1935-06-28 — Page 7

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

MEETING

Bill For Supplementary Sum Read

The first reading of a bul au- thorising the expenditure of $635,- 442,27 to defray the charges of the year 1934 was made at the meet- ing of the Legislative Council at the Colonial Secretary's Office, The yesterday afternoon when Hon. Mr. J. J. Paterson addressed the Counci.

His

Thomas Sir Excellency Southorn, presided, and those pre- sent were:-

Brig. General H. G. Seth-Smith, Acting Officer Commanding Troops. The Acting Colonial Secretary (Hon. Mr. E. W. Tratman; C.M.GO). The Attorney General (Hon. Mr. C. G. Alabaster, KC., O.BE),

The Secretary for Chinese Affairs Hon. Mr. N. L. Smith),

The Colonial Treasurer (Hon. Mr. E Taylor.

Hon. Commander G. F. Hole, R N. (retired), Harbour Master).

Hon. Dr. W. B. A. Möore, Acting Director of Medical and Sanitary Services).

Hon. Mr. R. M. Henderson (DI- rector of Public Works.

Hon, Mr. M. J. Breen Postmas ter-General).

Hon. Sir Henry Pollock Kt., K. C. Hon. Sir William Shenton, Kt. The Hon. Mr. R. H... Kotewall C.M.G

И

"Hon. Dr. S. W. Tsa, OB.E.. LL.D.

Hon. Mr. W. H Bell. Hon. Mr. J. J. Paterson. Hon. Mr. F. N. Chau. Mr. H. R. Butters, (Deputy Clerk of Councils).

The Colonial Secretary moved that "the Report of the Finance Committee. (No. 9) dated June 13, 1935 be adopted.

The Colonial Treasurer (the Hon.

that Mr. E Taylor) then moved

"A Bill to authorize the Appro- priation of a Supplementary Sum of Six hundred and thirty-five thousand four hundred and forty-

and two Dollars

twenty-seven Cents to defray the Charges of the year 1934."

Addressing the Council, the Hon Mr. E. Taylor "said:

REASONS FOR EXCESSES

I rise by Your Excellency's com- mand to move the first reading of a Bill entituled "An Ordinance to authorise the appropriation of a

supplementary sum of six hundred "and thirty five thousand hundred

TOLI

and forty two "dollars

rate

SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET The estimates for the year based on si--1s/3d and a deficit of $1,- EX- 511.070 was budgetted for, change, however, never fell below ls 4d while the average throughout the year was 3/8.1/16d, consequently fewer dollars were required as compared with the es- timates to satisfy sterling commit. loan ments auch 23 salaries,

Or charges, pensions and stores. $12,955,767 provided for Personal. Emoluments, only $11,213,115 was expended due for the most part to the rise in exchange. Similarly out of a provision of $4,871,357 un- der "Other Charges" only $4,294.- 183 was required. During the year a supplementary budget was pass- ed by a resolution of Counell dated 26th July, 1934. adding an extra sum of $752,000 to the provision originally granted under Public Works Extraordinary.

financial

It is customary in introducing his Bill to give Honourable Mem- bers some idea of the position during the current year At the end of May the total re- venue was approximately $11,980,- 000 which is $760,000 less than the proportionate amount of the Esti- mates over a period of five months.

The principal shortfalls occur in the following liems, Liquor and Tobacco Duties. Stamp Duties, Radway Receipts, Opium Monopoly and Land Sales.

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 1935.

AN AMICABLE SETTLEMENT

With The Rebel”. Cruisers

The long drawn out

Chinese

CORRESPONDENCE

All letters intended for publicu tion must be accompanied by the for publication, unless, so desired. but as exnience of good faith-ED.]

Rubenstein's Recital

Dally Press”].

Naval Tangie has ended in an (To the Editor, The "Hong Kong amicable settlement, according to an interview obtained from Ad miral Chen Kwel Leung by a re-

presentative of the Daily Press yesterday on board the Ning Hai. Asked as to what were the con- ditions Admiral Chen stated that the question of disarming the ble

dropped. had been

crew

Sir Arthur Rubenstein's Plano Recital as the Hong Kong Hotel Roof Garden at 9.30 p.m. to-mor row (Friday) has been fixed at

the advertisements have such short notice thst it is possi-

The escaped the notice of many who personnel, too, will remain thewill be interested. This artist is same as they are now. Her com- of such world-wide standing that plement will be fully made up the Hong Kong. Musical Society cruisers arrive at would have made arent efforts to when the

ensure a good. attendance at his Nanking when the whole situation. will be put before the authorities. Recital, had more than two days Asked when the cruisers will be notice been given. I should like to assure all lovers of music that his leaving port Admiral Chen told our representative that the deci-performance here will be an un- slon rests with the Hai Chi and usual treat and trust that they will

Should they report make a point of supporting him. Hai Shen. themselves ready to suit the Nan-Yours, etc.. king cruisers will escort them up North. Another qcer, when the fate asked what would be should the rebel cruisers go back on their word once outside harbour limits, replied that that would be "just too bad" for them, for then they could act without hinderance.

WIRE FROM NANKING, Lt. Comar. Wu Chi Foc wherl the Hal board interviewed on

amicable Shen Stated that an

effected

had been

settlement which left them still in charge of their own boat. He stated that the whole position was clarified by the visit of their two delegates to Nanking who had explained the crux of the whole matter to the higher authorities in consequence of which Nanking wired instruc-. Kong, thus enbling the parties to see each other's point of view.

On the other hand receipts from Assessed Taxes (Rates) were main-tions to Admiral Chen in Hong tained mainly owing to advance payments in order to obtain re- funds on empty tenements repay- able later. I do not expect this item of revenue to shew the es- timate of $6,300,000 for the year. Receipts from water excess supply and meter rent were maintained as also were Radio Message Fees.

PAYMENT TO ADMIRALTY The approximate expenditure to the 31st May amounted to $11,048,- 000, $2,517,000 below the propor- tionate amount for the 5 months, The under-expenditure is due (a) to the rise in the dollar savings being shewn under Personal Emo- luments Pensions Charges, and (b) to the fact that during the early part of the year expenditure is always very much less proportionately especially on Public Works items. million of nearly two A defekt dollars has this year been

and

Store

than later

and twenty seven cents" to defray badgetted for which includes the the charges of the year 1934. The anal instalment of $500,000 due to details of all items making up this he Admiralty for the surrender of sum have already been fully ex- the Naval Arsenal Yard and Kellet plained to Honourable Members Island. This instalmeny has al- from time to time and have

ready been paid over, and is in- received the approval of the Fincluded in the figures given above ance Committee and of this Coun- for total expenditure to 31st May: cil in the usual way.

In these difficult times it is ex- The detailed statement of Extremely hazardous to forecast the penditure and the Report on the future. It is, however, apparent Finances for 1934, copies of which

to me that the estimate of revenue have already been furnished to each Member...give the reasons for the excesses. $535,142.27 represents the total of the supplementary ap- Exchange has such a large bearing

It was, he said, the misunder- standing regarding the course of the two cruisers while they were steaming out of Hong Kong that the whole trouble started. This had been righted now in Nanking by their deputies.

Asked when they will be expect. ed to leave Hong Kong Lt. Comar, Wu said that after taking од more provisions, coal and water and a few minor repairs to the engines which will in all probabl- lity take about a few days, the cruisers I report to Admiral Chen of their readiness.**

So it comes to pass that the rumours and talk of revolt of these two cruisers have once and for 211 been set aside with the final settlement effected yesterday.

The Peninsular & Oriental Steam

Navigation Company advise that

the s..." Mantua " will berth at

berth A-1 on arrival and will sail from this buoy at noon on Satur-

day.

SIR WILLIAM PEEL FUND

The following donations have

for 1835 will not be maintained been received by the Hon. Treasur- and that we shall be faced with er of Sir William Peel Fund for the a drop of about one million dollars.

Protection of Children:-

Previously acknowledged $17,583.80

Mr. Lau Bittäkahing

propriation required under the on expenditure that any forecast Mr. Lau Wal Shan various Heads exceeded, no account is still more hazardous. If the Mr Lau Wai Kwong being allowed for savings on other dollar remains round about 28/4 Mr. Chan Kam Po...... hends. Actually of course there there will be large, savings on the Mr. Cheung Chal Wab... Awas a large saving, the total ex- expenditure heads already referred

The Kowloon Motor Bus penditure being $31,140,156.---

to and this should counterbalance

Co. (1933), Ltd.. against an estimate of $33,442,895. the drop in revenue. Whether the

Miss Ruth Chil a decrease of $2,293,539,-, or savings on exchange will go fur-

Mr. Chan Wing Fat dinary expenditure for the year

ther than this and help to reduce

Mr. Chan Cheong amounted to $27,364,990-as com-.

the deficit of nearly two million pared with the estimate of $29.750.- dollars originally budgetted for is 745 decrease of $2,385,755 doubtful but still possible." but Public Works Extraordinary amounted to $3,784.106.-and ex- ceeded the original estimate by $182,216. It is the first time for mány years that this head has been exceeded, due to the speedy man- ner in which the programme of works has been executed.

་་

Honourable Members may TO-

On the above, assumptions I have every hope that te excess of as- sets over liabilities estimated when the 1935 budget was drawn up at $10,830,807 will be maintained on 31st December next.

OTHER BILLS

Collect that I foreshadowed this "The reading was seconded by the in my remarks when introducing Hon, D. W. Tratman, CMG, and last year's supplementary appro- priation account in June,

1934,

carried.

AM. BOWES-UMITH.

Secretary, Hong Kong Musical

Society.

Hong Kong. June 27.

MURDER AND THE LAW

Effect Of Recent Appeal

aftér

A SNUB FROM HONG KONG

To World Famous Pianist

For the first time in his musl- cal career, Mr. H. Rubinstein, the world famous planist, has receiv ed a "nub!

ů

And the snub came from Hong Kong!

Yesterday I had a chat with the famous pianist, and during the course of an illumicating conver- sation the story of Hong Kong's "mub" cropped up. It makes ra- ther interesting reading.

While still on tour in the Dutch

that he would have to spend a East Indies, Mr. Rubinstein found

few days in Hong Kong prior to going to the Phillippine Islands, he decided that he would get in j touch with an authority" in the Colony to make what arrange- give ments that were possible to a reclial. He" stipulated in ecmmunication that he would be willing to give one or two recitals. just as circumstances would per- mit:

said

The answer ne received, the planist "was amazing." fact it was a great joke. and would he knew, be much appre- clated by the rest of the world.

In short. It informed him poll- tely

"(1) that the only hall (the City Hall in which a recital could possibly be given, was demolished.

(2) that it would not be possi- ble to get a large audience for the recitals.

(3) that under the circumstan- ces it was impossible to make any arrangements.

The acquittal of a man, due conviction of murder on trial before Judge and jury. and the fallure of his appeal to the Court of Appeal, has achieved two use- ful purposes. In the first place, that might be interested. It has swept away a proposition in än old authority, incorporated in- which, as to modern text-books, the House of Lords has found. 19 inconsistent with cur. law.

(4) that there were no "musical societies or other organisation

And

Mr. added

Rubinstein laughingly. to think that while he was touring Europe, he had receiv ed many frantic cables from Bin- Colombo; Batavia, etc. gapore.

appearances asking for personal and urging him to make a tour

the Far East!

The proposition was that if the killing of the victim was brought home to or admitted by the prior soner in a murder trial a burden of proof lay on him to show that he had not committed murder, In "future Judges will point ou that it is for the prosecution to agalcst establish the whole case.

he is called the prisoner before upon to refute any portion of it.

CARE AGAINST INJUSTICE

LETTER MISLEADING

The letter was in fact, very dis- couraging. but he decided not "to make any alterations to his on- ginal plans, and Inclused Hong Kong as a port of call...

When he arrived here arrange- and ments were hastily made, from the response already receiv ed, he has reason to feel very en- The judges in the Court of Criminal Appeal were, in fact. couraged Whatever would be the conscious of the misdirection, but result of his recital, he now felt

the

the dismissed

sure that the letter he had receiv- appeal on

ed was very misleading. He was ground, open to them by statute, that no substantial injustice had very keen to see how Hong Kong resulted from it. On this point would receive him-perhaps he only they differed from the House would be able to shatter once and of Lords, which could nut lay for all the mythical tale (that down for certain that it was im- had been related to him in other material. The case illustrates al- ports) of Hong Kong's hatred for so the extreme care of our law music! against injustice to anyone accus- ed of serious crime.

There are, in fact: no less than of escape ave possible avenues for one so arrested and charged.

Before his formal trial he comes before the magistrate or magis trates, and they may refuse to

10.00 send him for

- 5.00

trial This could not prevent a further charge in 5.00 the same count if better evidence 25.00 against him subsequently came 10 25.00 light, for he could not plead "au- trefois acquit," but he would he 100.00 set free. If committed, he is for

mally tried by a superior judge and a jury, and may, of course, then be acquitted,

25.00 5.00 5.00

i.

If condemned, he has, since $17.788.00 1908. had the right of appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeal, a right almost invariably exercised in cases of murder, That Court has, of course," the power to quash the conviction in the case of ser lous misdirection of the judge or If it consider the verdict of the Jury unreasonable d

CHINESE TO TAKE HOLY ORDERS (Special to the "Hong Kong Dalis "Press" (Copyright).3|

Brussels, June, 28...

Asked what he thought of Hong Kong from the scenic point of view, Mr. Rübeinstein repied that the place was very beautiful, and.

cellence of the roads around the what struck him most was the ex-

Island, which he thought were the "best in the world."

FINE BUILDINGS

It was quite amazing to think that with just a handful of Euro- peans as compared with the na tive population, Hong Kong could possess such fine buildings-out standing of which, in his opinion, was the Peninsula Hotel

There was one thing very wrong with Hong Kong. And that was the climate! Only once could he remember being called upon to give a recital in heat such as is being experienced in Hong Kong, and that was in Holland, Mary people during that period had succumbed to the intense heat. while he had to "play the piano!" In fact, I found Mr. Rubinstein and his wife, escaping the heat of the the aircooled lounge Gloucester Hotel Mrs. Rubinstein

PREROGATIVE OF MERCY There is the further possibility, The former Chinese Premier If the appeal fails, for the House, and Foreign Minister, Lu Cheng of Lords to be invoked, as in the is a very charming person and is The Attorney General (the Hon. | Cháng, who for some time was present instance, on the fat of a great conversationalist, Mr.-C.-G. Alabaster, K.C., O.BE) | also Chinese Minister in The the Attorney-General, that an im- Just before I rose to go, I asked then moved the Second Reading Hague and Petrograd and repre- portant point of law is involved Mr. Rubinstein if he had had a sented China at the Hague Peace in the issue of the guilt or inno-successful tour of the Dutch East

of:

"A Bill to regulate the payment Conference in 1907 will be re-cence of the prisoner. So far as Indies, and received an enthusias

of emoluments, pensions, gratuities celved into Holy Orders at the

The sum of $100,000-voted from Revenue for Government House and City Development was, as Mem- bers are aware, not utilised, all payments on this service being de bited to a special rund under the or other allowances due to persons Benedictine Monastery, at Stand- authority of Ordinance No. 30 of certified to be unable by reason of reas near Bruzes in a few days 1834. Revenue for the year mental disability to manage their time amounted to $20,574,286 or $2,157,- || affairs.** :

Since 1927, on the death of his 338 below, the original estimate of

"A Bill to amend further the law wife, Lu Chery Chang has been

in the monastery studying the $31,731,625 The excess of expendi ture over revenue, viz. $1,574,870, relating to Merchant Shipping."

ology. Last year he felt moved reduces the surplus balance of 113,

by the glowing patriotism to pub

·lish” the pampalët “Rape, and 123,625 on the 1st January, 1934, to $12,248,755, on the 31st December,

Theft of Manchuria”

1934

Transorgan Huò Min..

"A Bill to amend the Pensions Ordinance, 1932

This was seconded by the Acting Colonial Secretary, and carried,

the law is concerned, that is final tc reply in the amrmative. but there remains the prerogative

of mercy, in the exercise of which

the Home Secretary on behalf of

whose

the Sovereign, is anfettered by cold-blooded murderer, the law of evidence, and may take crime is brought home to him. It into consideration extenuating is just possible, of course, that he circumstances open to the con- may evade justice through one of aideration neither of fudge for them, but it is batter that he fury in 1

ad should do so than to run the Speaking generally, these aver- angliest avoidable risk of handing. ues of escape are closed to the an Innocent person

DEED

BOXES

SUITABLE FOR STORING ALL VALUABLE DOCUMENTS

FROM $5.00 EACH.

ACME CABINETS

6 TRAY 8* :X

$60.00 $100.00

12

SMITH PREMIER

TYPEWRITERS

FROM

$80.00 EACH

LANE, CRAWFORD, LTD.

OFFICE EQUIPMENT DEPT.

SOME BIG SELLERS

by the CELESTE OCIET

J•H•$QUIRE

DX 129MEMORIES OF CHOPIN

944 RHAPSODIE No. 2 9287-VALSE CAPRICE DB1222-ANDANTINO DB1011-NARCISSUS

DB 809-SOUVENIR (DEDLA)

Columbia

RECORDS

The Anderson Music Co., Ltd.

Loe House Street.

Beer

BRITISH

TOWER

Tel. '21322,

BREWED

BRAND

BRAND AGE

"TOWER lager beer

"TOWER" LAGER is guaran teed British brewed from malt and hops only.

Cool, refr

refreshing and

sparkling

to the last drop, it is a vitalizing and wholesome drink for all occasions. Absolutely clear and free from sediment" TOWER LAGER can always be relied upon It is a tonic and a real thirst quencher,

gente EDWARD WHEEL BOKS;