1919-09-30 — Page 4

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The Hongkong Telegraph

HONGKONG, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1919.`

OUR NEW GOVERNOR.

ressed would

since it would defiser

hearti

WARM PUBLIC WELCOME

Excellency

Speech at the City Hall.

OHIYAHALL «interest, oltizens

ting every awaited

EGINALD EDWARD STUBBS

Knight Commander

of the Most Distinguished Order of the St. Michael and

George

the arrival of Sir Reginald Stubbs The Hall began to fill as early as 9.30 Your Excelleno of the welc

ladies predominating. convert the massage into a

At 10 We, the residents of the Colony o clock, the boom of guns of Hongkong, respectfully tender laboured grönsa.:: That, how

signalised the landing of Sir to you our loyal and- sincere wel- aver, is not the view that we take.

Reginald on Blake Her & period come, upon your arrival here to nor, we imagine, will it represent His Excellency Sir Reginak whole being under the command between then and his arrival at or and Commander-in-Chief, to the opinion of the community Stubbs, K.CM.G., assumed the of the Hon. Mr. E. D. C. Wolfe, the City Hall.

of about twenty minutes alapsing take up the high offles of Govern- large when a little reflection is Governorship of the Colony Captain Supt. of Police Chief given to the subject. We should

which it has pleased His Most Look upon. Sir Reginald Stubbs his in and took over and spectors Boulges, leading to the Hall were lined on do not

St. George's Hall was tastefully Gracious Majesty the King to when he Inspector Kerr acted morning.

as decorated with palics. The steps assumption of office as though it the seals of office from HE Garrod and Cashman were also also with palms, the whole atmos as a stranger, and, during the were an appointment to a business r. Claud Severn, CMO, who in attendance. The Guards of phere suggesting a happy ocoa-eight years which have elapsed You do not come to us wholly position. His Excellency is, after has been administering the affairs Honour were drawn. From the slog. Chaire were arranged on since you were among us, your all, a servant of the public, and in of the Colony since the resigna Hongkong Defence Corps, Capt both sides of the Hall, leaving record in the service of the Grown congratulates him an his appoint- Reginald was appointed to Houg- Pier), and the 74th Punjabis (at At the entrance to the Hall, to the merit of your promotion to to-day's Address the communitytion of Sir Henry May. Sir Stawart commanding (at Blake wide centre aisle. ment, points to his already kong in February last, when, as the Colonial Buildings.) The the new Governor was received the distinguished position you are has been such as to amply testify brilliant career, calls his attention Mr. R. E Stubbs, he was fill-streeta were lined by 60 men of the by the members of the Reception about to occupy-enhanced as hiems that he will be called up- Secretary Ceylon. He in command); 25 men of the R.R: Gedge was Secretary, members of hars attained the dignity of your to the most important of the pro-ing the position of Colonial RGA (Caps P. H. Davis, MC, Committee, of which Mr. H. J. such merit is by the fact that you on to deal with, and expresses its figured in the Birthday Hon-100 men of the H.K.S.B.RO.A. the Legislative and Executive office at so early a period of your confidence that he will be fully ours in June last, being made a (Capt. Skilton in command): 100 Councils, and the committee of career as to outvis all precedent equal to his new responsibilities. Knight Commander of the Order men of the 2/22nd Punjabis; and the Constitutional Reform As in the Annals of the Colony. Surely that is a business-like of St. Michael and St. George, 50 man of the 1st Garrison Batta sociation. manner in which to welcome him and later he proceeded to Eng Manchester to bis post. We are beartily tired and, when he was invested with Barrell in command).

Regiment (Capt.

Your predecessor was inform- Ás the Governor of the old, effusive type of publicis Knighthood by His Majesty

the Hall, followed by

ed, upon his arrival in 1918, that welcomes. We hail this breach

stirring events and momentous changes in the Far East had in-. volved increased responsibilities and difficulty in the administra- tion of the duties of His Majesty's Representative in this important outpost of the British Empire: What then shall be said of the position to-day!

with past traditions as a healthy the King. He had had but a sign. And we feel sure that His relatively brief career in the Excellency will look at the

Colonial Service, but he had matter from the right standpoint early been regarded as a man of and understand that, though we'

marked ability and his appoint have told him some of our needs,ents as Governor of this im- that does not mean he is any the less welcome in our midst.

THE RAILWAY STRIKE:

|

portant. Colony was generally considered as the rightful reward of brilliant service to the Empire. He is the youngest Governor the. Colony has ever had.

once

It is many days now since such grave news has come from Home Since His Excelleney's depart- as that which has been given to ure from England on board the the Colony concerning the great P. and O. mail steamer Khiva, railway strike which has thrown in August, the Colony has awaited into dislocation the whole of the his arrival with a feeling of keen country's industrial life. It is expectancy, in the hope that his indeed difficult from the inform- assumption of office will coincide ation which has so far come to with a newera in the progressive hand to form a judgment of the development of this important exact points at issue between the possession of the Crown. Sir men and the authorities, but it is, | Reginald came aahore this apparently, all, a question of morning and WAS accorded wages. In this connection it is a welcome, the sincerity of well to bear in mind that the which must have at railwaymen were given a guar impressed him. Blake Pier had antee that no reduction of the been gorgeously decorated in special war wages would take honour of the event, whilst the also that they would be maintain in Statue Square, the profusion place before December 31 and striking triumphal arches erected

the cost of living had considerably mises along the route to the City ed at their present level until of flags flying from business pre- Hall, and the huge crowd which assembled to witness his landing, testified to the cordiality of the reception prepared for him.

Blake Pier was tastefully de- for the auspicious were made, occasion. The pillars were wound though the amounts agreed upon with red, white and blue drapings, fell short in some respects of the and festoons of evergreens and Government accepted the scale Under the roof of the pier, were original demands. Broadly, the bunting linked up the arches. of wages in receipt of smaller sums, but streamers of evergreen in such demanded for those hung the Allied flags and cut down the scale demanded for profusion

23 to completely those who were in receipt of the obscure the ironwork of the highest wages, At any rate, the structure. Also the sides of the tendency on the part of those drawing up Addresses of Welcome factory as to warrant the state of palme.

Government's offer was so satis- pier were lined with a profusion to make them a mere string of empty platitudes, nauseating becausement by the men's leaders that to

At the entrance Statue Square from

Hongkong, official and unofficial, has to-day given a sincere and hearty welcome to its дет Governor. It is our pleasurable duty to associate ourselves with that expression of popular feeling and to join in the hope that His Excellency's term of office may be one of lasting benefit to the Colony and, at its close, may be looked back upon, on his part, with a sense of gratification at duty well done. Sir Reginald Stubbs comes to Hongkong at a most momentous period in its history; at a turning point in its affairs, as we all hope and believe. No more opportune moment for changed. It will be remembered a change of Governorship could have occurred than the present that just over a month ago The war, on which the whole energies of the Empire have been big demands were made by the concentrated, is over; we are about to enter upon the task of recon- drivers, firemen and cleaners and struction. It is a moment for stock-taking, when we can review the that after critical negotiations successes and the failures of the past, and make wise and liberal with the Board of Trade substancorated provision for the future. The Colony is looking forward, as to-day's Address of Welcome puts it, to a new era of progress." It will be no use of mere platitudes, therefore, for us to say that a greater responsibility rests upon Sir Reginald Stubbs, on his assumption of office, than has been borne by any previous occupant of the guber natorial chair. That His Excellency is conscious of that fact is shown by the nature of his first public utterance, made at the City Hall to-day,

The attitude in which the Colony welcomes Sir Reginald Stubbs to its shores is admirably reflected in the terms of the Address read to him at the City Hall this morning. In the past, there has been

That

tial concessions

demands".

A

H. E SIR REGINALD STUBBS, K.C.M.G.

THE LANDING.

entered Mr.

8.5

of their reiterated compliments, and discredited because those on the Government had made an the Prays, there was beauti-

Claud Severn, C. M. G. those whose behalf the sentiments were expressed knew little ΟΙ nothing of the new-comer.

It is not in that strain that earnest endeavour to meet the fully decorated triumphal arch Officer Administering the Govern-made an excellent impression At 9.45, His Excellency the assembled rose to their feet. His Excellency's personality to-day's message to His Excellency has been framed.

The whole of the and another at the opposite side ment, the Hon. Mr. Claud Severn, on one and all. He took his seat is a sign of the times, and a good one, too, Emphasis is rightly laid railwaymen's position was due to of the Square, facing the Hong-C. M.G., accompanied by his in schair on the dais, while cu on the difficulties of administration in this important possession of in any case, and it is exceedingly decorations were so tastefully at Blake Pier by motor. Shortly Severn, C. M. G. H. E. Major- come up for revision in December kong and Shanghai Bank. These A.D.C., Lieut. MeConnell, arrived his right sat the Hon. Mr. Claud the Crown, and it is wisely remarked, in this connection, that in a difficult now sympathetically to arranged that one was reminded after His Excellency's arrival, a General Ventris came a little community so cosmopolitan in character, diverse views and in- terests must necessarily exist. His Excellency will therefore realise appreciate the action of this most of the occasion of the Peace heavy shower of rain fell and the while after and was accorded by the impassibility of pleasing all; if he is a wise man, he will never

important section of workers. Celebrations. The whole of the H.K.D.C. Guard of Honour was Sir Reginald Stubbs a seat on the attempt the task. But the change from the usual procedure of SERIOUS UTTERANCES.

work had been most excellently instructed to take up its position dais on his left. burdening an Address of this type with meaningless praise and

carried out under the supervision under the shelter of the pier, ss Indeed, it would appear from of Mr. C. A. Grimes, flattery, is most apparent in the recital of some of the most important the comment of Mr. Lloyd George

also was the Band of the Police Sir Paul Chater, C. M. G., by of the problems that await His Excellency's attention. The list is a and the general tenour of the building was strikingly decorated

The facade of the C.P.0.8 Reserve.

virtue of his position formidable one: it is divided up into no fewer than seventeen heads. messages to hand that the strike in red, white and blue drapings, Victoria came alongside the pier Executive Council, read.

Precisely at 9.55, the launch senior anofficial member of the Beside it, we might almost say that President Wilson's famous is not only an ill-considered one whilst at the T.K.K. offices the and Sir Reginal! Stubbs in Address of Welcome, which was the Fourteen Points fade lato insignificance! The list speaks for itself; but it must be regarded as a well-thought-out and comprehensive state-activities of a few revolutionaries, flanked by the British red ensign panied by his A.D.C., Captain

direct outcome of the house fing was displayed, being Colonial Service uniform, accom- punctuated with applause. ment of the Colony's desires. In concentrated form, it sums up the who have been busy of late sow- and the Japanese flag, the whole Warner,

When the audience rose to hear needs of Hongkong to-day, and we are glad to recognise in it very ing seeds of ferment calculated to being set off with a background Secretary, Mr. McGrath, landed, to them to sit down. Is this and his Private Sir Reginald's reply he beckoned. many proposals which we have initiated and steadily urged. If we harass administration " were asked to name the two most important points in the Address, imperil law and

and of evergreens. The upper floors and was received by His Ex-proof that our new Governor we should unhesitatingly single out the housing and constitutional Premier even likens it unto an with age and bunting, whilst Colony, the Band of the Police displays?" enquired one. At order. The of King's Building were adorned cellency and other officials of the is not fond of ceremonious reform questions. The former cries aloud for wise and urgent at anarchist conspiracy and declares along the Praya to Statue Square Reserve meanwhile playing the any rate, this little act created a tention, and it is the hope of the whole community that His Ex-that the Government intends to Allied flags were flown from National Anthem, and the salute good impression. cellency will give it priority of consideration. Our present system meet this blow at the public weal business houses. The Hongkong of seventeen guns being fired of Council representation bidly needs alteration so as to give the with all .the resources public more adequate means of voicing its views. It is, however, the disposal of

at and Shanghai "Bank, opposite from

Sir Reginald Stubbs reply was the Murray State. Statue Square, was also tastefully ground. true that public opinion, as the Address says, is divided on this These

Parade marked by a sincerity that was are indeed issue, and we trust that His Excellency, in dealing with it, will not words to

serious decorated. The ships in harbour

exceedingly refreshing. He was utter

Sir Reginald Stubbs, accom- not fond of making promises, and overlook the rising aspirations of Kowloon.

against So were also dressed for the occasion. panied by His Excellency the as a Governor of a Colony he had The confidence which the whole Colony reposes in His Ex-of workers, but if the facts war-ing, the Saluting Battery of the erament, and His Excellency He could not espouse all the large and important a body At half-past seven, this morn-Officer Administering the Gov-to be guarded in his statements. cellency, in its belief that be will successfully grapple with the rant such condemnation it is to Hongkong and Singapore Royal Major General Ventris, and the articles of faith and hope that Sir many problems raised, is based on the fact that he comes to us be hoped that the opposition will Garrison Artillery, with six guns, A.D.C., then inspected the Guard Paul Chater adumbrated in his relatively young man, with, we hope, a young man's progressive be severe and that the authorities was paraded at Kowloon, on the of Honour and afterwards shock Address of Welcome, but he said ideas; and also that his rapid rise in the Colonial Service implies will be successful in their en- open space adjoining the Star hands with officials and Naval he would try to do his best, that he is a most talented and capable official. He has a great deavour. Some consolation can Ferry Wharf, and from thence and Military officers who were and no man could do better. He opportunity of exercising bis administrative abilities for the benefit be derived from the fact that such was conveyed to Hongkong by drawn up along the landing stage, would take advice—but he would of the Colony and the Empire. If he makes full use of it, eschewing an able and level-headed man as special launch. On arrival, the and who were introduced by also warn as not to be exuberantly. "red tape" methods and autocratic measures, he will earn the lasting Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P, is at the Battery was marched to gratitude of those whose affaire he has been called upon to head of the strikers leaders, for Murray Parade ground, from inald Stubbs appeared to be and Communications he had at the Major General Ventris. Sir Reg-hopeful.. Education, Agriculture administer. He will be judged by his actions. Let us all give him his past record is one that inspires where a salute of seventeen gans in the best of health and he made heart and he would deal with fair chance. We do not expect him to cause all our grievances to confidence. With such paucity was to be fired on arrival of Sir an imposing figure in the brilliant them when he had become disappear by, as it were, a touch with the fairy wand. But we do of news concerning the actual Reginald Stubbs at Blake Fier and uniform of the Colonial Service sufficiently conversant with the look for, sympathetic, consideration of our many problems above cause it would be premature to further salute of 17 guns im-which his fine figure enabled him needs of this Colony at first-hand.

Homesanan gavörnment. His Excellency may find us a pass judgment, but it is easy to mediately after His Excellency to carry with the greatest Say back he will be helped by the consciousness that we realise the gravity of the crisis had taken the Oath of Office, in dignity. ***

After the Address of Welcome, ky.net haking to be relievet of responsibilities, but which the Old Country is now the Council Chamber,

Sir Paul Coster handed Sir sur fail civic privileges. That should be passing through. The need of In preparation for His shaking, Sir Reginald Stubbe, in a beautiful red MoroCCO OBSE After the inspections and hand- Reginald Stubbs a copy encased wish to co-operate in the work that lies ahead unity, the Imperativeness of high cellency's landing there as his A.D.C.

differences is the fact that we are, happily, loyal production and the urgent room sembled at Blake Pier 150 mem private Becretary, pro

and his with the following Inscription and the Throne. We extend the hand of for social solidarity at Home will bers of the Police Force by chairs draped in red and Edward Stubbs, Knight Comman- eded. His Excellency Sir Reginald new Governor On behalf of the whole prompt all to a devout hope that European, Indian and Chinese carri that both he and Lady Stübbe (when she this unfortus! strike will soon as well is an escort of 4

formed coolies, with der of the Most Distinguished Sensay happy year, in our midst,

Praya Under of Bt Michael and St.

And above to the Emp goodfellow

will

be not

the

Groom

The War has led to the un- avoidable- postponement of many vital questions; a Victorious Peace, however, now not only justifies our dealing with these questions, bat lays upon. greater responsibilities than ever before.

up

Ins Community so complex, a great diversity of views and in- terests must necessarily exist." We can, however, assure you that

it is a Community loyal to the Empire, loyal to the Flag, and loyal to the Throne.-(Applause). The problems before you, are indeed many and varied; their solution will not be easy; but, in grappling therewith, you may. rest assured of the earnest sup- port and co-operation of the whole Community: and we whole heartedly bebeve in your ability and courage to successfully deal with the situation. (Applause),

First and foremost among these problems is the Housing Question one that is no less acute in this distant Colony than is the case in Great Britain. The dredging of the Harbour, we believe to be of paramount importance, in or- der that this endowment of Na- tare, upon which the very life of the port depends, may always keep pace with the times and the ̈ ever-increasing draught of Ocean-- going steamers.

Other questions which we de- sire to bring to your notice have reference to the following

1. The need for increased Hospital Accommodation.

2. The Food Supply of the Colony, especially in regard to Rice.

3. Greater Educational Facil- ities, both. European and Chinese, and it is hoped that Government will assist

the

more liberally with Grants in aid of Schools for Elementary Education, and that ways and mesas may be found. for the establishment and due mainten- ance of free Vernacular Schools for Chinese. 180.

The early abolition of all restrictions introduced owing to the exigencies of War except in so far as they relate (subject to Imperial Decrae) to the non- admission of Germans into our Colony and, in particular, the Regulations regarding Import and Export Farmite, whicb, it is widely felt, tend to cause great inconvenience to the General Public and inflict hard- "ship on the Chinese.

5. The need for an important high powered Commercial Wireless Telegraph Station.

6. The Colony's War Me- morial

7. The facilities to be given for the encouragement of Aerial Transport, with all its great Commercial possibilities.

8. The early completion of the Prays-East Reclamation.

9. The resumption of the -Military Establishments on

Queen's Road.

10. A thorough investigation into the present system of searching passengers and-their luggage on thei, arrival in and departures from the Colony. of improved methods in that with a view to the introduction

- ralatión, and particularly; the

open supervision, whereby the- establishment of direct Eur-

hardships at present endured in many instances may be re- moved.

(Continued on Pave