dec. 18 1920 and related the pitiable stories of distress caused by devasta- ting foods of 1930 in the basia of the Yellow River, more particularly in the Provinces of Honan. Hopei and Shantung, where some six thousand square miles of rich fatm

land have been inundated. Over half a million houses have been swept away in the raging torrent and more than three million people hare been directly affected. Before com- mencing his lecture, Mr. Andrew put up on the platform a huge map of China, pointing out that progress made to-day in travels by means of aeroplane is revolutionizing com munication in China. To-day it is possible to leave Shanghai on Tues day morning by aeroplane and reach Lanchow in Kasu the N. W. Pro- vince of China, in the same after noon, thus covering a distance of 4,300 li or more than one thousand miles straight as the birds fly:

RELIEF, WORK

If this deduction be correct, then, although slum clearance may be successfully tackled, overcrowding cannot be eliminated until there is an increase in the standard of wages."

Speaking of organizing his men to get on with the relief work in Kansu, Mr. Andrew told bis audi ence of the difficulty of finding con- venient medium of currency with which to disperse wages to the daily labourers. "When I went to Kansu" continued Mr. Andrew, to do the Reconstruction work, there PROVINCE OF EXTREMES

were no such things as dollare and centa. The only silvers were the Kansu, says Mr. Andrew, is a time-honoured Chinese Sycee and Province of extremes. The North the only cash were the old brass éra portion of the Province com coins in use in China for the past prises of mainly desert and the two thousand years. I had 14,000 South possesses the most wonderful men at work every day and in mountain sceneries in China: Far order to pay 3800 men for one job more interesting than the place," alone, (no men ever received more continus Mr. Andrew, "are the peo than 400 cash each per day) I had ple who come from all other seven- to pay out seven tons of brass cash. teen Provit.ces. In addition, there This would give you an idea of one are three class of people who are of the many phases of the stupen- of extreme interest, namely the dous task confronting those of us Tibetants, Mongolian and Moslems. directing the relief work from day, The last group is not of Chinese to day." Another phase of the origin, but the people have lived complexity of the relief and recon- long in Chian that have become struction work that Mr.

Society has encountered essentially Chinese. These Mussul had to face was that he had enough three cases in which children have men came into China during the resources and food supply to keep been dumb and in which there has Tang Dynasty (20 to 900 A.D.), alive only 100,000 cut million of been no apparent physical defect According to Chinese history, when people, so that every refusal of which would prevent their being a brigand Ilaang cho in the Tang help that Mr. Andrew had to make, taught to speak, if facilities for Dynasty first ravaged the Southern he would feel that he

WDR con- instruction were "available. Provinces, took Canton, then ademning one soul to death by There is no institution in the Co great international port, 120 thou- starvation. Money in face of star-lony where such cases can be dealt sand Mursuimen, Jews. Christians vation would be of little use more with and it would appear that the and Mazdeans perished, After especially in a remote province of nearest institution is at Chefoo, wards a Turkish officer Li Ko-Kansu and eating of money could where differences in language prove yung organized a body of foreign not prolong life. In such circum an obstacle to the reception of cavalry for the Tang and defeated stances even the driest hard crusts children from South China. the brigand Huang-ch'ao in 884and moldy bread would be a feast A.D. Clearly in the days of the to the starving people. Tang, there was a regular infiltra

ese.

The following is another inter eating extract from the Society re-. port:-

Andrew The

H

AMENDMENT PROPOSED

After the resolution had been proposed by the chairman and duly

said:

ond the amendment.

Mr. Yeung Yau:-I beg to sec-

that, while paucity of accommoda

It seems a reasonable deduction tion in the vicinity of work is contributory factor, overcrowding is rather the result of the lack of means to rent better accommoda tior. near to work or to pay the

The Chairman:-I think Mr. cost of transport to and frote work CHAIRMAN'S SPEECH

Croucher that you mean item 11 from outlying districts where there

on the Addressing the

notice? That are empty houses than the direct Chairman said:

refers to meeting, the

Article 91. result of the nature of the promises available.

Gentlemen:-indicated in the

Mr. Croucher:-That is right. Notice which the Secretary has

SHAREHOLDERS IN THE DARK just read this Meeting has been Mr. J. Gould:-For the second sidering and, if thought it, adopt-oppose a proposal of the kind now convened for the purpose of con- time this year, I feel impelled to ing the draft new Articles of Asso- before us. I think there can be ciation of the Company: On the no two opinions that it is mani coming into operation on the First festly unfair to ask shareholders July last of the Companies Ordin- to sanction a large increase in the ance 1932 it was found that the Directors' fees at a time other present: articles of Association of than at the Annual Meeting; at a the Company conflicted in certain time when necessarily they are In respects that Ordinance and were therefore afairs are progressing. As a gen- with the provisions of the dark as to how the company's not only inaccurate but misleading eral rule, shareholders of Hong- discount (Article 4) and to issue erous to their officers and servants The powers to issue, shares at a kong Companies are always gen- redeemable preference (Article 49) are both new and earnings, and I can see no valid shares when warranted by the company's they have been included, Company cannot do either of these a matter being dealt with at the Breason why the practice of such things without being authorised to Annual Meeting should be depart do so by Its Articles. If these ed from. powers were omitted therefore, it 'beg therefore to support the pany ever wanted to issue shares Croucher would be necessary if the Com- amendment proposed by Mr.

"discount or

and seconded by Mr. redeemable préference

to sue Yeung Yau and would ask share- for them first to alter their Articles

shares holders present to vote for it.

DIRECTOR EXPLAINS of Association.

The Hon. Mr. J. P. Braga, Ladies and Gentlemen-I have listened very carefully Gould's remarks.

to Mr.

Another

new. Articles is that which restricts the Company from sums than that recommended by declaring any larger dividend or

accordance with modern practice. the Board of Directors This is in and is a provision which is now generally inserted in the Articles of Association of companies.

Your committee suggests that the provision of facilities for the inata struction of dumb children in this tion of Mussuimen elements into BODIES LEFT IN CAVES Colony is worthy of the considera China. Not a few men of Turkish- origin were known

tion of the Government. in the Tang "I have told you about the peo- period to have held high porta aple in Kansu living in caves," said strative staff in 1004 is foreshadow- Changes in the honorary admini- ministers, governers, and officers of Mr. Andrew, "and when the earthed in the following the Emperor's body guards, This quake came on suddenly the homes accounted for the preponderant that the people lived in became as Hon. Director at the end of the Mr. Hazlerigg relinquishes office number of "Mussalmen in Kansu their graves overnight. We work-present year, to-day. Even up till the presenters could not get all the bodies out heen fortunate in securing the ser-

rectors views in the matter it is The Society has

correct appreciation of your Di- That shareholders may have a these Mussulmen in Kansu have of the caves but simply left them vices of Mr. 8. V. Boxer and Mr.

necessary that I should briefly their own custome, culture and dia-buried there. For the purposes of M. A. Cooper, of the Hong Kong

state our opinions at this meet- lect entirely different to the Chin-investigation, however, some of the University, who will act as joint

caves, were, opened. In one of the Honorary Directors,

ing. At the outset, however, I may 700 YEARS IN CHINA caves we dug into no fewer than 108

The power which the Board of say that I am authorised by my For 700 years or more they have other 32 bodies were taken out. In hoped that Mr. A. Makellar vill paid shares to a person of whom part to oppose

bodies were recovered and in England in the Spring and it is to register a transfer of partly that there is no intention on our Mr. P. E. Barker goes on leave to Directors formerly had, to refuse fellow-Directors to make it clear lived inside the Chinese Empire: almost every instance the people undertake in his place the work of they did not approve has been wishes If they actually represent They speak the Turkish language were killed by the falling in of the Joint Hon, Treasurer, Mr. Li Hoi extended to enable the Directors the consensus of opinion in favour [shareholders' like their kith and kine in Turkey caves during the earthquake." in Europe. The other class "of

Tung proposes to retire from the in similar circumstances to refuse of the stand "taken up by Mr. Mr. Andrew remained in Kanau office of Joint Hon Treasurer, foreigners in Kansu are the for two years to complete the work hummbdans who are cof Arabian

Mr. W. N. Thomas Tam has in- and the Board are aiED

a transfer of fully paid shares, Croucher and Mr. Gould and their and Persian blood, and who at the of relief and reconstruction so far timated his desire present day sponk among thein- funds would permit at the time. the Hon. Secretaryship of theed up in advance to participate views, but we would abstain from given associates. Furthermore, not only to relinquish power to arrange for capital call-have we no desire to oppose your selves Arabic and Persian.

During this period, Mr. Andrew Western District, and Mr. Frank Most interesting of all in, Kansa iga

had seen hundred of thousands died Hingham Kwok has kindly cou

in profits instead of bearing in-voting on Mr. Croucher's amend- tribe of Mahammedans who are the ed some of the most terrible things

from sheer starvation and witness seated to administer this Branch.

terest at an agreed rate.

ment if it la pressed to a division, direct descendants of the Hsiung any human being ever called on to Nu, one branch of the Tartara, see of sufferinge from disasters They, too, have their own customs like earthquake, food and was "I FAMINE IN FLOODED AREA

Mr. Braga went one, I will sub- and language. In the opinion of have seen all kinds of pestilence

mit to you very concise figures of Mr. Andrew, the people in Kansu from Bubonic plague down to Mr. Andrew dwelled on rehabilita past felt that their remuneration In 1930 the Gross Profit amounted In respect of the famine ralief,

past three years. They show that the Company's earnings for the are very poor, as they have under-During this period, Mr. Andrew tion relief in Yellow River Flooded has been inadequate to the duties to 8221,016.99, Nett Pront to $181,- "gone, one disaster after another during the past twelve years. The again. "Five times I have been areas: "In modern day methods of and responsibilities involved, and 774.89, and a sum of $150,000 was most terrific catastrophe ever ex-without food and water for 28 held to be but a necessary pallia greatly increased the llablilties of in 1931, Cross Prodt was $251,500, taken by bandits and I have been relief work, eraergency relief is the new Ordinance has not only paid in dividends to shareholders. perienesa in Chinese history was hours. On one. perhaps the earthquake on Dec. 18, Andrew was robbed of $5,000 be-value. Therefore, it is of vital in very severe manner the right dividend and bonus paid to share- occation Mr.tive and not of real constructiv a Director but "has also limited 51, Nett Front 8214,810:36, and 1990 which occurred at night longing to the Relief Fund, but on necessity. These terrific upheavals buried at learning the truth, the bandits re-shall be supplemented by rehabili

that emergency relief to an indemnity from the Com-holders $200,000. In 1932, GrOSS least one million people without turned the entire sum intact Mr. Cation work.

pany which was formerly always Pront totalled 8154,881.59, Nett any warning about nine o'clock at Andrew gained the impression thatThe mere total of estimated sten in the Articles of Associa Profit $117,417.04. and dividend to night: The outside world know the bandits could be heroic in his damage to crops and property. After the Resolution has been three years the Directors' fees scarcely nothing about that catas

shareholders. 8100.000. For those trophe, but in the Observatories, ofspect Mr. Andrew also gave an caused by a natural disaster in any Europe and America some of the site account of his work in area, in no wise represne the full connection with Flood Relief in count of the loss sustained by the most savere shocks were ever re Central China. In order to check population of that area so very corded by seismographic machines, the recurring Boods as far as posine is the margin that obtain

EARTHQUAKE OF 1920

sible in the future a system of between existence and starvamon, dykes of 030 miles along the in many agricultural districts in Mr. Andrew gives an explana Yangtze and the Han River has China that the failure of a single tion as to how such a large number already been built, These dykes orop will put the people cd that of people were killed in Kansu dur, would give some conception of the district into a state of aire need ing the earthquake of 1920. First, huge amount of reconstruction It is thfficult for the western mind Kansu is a Province of mountains. | work involved.

to appreciate this."

The remuneration of Directors Increased by the proposed new Articles from $1,000 per annum to $2,000 per annum."

Your Board have for some time

COMPANY'S FIGURES ⠀

moved and seconded, if any share amounted in the aggregate to 815% holder wishes to suggest any 000, which represents the follow- amendments in the proposed new ing proportions-On gross pront Articles, such suggestions can be 2.39 per cent.. on nett pront 2.918 put to the meeting in the form of per cent. resolution and, if carried, can be A Company that 18 capabla of incorporated in the print which I earning in gross profits over $800, shall sign for the purpose of 000 during the past three ye identification prior to the resolu- and distributed in dividends tion being finally, put to the meet ly half a million dollar

(Contine

Ing.

Wm. POWELL, Ltd.

9, Queen's Road, Central.

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ONKAPARINGA.

SIZE 60X

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reduced to

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educed to

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SIZE 66x580

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ANE, CRAWFORD,