1920-02-24 — Page 1

WORTHINGTON

PUMPS

‚ÂN, ANDERSEN MEYER & CO.LTD. Â

The

Hongkong Telegraph.

69075式拜禮 號四廿月弍英港香

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.

VIVE LA FRANCE!

M. POINCARE'S STIRRING MESSAGE.

EXCITING STREET

SCENE.

INFURIATED RUSSIAN

RESISTS ARREST.

50

it

(ESTABLISHED (881).

TUESDAY. FEBRUARY 24. 1920.

HOUSE RENTS.

INTERVIEW WITH MR. HENRY HUMPHREYS.

日五月登

"You do not think, therefore, that you

are profiteerring in rents?'

"I said that we were not at the anaust meeting."

of

undeveloped properties owned by

"What is the proportion

"Not more than fifth of the total in value."

|

SINGLE COPT: 10 CTS.

$36 PER ANNUM.

AN APPEAL TO TENANTS. We bava to-day received the. following for publication:-

Sir, More than a year has elapsed since a public meeting the auspices of the Constitutional was held at the City Hall, under Reform Association, calling the attention of the Authorities to the housing problem in this Colony.

HERWIN-WIL. & VARN

FATHER EARTH

ANDERSEN MEYER.

TO-DAY'S EXCHANGE, The closing rate of the dollar, on demand, to-day was 53/7)2d.

THE WEATHER..

30.26. Temperature 3p.m.-58 Forecast-Claudy. Barometar

Humidity 2 p.m. -74

"Is it not true that the tanants Since then. members of the THE DOLLAR of your developed properties have public have continued to press make up for the loss of return the matter by letters to the news-

ANOTHER DROP an undeveloped properties? Your papers, all of which he to sup tenants are, in other words, ported the movement.

Exchange is down another gost, on The time would now seem to penny to-day, which, with yester fall the sins of have arrived for those members day's fall of two-pence, makes a co npany. They of the public who have suffered drop of 3d, in two days. This is

the

whole

We interviewed Mr. Heary Last night, at 11.15 o'clock' Paris, February 18.

that section of Des Voeux Road Humphreys yesterday morning M. Poincare yesterday fullfilled the last public acts in his outside the European cafe's was on the points that were raised in your Company Presidential career. In the morning he presided at an important the scene of considerable com.our leader, criticising the state- Cabinet Council, at which the progress of the London Conference motion, occasioned by the con-ments that he made at the annual was discussed, and in the afternoon he despatched a special address duct of a Russian officer from meeting of the shareholders of the

the Greek steamer Trialòs.

Humphreya Estate Co., Ltd. to the Senate and Chamber of Deputies.

Josef Wambutt. the Russian in Mr. Humphreys started in the In his farewell address. M. Poincare thanked the Government

alleged by the following strain: It is no use and Chamber for the unfailing support and assistance they had question, was always given him during the critical period of the war. He added. Police to be at the time almost in- my giving you an interview on the

the Azaziel condition which was rent question. Each time that I say whom "Attacked without provocation, France immediately rallied, as one sane, a

Be anything you tear it into pieces grand whole, under a will to repel the aggressor. National union brought about by drick.

that

bis in a leader. You adopt a hostile may, was in the heart of the people and spontaneously revealed itself on the day when it became necessary for the country's welfare. And conduct last night was deserv-attitude towards landlords, and have to pay high rents to help and are suffering difficulty or due to the weakness of the silver the day when it became note day than it was yesterday. The peace ing of a heavy penalty, and Mr. it is no use my saying anything what the charge on properties hardship in obtaining or retaining market on account of the recovery that has been signed must be made a durable reality. We must. L. Smith, who heard the case further." It was not an easy job which the Company possess but suitable accommodation, to come of the American exchange in

¡do not wish to develop obtain an assurance of the execution of the engagements which at the Police Court this morning to get Mr. Humphreys into a

at together and press their claims to London. Besides, China exchange present?"

relief on the Government.

i is also very weak. Shanghai has Germany has made with us. We must exact from Germany repar- saw the matter in this light and talking mood. He was however

"They do not do anything of | It is recognised that many who got more bullion than can be dis ation at least for the destructions in our devastated regions. These, inflicted on the Russian a fine of induced to make the following

answers:-"I the kind. Tenants who are pay have suffered and who are suffer-posed of at present among a hundred questions of equal importance, cannot be adjusted $100 which, in defaul: of pay- statements and

A month's can tell you that we have some ing what we consider a fair returning in this way may be reluctant There is not much export busi- by France if disturbed or disunited. The economic and financial ment will entail task which the Republic has undertaken exacts no less than agree-imprisonment with hard labour. developed properties that do nor on capital have not had their to disclose their identities whilst ness locally.

United in It appears from the facts as give us fire per cent."

rents increased. The tenants of willing to prove by their own

The Chinese are buying on the mert and harmony in the efforts of all good citizens. battle, France has proved herself invincible. United in the labours related by Sergt. Robert Wills

"May I know what these pro-sufficient return have had their present situation has become.

those houses that pay an in-actual experiences how acute the Straits at three points under the official rate. They expect that the of peace, she will in good time, by the renewal of laborious activity, that the Russian at the close of

the cinema performance at the perties are that you are referring

rents raised." merit once more the admiration of the world."

The Committee of the Constitu- the market will go down further. to?" After some hesitation, the

tional Reform Association have;

In sterling, one To-day M. Poincare formally receives his successor, M. Hongkong Theatre, engaged a

cannot get Deschanel, at the Elysee and leaves the Palace for his private ricksha and indicated with his reply came, "They are villa r.-

fuger the direction he wanted sidences."

therefore, asked me to invite all current rates to-day. There is a suitable accommodation to com- COLONY'S HEALTH. members of the public who are decline throughout the line. Opposite

affected by the present lack of a The ceremony of inaugurating M. Deschanel will take place in the coolie to take. the presence of the Presidents of the Chambers and M.. Millerand. Wiseman's Cafe he decided to This morning M. Millerand formally tendered his resignation, stop and the direction he gave to "but M. Deschanel invited the Millerand Cabinet to remain in the coolie was a hard thump on the arm of the ricksha with his fist. office.-Ham.

He got out of the vehicle, and before the coolie had a glimmering of what was to happen, he received a savage kick on the body. Whistles were blown, and the threatening attitude of the crowd which had by now begun to assemble warned the Russian, who Vladivostok, February 9 Negotiations between Colonel Krakovetzky, Commander-in-ceased assaulting the coolie and Chief of the Zeostvo Army, and Mr. Matsudaira, the Japanese commenced to ramble away in a representative, have resulted in a telegram being sent to (feneral drunken stride with the view to Oi, the Japanese Commander, who is up country, asking him to escaping. A Sikh constable then discontinue the despatch of further Japanese troops from came up and promptly gave chase Vladivostock westwards. This is regarded locally as evidence of the to the Russian and eventually sincerest desire on the part of the Japanese not to come into conflict caught him up. The attempt to arres: the dranken foreigner was with the Russians and to maintain peace in the Far East.

The Czechs have concluded an armistice with the Bolsheviks not an easy task. He struggled with the constable, bit his hand in the Kainsk region.

and knocked his turban off.

residence.

THE SIBERIAN SITUATION.

JAPAN'S DESIRE FOR PEACE.

BRITISH ARMY ESTIMATES.

HUGE SUM FOR COMING YEAR. ́

Assuming that what you state is true, what did your properties two years ago yield you? you not get a sufficient return

then?"

"What is the number and size of your undeveloped properties?" enquired our representative.

"Our undeveloped properties replied Mr. Humphreys. comprise five plots. I cannot give you the area of these plots

Did

"We got a miserable return,"

"What was that miserable

of hand. The bulk of our pro-return ? ** perties are already developed.

municate to me any facts and figures which may assist me. and the Association in pressing on the Government that something must be done, and that speedily, and also to make suggestions as to the remedies for the present situation, The names of those who so communicate with me will not be disclosed by me.

What is desired is to collect as

unable

MORE DEATHS FROM 'FLU.

The health return for the past " week shows that there were 39 deathe from influenza, the vic- tims being one Japanese, one Indian and the rest Chinese. For the previous week there were 21 deaths. The total deaths from

All you have to do is to refer No undeveloped properties of ours to the Company's balance are mortgaged, as stated by your sheets on your file. The recent leading article; the Press whole thing is this, that every should be more careful in making now and again we get phases of such statements."

good and bad times. When times "What causes you to raise are bad, the landlords do not many actual instances as possible, this complaint for the present rente od, Properties already squeal and cry out It is most of people who have been or year camber 151.

Besides the influenza cases, extraordinary to study the renti are

to obtain the developed 2

"When they give an inadequate question. A man will pay three accommodation they need and of there were notified fire accur rences of cerebro-spinal fever times as much for groġ and people who have suffered and are three fatal) and four cases of return on capital outlay."

his wife will pay treble for suffering through the raising of, "If I am not inquisitive, what

rents and from the high prices cases all were Chinese save one diphtheria (one fatal). Of these sugar, ccal, bats and percentage does your Humphreys dresses without & murmur, they have to pay for such accom-

British sufferer from diphtheria. Building Field you?"

but so soon as you touch thermodation as they are able to get. "I am not prepared to tell for $5 more for rent, they squeak. Mr. James Smirk, an Inspector rents are put up that are giving this, that if the property game is/tricts most affected by the pre- you. I can tell you that no The whole thing boils down to precise information as to the dis- of the Peak Tramway Company, us a decent return, but only supposed to be such a profitable supply in the case of houses, seat excess of demand over at this stage came out from the those of buildings from which one, why does not everybody fats, and boarding houses. Alexander Cafe. He sized up the we are not getting a proper return. in for it? There is no monopoly: situation and with a promptitude Some of these are still quite no-one is prohibited from buying that does him the greatest credit,

land or building houses, but joined in the tray. Drink had

"What constitutes a 'decent anybody who knows anything rendered the Russian almost

about houses, will tell you there return in your opinion?" mad, and it helped him to

is a good deal of annoyance and the Indian and Mr. Smirk. By That means about eight per cent. maintain a furious struggle with "Nine to ten per cent. gross.

trouble."

insufficient."

Londen, February 18. The Army Estimates for 1920-21 amount to £125,000,000, of which £55,000,000 is permanent expenditure for provision of the same establishment as in 1914-15; £29,500,000 for war liquidation -charges and £40,500,000 for garrisoning occupied territories.

The maximum personnel provided is 525,000, which is expected a stroke to fall in the course of the financial year to 280,000, including Stirk's right hand, which was "Supposing your annual rents Colonial and native Indian troops serving outside India.

THE ROME TOKYO FLIGHT.

Salonika, February 15.

of il luck,

Mr. net."

keeping a hold on the madman, from a certain building or villa: got within the reach of his teeth, amounts to $1,000, how would you with the result that two of the arrive at the net return?" asked fingers Fert almost bitten our representative. through. Severely injured

B.S

"You know what the property

his hand was, Mr. Smirk pluckily costs you, you know what the held on to his man, and eventual Crown rent, insurance, repairs Two aeroplanes, piloted by Lieutenants Ferrarin, and Masier. ly the Russian was given to and administration amount to; it which are competing in the Rome-Tokyo flight, have arrived here understand that arrest was is quite easy to work out," replied from Rome, making a non-stop flight. They are leaving for Adalia unavoidable. on the 17th inst.

Other Telegatus on Page 3):

HONGKONG PILOTS.

THE PLEA FOR BRITISHERS.

We take the following from the Journal of Commerce -

Early last summer the attention

the Far East,

Mr. Humphreys,

"The Government restricts you Four charges of being drunk and disorderly and of as- from making a retura of more sault were brought against than eight per cent. on properties the Russian by Sergeant on which you raise money from Wills. The Russian pleaded the Government, remarked the guilty, and fines amounting in the interviewer.

48 there was aggregate to $100 were imposed, "I am not at liberty to say any

a very large number of British The alternative was, as mentioned thing about the contract with the masters on the China coast who one munth's hard labour.

Government. If you wish for had "used the various ports all Mr. Smirk was highly com.information on this point, you their lives. The policy British pilots for, British ships, Assistance which he rendered to Secretary."

of mended by the Magistrate for the had better apply to the Colonial therefore, seemed appropriate the Police. and feasible.. The Colonial

Can you give me your views

of the Imperial Merchant Service Office, having remitted the secre-.

on the agitation that is being Guild was drawn to the subject tary's letter

raised to introduce some legisla- to the Officer learnt. Surely we have already tion to restrict rents, in the of pilotage in the Far East by a Administering the Government paid a sufficiently heavy price in Colony?" correspondent who holds a of Hongkong for observations, blood and treasure for our My views are well-known. master's certificate in the Mer-recently communicated its de-dependence upon foreigners in All I can say is that any Bill to cantile Marine. This gentleman cision to the secretary. It points other phases of activity. Why control rents in the Colony would pointed out that such an import-out that the Pilots Ordinance then continue the disastrous be a gross injustice to the land- ant port as Hongkong had no sys- provides that no pilot is to be principle in our "Merchant Ships lords. You may just as well tem of pilotage, and that the ser- licensed until he has satisfied the which are the very arteries of bring in a Bill to control freights, vices of only one European were Board of Examiners of bis ability Empire? The official mind is dock charges, the price of sugar, available for vessels making the to perform his. duties, and it static. Like the Bourbons, it coal, clothing and port. For the rest, masters had recalls that when

any other the local learns nothing and forgets noth-commodity. It is merely a to be content with the direction Government, in regulating the ing. of Chinese pilots who, for the conditions of pilotage, sought to has written again to the Colonial have these phases in Hongkong The secretary, however, case of demand and supply. We modest fee of five dollars, showed exclude all Chinese, the Hongtong Office expressing the Guild's over and over again. You get them where to go. The Guild's Chamber of Commerce laid before dissatisfaction with the decision, seasons when there is a demand; correspondent did not limit him- the Government authorities repre- and urging a reconsideration of for property. Then rents go self to a purely professional view sentations to the effect that they the matter, especially in view up. When there is no demand, of this matter, but very wisely should not be deprived of the of the fact that there is at the rents go down. As soon as the drew attention to its strategic services of qualified native present time, & considerable demand ceases, rents will weaken aspect, pointing out that in the pilots, and to this view surplus of experienced masters of their own accord." event of war an enemy could the powers-that-be agreed. The and officers in the Merchant "But Hongkong is developing, obtain invaluable information local official attitude to-day is Service. It is earnestly to be and it is not likely that the from the Oriental pilots. These that "the arguments against the hoped that this representation demand will fall," asserted our facts were at once communicated exclusive employment of Eur will meet with to the Colonial Office by the opeans as pilots still holde good." recaption.

a sympathetic representative. The principle of 'You cannot get plenty of Secretary, who expressed the In the eyes of the Colonial Office British Consuls to direct British houses unless there is inducement Guild's dissatisfaction with the this appears to end the matter. trade in foreign countries has to build.. No one is going to build present state of affairs, and point-To the average citizen, however, already been conceded. Wherein for philanthrophic reasons. ed out that there should be no it will be a matter of surprise then, lies the objection to British Once, rents rise above the rate of difficulty in supplying an all that the lessons of the past five pilots for British ships in the mortgage interest you will find British system of pilotage for years have been so indifferently ports of the Empire?

plenty of houses being built.”

It is also desired, to have

Yours etc.

DON'T FORGET.

TO-DAY.

Coronet Theatre-5.15 and 9.15

p.1.

Victoria Theatre-9.15 p.m.

TO-MORROW.

Coronet Theatre-5.15 and 9.15

H. E. POLLOCK, President of the Constitutional

Reform Asssociation. Hongkong, Feb. 24, 1920.

p.m.

PRICES

SUGAR

BITTERED

COST

OF

LIVING

Victoria Theatre-3.15 pim.

15 pim

PROFITEER

YTËRFIE