1920-04-29 — Page 1

Veluria

GLASS

WARE

ANDERSEN, MEYER & COLLTO.

The Hongkong Telegraph

(ESTABLISHED." 1881).

69119 # ATA=X*T THURSDAY. APRIL 29. 1920.

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.

PROPOSED FEDERAL DEVOLUTION.

FOR ENGLAND, SC.TLAND AND WALES.

London, April 2

It has drafted 'two

The Speakers Conference has pa seladed. schemes of Federal Devolution.

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.

TURKS.FRENCH.

STIFF FIGHTING REPORTED.

BETALE DOFF” 1

$56 PER ANNUM

SKYSCRAPERS FOR HONGKONG

AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW.

arhitectural fald. case of que: San. office we had more. up, it is trus, but

CANTON AVIATION TISHAP

ACHINE HED.

One of the Italian-frisplanUS

The necessity for skyscrapers will bene Paria April 27. A battalion of French infantry and a squadron of cavalry on in private circles very fretime to run sa'their Isase, and ro flight, piloted by Lieutenant in Hongkong has been commented building sites hare only a short participating in the Roine-Tokyo Mr. Lowther's scheme tremmends the davalrtion of certain were surrounded by Mustapha Kemal's troops and the French were viewed Mr. Ray E. Gunn, the and put up a new building which) Korth Parade Ground Canton, occupying Uria, the last post between the Tigris and the Buphrates,quently and to-day we inter-man would tear down a building saisto, was smashed at the Imperial Parliament powers to subontinats Legislatures in England. Compelled to leave the town after the conclusion of an ärynistice- {Manager of the Robert Dollar will cost him from half a million | when striking a tree upon start- Scotland and Wales, consisting of Commoners in these areas, to be/The French were later attarked by superior numbers. According to {Company, to get his opinions on/to a million-dollars pulsas be is ing for Shanghai yesterday morn Called Grand Councils. Two chambers to be called the Council of the Turks, a portion of the French forces suceeded in returning to the subject Commons and the Council of Peers, practically Executive Com the town; the remainder have probably reached the railway&

mittees, would be empowered to legislate on Health. Agriculture. Local Government, Private Bills and Police.

The other report. drafted by Mfr. Murray Mardonald, recoma menda the creation of subordinate Parliaments in the three areas, with similar posts.

Ireland is left out of both schemes because of the Home Rule Bill. The members of the conference will sign to-day, and it is expected that the majority of the names will be appended to Mr. Lowther's scheme.

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS.

MORE BEDOUIN TROUBLĖ.

MORE SURRENDERED GERMAN WARSHIPS. London. April 27. In the Hoke of Commons, replying to Commander Kenworthy

Cherbourg, April 27.. The German cruisers Thuringen and Kolberg, with seven and Mr. Gilbert recards the employment of German destroyers, bava arrived. They are being given up civilians with the British Army

As com- on the Rhine as batman, pensation for the Scapa Flow sinkings. motor-drivers and telephonists. Mr. Churchill explained that 2.949 were so employed temporarily, owing to a shortage in technical personnel and from motives of economy. No German clerks were employed at Headquarters or Staff offices.

Replying to Sir Harry Brittain, Mr. Churchill said the German aeroplanes deliverable would give a surplus on all possible-British requirements and would therefore be reduced to produce (?) and the material sold.

Replying to Mr. Ashley. Mr. Bonar Law said the Cabinet, of course, had never considered the Sinn Fein secessionist demands.

Replying to Lord Curzon, Mr. Churchill said there are 14,000 -British, 95,000 French. 16,000 American and 20,000 Belgian troops S the Rhine.

WINE AND CIGAR TAXES.

DEBATE IS THE COMMONS.

"London, April 27. In the House of Commons, on the Report Stage of the Budget. as amendment to omit the new sparkling wine duty was negatived without a division.

Mr. Chamberlain repeated his previous arguments in support of his alcoholic taxes. He undertook to receive a deputation from all branches of the wine trade and to consider their representations. If he found small modifications not injuring the main proposals would be more acceptable he would favourably consider them. Subsequently, the wine duties resolution was adopted. The Chancellor, replying to representations respecting the effect of the Cigar Tat upod Havana and Dominions cigars, promised to receive a deputation on the matter.

MINISTRY OF SHIPPING

INTERESTING FINANC

FINANCIAL STATISTICS.

London, April 21. The report on the Appropriation Account of 1918-19 for the Ministry of Shipping shows that the total deficiency to be met from the Vote of Credit amounted to just over £190,000,000. The Report deals at some length with the financial aspect of building concrete ships,showing that after the Armistice the whole policy of constructing concrete ships was reviewed, when it was decided that it would be more economical to cancel the contracts, and the total loss to the State was need to abon: £2.500.000,

OUR GLORIOUS DEAD.

-London, April 27.

Mr. Rudyard Kipling, in a speech in London with reference to the work of the Imperial War Graves Commission, emphasised that the basic principle on which the Commission was working was absolute equality and permanence. He stated that no point was more insisted upon by the Impérial representatives, both from the viewpoint of sentiment and justice. He pointed out the impossibility of acceding to the requests for private expenditure. The Commission aimed at making the graves uniform and identical for every man. whether & Field Marshal or a camp follower.

Mr. Churchill, in a speech, similiarty emphasised the point that the Dominions were contributing their quota of expenditure on the basis that the graves be equal-and-uniform. He mentioned that balf a million headstones were required for the graves in France and Belgium.

PEACE WITH AUSTRIA-AND-BLLGARIA.

The Peace Treaties with Austria and Bulgaria have received

London, April 27. be Royal essent."

SAN REMO CONFERENCE.

ITS DELIBERATIONS ENDED.

San Remo, April 26. has concluded and the Missions leave

INDIAN RAILWAY DISASTER.

lu a railway collision near Moradabad, four carriages caught

Simla, April 27. fire and 50 passengers were killed and 50 injured.

OLYMPIC GAMES.

"In the Olympic Games, Canada beat Sweden by 12 to Fin the

Antwerp. April 97. ice hockey final.

The two aeroplanes left their

MAMMOTH SHIP.

BHONGKONG HARBOUR,

assured that his lease would being, while the one in char e of Mr. Goon said:-"I would say that he used to pay."

extended and on the same rent Lientenant Ferraani succeeded that Hongkong decidedly wantsHave you any intention of

in Bring off.--- means to rellove the congestion of housing and office accommoda-puiting up a skyscraper in Hong-landing place at Fong Tron about tion. If you just take a look behind koog?" enquired our reprason-eight o'clock yesterday morning. Cairo, April 27. Two thousand Bedquin stacked Samakh, south of Lake what I mean by skyscrapers. You such intention. Tiberias. There were a few Police casualties. The small British will see in that picture a build- considering building our own awhile on their way ont.

you at that photo of the water tative of Mr. Gunn. front at New York you will sea

making a rireult of Canton City "So far as I know, we hare no before finally leaving it, stopping force withdrew. According to latest, reports, the situation is wolling of 57 storeys, and you offices in Hongkong."

We are not at the North Parade Ground in band. Aeroplanes participated in the operations. It is officially can go up to the 57th storey in

When orined that it is purely a local incident, a development oEraids in the elevator in less time than you

starting again, one struck a tree, which the Bedouin are looting'sheep and cattle.

"Why is that?"

seriously damaging the machine, lose in going up two fights of located where we are at purosoni. "We are very comfortably

[but leaving the aviators unhurt. steps in Hotel Mansions. Of course, there are a lot of streets here. Building is out of our line. We do not need such an office in Hongkong where skyscrapers We are a steamship company. · would not be practicable, as they would keep spalight entirely out

"The same does not apply to of the street, which would result in your Shanghai office

nitary conditions. The first

"I do not know what the policy step towards getting akyscrapers, of the Shanghai office is, as I I should think, would be to saleet ajam not in touch with that office."

The former Hamburg-America limited district, where the anthori

Line steamer Amerika arrived in tias would broaden the streets 30 Hongkong, would you

"Should skyscrapers go up in port yesterday afternoon and that there would be no question office rents to be cheaper?”

expect moored at an anchorage off Holt's of keeping the sunlight out of thei

wharf. She has on board over. "Well, before 1 answer that 4,000 Casch troops in charged of building a seven-storey building of such a skyscraper, and the ing as she does so very high out of stres. A far as our Shanghai question I should have to get a General Kroutil. This big vessel office is concerned. We are

competent estimate of the cost has attracted much notice,stand- of offices, exclusive of the roof ralative square feet of rental the water. Painted a dull grey, and garden, while in San Francisco we space on which the revenue would having two rather small funnels. have found it decessary to build be darived. It would be an easy she does not appear at first glance a ten-storey structure to accom-matter to figure out then." modate our obices. To give you

to be the leviathan that she is: an ides, you had better teke in Hongkong at present are very Amerits is the biggest boat ever "Do you think that office rents We stated yesterday that the building in look st the picture of our high?”

San Francisco I should say it in rally in 10 Her grou tounage la seen in Hongkong Harbour. That The original building of five storeys, but this

was question of supply and deandida pan And Her met- tonange supplemented by another five.offices in Hongkong are very with

WAS Comparatively speaking, reate of 13.537. These figures compare built on the previons ons. You much bigher than in America.”

20,718 gross tons and could have some built like that

13,324

for in Hongkong. Take the old

"What do you think that is due the Minnesota, which ia Post Office building One conid

10?"

pre-war days "Was frequent pat up a building of, say, ten toto supply and demand

"Well, I should say it is due visitor to this part, as also was twelve stories, and get twice the the increased business of the tons and 10.267 bet tons. The With the Cleveland, with 16,960 gross The Cantonese community in Peking bas arranged a general area

Shanghai, April 28. meeting strongly to protest against the proposal that Kimchow and four or five-storey building. That they are willing to pay more for

efficiency out of the property competing firms they are all figures for the Empress of Asia Limchow, in Kwangtong, be ceded to Kwangsi. (It is intereating to is self-evident, and it does not them to get ahead of some other cerned, the comparative figures

built looking for larger offices and are 16,909 gruss and 8,883 net. note that Luk Wing-ting declared a few weeks ago that the two need any explanation. Therefore, fellow,"

So far as dimensions are còn- places named should be included in Kwangsi province in order to! do not think there is much to scure an outlet to the sea)

are-amerika: Length, 669 feet: be said on the subjaci.

"How can the situation be breadth, 73.3 feet: depth, 47.8 "As far as building regulations

smeliorated??

fest. Minnesota: Length. 622 in Hongkong are concerned, I rent question hinges upon

"My opinion is that the whole feet; breadth, 73.5 fast; depth, know nothing at all about them. question of taxation. If buildings 508.9 feet; breadth, 65.3 feet; tba 41.5 feet. Cleveland: Length, Looking at the matter from a were actually assessed and taxed depth, 46.7 feet. Empress of Shanghai. April 29.

business point of view, I should upon their present value, such Asia: Length, 570.1 feet; breadth, An official notification from the Japanese Legation to the where property is running so value to be estimated upon their 63.2 feet; depth, 42 feet. Ministry for Foreign Affairs says that the transfer of German rights high-per square foot area as it actual profits, it would result in in Shantung to Japan has been approved, but that Japan, in con- sideration of China-Japanese friendship, proposes negotiation.

does here in Hongkong, it is rents being cut down.“ really no inducement to put "But are not buildings in up a property and then be re-Hongkong assessed according to [stricted in the size of the yield?" enquired our represen- building. So. far. 89

thetative of Mr. Gana. Praya East Reclamation scheme goes, I do not know whether it sphere of knowledge.

"That is entirely out of my would be possible to put up sky-not gone into the question. To I have

in building which is in San Fran- is, what is commonly called, a 29.78. Temperature 2~2.

Take the Southern Pacific Street America. Each landowner there scrapers on reclaimed ground. give you an example in the case of

cisco. That was built on re-freebolder and there is no such | Humidity 2 p.m.;—19. claimed ground, and is twelve or thing as Crown rent. There pro- fourteen-storeyed building."

TO-DAY'S CHINESE TELEGRAMS.

A KWANGTUNG PROTEST.

THE SHANGIUNG QUESTION.

BAN ON STUDENTS' MEETINGS.

Shanghai, April 29. Allaire, the French Minister has agreed to instruct the Consul

In reply to the request made by the Secretary for. Foreign Shanghai-to prohibit any weetings convened by the students.

EARLIER SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

(From Our Own Correspondents.) SIR JOHN BUCKNILL GOING TO INDIA.

Singapore, April 28. The Chief Justice, Sir John Bucknill, has been offered and will accept an Indian Judgeship...

AS if оде

Det

tons

TO-DAY'S. EXCHANGE.

The closing rate of the dollar, on demand, to-day was 4x/91⁄4áð.

Forecast:-Fair. Barometer:****

THE WEATHER.

DON'T FORGET.

TO-DAY.

Coronet Theatre-5.15 and 9.15

Reynolds Denniston Co. fa "Friendly Enemies"—9.15 p.m.

perties, together with theimpro- "What parts of Hongkong in vements, are assessed at a certain your opinion are suitable for value. This valus is arrived at putting up akyscrapers! en-by taking into consideration the quired our representative.

net revenue which this paräcular **That is a difficult proposition. Wiece of property. gives, Of course, the suitability of the and then figuring what the location would depend to a great be to give such revenue. originaal outlay ou capital should extent upon the question to whether or reclaimed and whether you are is made at about 75 per cent. of

not the ground is Usually, the assessed valuation P building on a rock foundation. Iaveb estimated original outlay. not sufficiently acquainted Each locality estimates what its with the history of the area right budget should be for the next year here to know just where the point and each landowner pays pro of reclaimed land starte, and rate on that budget in proportion as the suitability of the build.land. This results in more money where it originally ended. So far to the assessed valuation of his ing of such skyscrapers Epes during the year so as to keep being spent on improvements, soy part of Hongkong would be good, but the question would means that unimproved properties down the net revenue. It also berthe incris ed cost of building

DISASTROUS FIRE.

"The fishing village of Bagon Siapiapi, in Sumatra, has been Singapore, April 28. most totally burnt down. Three hundred houses were destroyed. The damage exceeds two million guilders.

WU TING FANG'S MONEY.

Shanghai, April 28, The Mixed Court has tied up indefinitely Wa Ting-fang's money. Toe British Assessor, Mr. Blackburn, announced from the bench that Dr. Wa's affidavit admits that the moneys are trust funds.

SHANGHAI AWAITS FLYERS.

Shanghai, April 28.

The Italian Ayers, are expected to land at Kiangwan on Thurs- afternoon at four

+

TO-KORBOW..............

Coronet Theatre-5.15-and-9.15 Reynold's Denniston Co., st

D.m

Theatre Royal

:

SATURDAY, MAY 1

Show, Happy Valley.

Hongkong: Dog and Poultry Tes and Dinner Dances, Repulse Bay

as & result of the foundation. On hare to pay their percentage of that I am not well-informed, but taxes on the original cost of such building on reclaimed land you improved properties" would probably have to drive jo

Do you suggest some method piling or pillars to get your pillars of taxation in the Colony?" 1 ox solid ground or rock, as you believe there are obstacles in the cannot build big building on way of the old Crown leases that No If the street is too nar- Loose. earth. You have to get ow exist which would make row to allow a skyscraper, being dawn to something solid."

the plan impracticable under the built, the skyscraper could be set

"In that case buildings that Present conditions. This quest-Back The streets in future wind are already constructed cannot have to receive a close study, "If the buildings are met bac

ion of housing conditions will have to be widened." have additional storeys put up," man cannot give an opinion, it would, mest sacrifeing so mu remarked the interviewer,

offband