1932-08-19 — Page 20

QUEEN'S NEXT BRITISH EPIC !

STELL ENGLAND

THE CLOVER FLOWER

SHOP

wishes to announce the opening of their GIFT SECTION

where may be found distinctive and unusual

GIFT SELECTIONS.

SEE THE NEW

CELLULOID HANDBAGS.

Cigarette and Vanity Cases and Many

Novelties.:

Suitable for Bridge Prizes and Birthday Presents.

GLOUCESTER ARCADE.

"THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH"

AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHIC

COMPETITION

$150.00 CASH PRIZES

First Prize Second Prize

Third Prize

$60.00

$40.00

$20,00

Three Consolation Prizes $10.00 Each

In addition to the Cash Prizes The Eastman Kodak Company offer a Special Prize which will be known as the

EASTMAN KODAK

PRIZE.

A 1932 Model Kodak 616 with f.6.3 Anastigmat Lens, which will be awarded for the

BEST STORY TELLING PICTURE. -

SECTION FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN.

Messrs. Waibel & Co. ("DEFAC") offer six "AGFA" box cameras to be competed for by school-children. These will be awarded to best six pictures in this class.

Bathing Scenes, Picnic Illustrations, Local Beauty Spots, Typical Chinese Studies, etc. All photographs must be of subjects taken in the Colony. Photographs may be submitted forthwith, and it is intended to reproduce selected pictures in the Telegraph Pictorial Supplement as from the first Saturday in July. The Competition will close on August 31st, 1932.

The following rules will govern the Competition:- 1.-The Competition is confined exclusively to

amateur photographers. 2.--The prizes will be awarded to the competitors

sending in what are adjudged to be the best photographs submitted up to August 31st, 1932. In the event of two or more photographs being considered of equal merit, any or all of the prizes will be divided accordingly. The decision of the Judges shall be final.

3. The right to publish any or all of the entries in the Telegraph Pictorial Supplement is reserved. 4.-Photographs which have been already entered in

local competitions will be ineligiblo.

5. No photographs will be returned. 6-Photographs, preferably in black and white, must be addressed to the Editor and must bear on back the name and address of competitor. 7.-No correspondence will be entered into in

connexion with the Competition. 8.-The six "Agfa" cameras donated by Messrs.

Waibel & Co. ("Defag") may only be competed. for by local school-children. Each entry in this section must bear the name of the competitor together with that of his or her school. THAT "SNAP", MAY WIN $60.00 !

•

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 1932.

RIDER MAIN DEBATE Hongkong is considerably higher apply for them, because they find The present Government should have been made for meters but for about 6 per cent higher than the meter system so much more have consulted the people before the difficulties and delay expori- that in Kowloon; but how are we convenient than the rider-main taking any action, as the Adminis- enced by the people in obtaining to account for this vast difference? system which is subject to periodi-tration of 1923 did. Whatever the causen, the ridereal restrictions, entailing much

them in the past. By the gradual malna were not one of them, for hardship on the poor.

and natural process suggested by during the whole of July they wer

118 the number of unmetored

waste,

(Continued from Page 2).

Mr. Chadwick, are of opinion that the waste could be stopped by this restem, the Government are strong- ly of that opinion, and our local ad- visers here are also of the same opinion."

cussed.

Meters Not Economical.

In order to justify the proposal

of the Goveranient to make

Chinese

From the point of view of

minimising the hardship, the pro- everything to recommend it; but posal of the Government has

bare existence.

A Hard Fact.

In

houses, computed roughly at over

i

"That in the opinion of this Council the time has come for the Colony to decide upon the nizradomment, on the expiration of two years from this date, of the principle of the rider-main system, substituting therefor the principle of compulsory materage to all house supplies to which the alternative shall be a free supply from street. fountains,"

At a subsequent meeting of the Council the Attorney-General, the Hon. Sir Henry Herkeley, said: "The reasons why the Government introduce this Bill are that on us ther consideration it has appeared that all the objects aimed at by the Bill of 1902, principal among which proves that metering does not con- "Kowloon has no rider-mains; why made up its mind to go on with Government for the purpose of

|

change from the first gallon une, Affairs informed the meeting that the Hon. Secretary for certain test invterings made in the at random, had revealed consider year 1921-22 in six houses chosen able waste. This test conclusively

by several speakers at the meeting It was submitted that it was exceedingly diflicult for employers to control effectively their servants in the use of water, and that servants were more in- lined to be extravagant when they did not have to carry the

duce to economy.

Great Dis-satisfaction. Sir Henry May Quoted. On the occasion of the first read- completely closed! This, then, de

In fixing meters to some of the should, by the end of 1934, be so The Government, by its action houses in the rider-main districts ing of the Bill to provide for the Government and others have are

the Hon. Colonial Secretary's attended with no difficulty. molishes the point, of which tas

rider-mains, has made it, to use reduced that abolition would be institution of the system, the 1ben, Colonial Secretary, the Ilon. Mr. so much, that the higher consump the poor themselves desiro

change. What F. I. (afterwards Sir Henry) May tion on the Island should be laid at

words, "no longer possible the reason?

The Motion. the door of the rider-main users.

Thousands of the residents in the use on the rider-main principle.' bring the sections concerned into made these important observations; "The rider-main system

To give effect to our request, Now, the Government, is propos rider-main districts are of the There can be

rider-man working class who cannot afford.

are some 2,600 houses I beg now to move the following equally well adapted to the prevening to replace the

affected in this way. to pay any charge for excess con-

It means amendment to the original resolu- tion of waste, and it is for that, system with the principle of com-

a principle the sumption of water when they find that the occupants of these 2,600 tion: purpose that it is now sought to be pulsory meterage, introduced-for the prevention of economical quality of which has by it already dinletilt to eke out a 10,000 souls, have still to take.

no means been demonstrated. It It is simply, if I may may not be known to some hongur-

water from the street-fountains describe it in a few short words, able members that in 1923 the Gov-

when our reservoirs are full to a system of huge meters for blocks

ernment contemplated a similar

overflowing, and when the other This is hard fact which enn- of buildings instead of separate

unmetered houses in the rider- meters for separate houses. The change, with only this difference, not be ignored. It is true that main districts have had a direct principle of the Bill was carefully that water was to be charged for many people of this class have supply restored to them since the considered by both Mr. Chadwick from the first gallon consumed,

moved over to the Kowloon Penin- 2nd August. has and Professor Simpson. It

At a meeting of heading and ro stin which has no rider-mainų; This preelpitate action of the been adopted and endorsed by bath presentative members of the Chin- but those who have chosen to Government, with its attendant

ese community, numbering about [remalu or to move into the rider-effects, is causing great dissatis.! these experts...I repeat again the object of the Bill, the object we all, convened by the Secretary for main districts, must have good faction to the people directly con-

reasons for so doing. have before us, is the prevention Chinese Affairs and held in his

Those cerned. We have received of waste. The experts, especially, Ollice on the 22nd June, 1923, the reasons are that they have to be numerous letters of protest, which amendment, if approved, would We have not forgotten that this question Was exhaustively is near their work or that they can ask that the disconnected housen necessitate the restoration of the not afford the expense of a meter be accorded the same treatment as 2,600 disconnected houses. to the ed supply. Thus by the necessity are the other more of economic pressure these people houses in the dermain districts, about 600 meters from these mains fortunate rider-mains, and the removal of tave perforce to submit to the We eansider the protest justified, and connecting them to the princi- periodical inconvenience and and the request only natural.

The Hon. Colonial Secretary in and trouble. But there is another pat mains, entailing some expense hardship of having to obtain water

have a direct house-supply for at any calling back now, and there the public than it has been. It from the street-fountains, with the his speech said that "the trans- side of the picture which should consoling thought that they would tion was too far advanced for he kept more prominently before

what seemed to them a pertinent system." From this remark it is

est part of the year.

was nothing for it but to complete is that the rider-mains Several men have put to mu the stallation of the meterage were originally paid for by the which question.

They solemnly asked: appareat that the Government lusople would, when the system In Abolished, be utilised by the should Hongkong have them? its scheme, whatever the merits of connecting meters to them. "Because Smith has not a house, now being permitted to us is, it Government would have either to I offered them a counter-query. the people's case. The discussion should Jones, who has one to would seem, permitted merely for connect the meters to the princi- Without thene maine, the which he has a perfect title, be the purpose of fulfilling a forgot pal main, necessitating the cut- deprived of it?" ments are unnecessary,

ten promise-as a matter of form. ting up of roads a thing which the Government desires so much From the street themselves,

to avoid-or to construct now important remark of Mr. Osbert that, at any rate, the people have Sir Cecil Clementi's promise, "the laid at the expense of the people,

diere,I may draw attention to an

The lion. Colonial Secretary subsidiary mains for the purpose. I have also heard it contended also said that even at the time of Thus the rider-mains originally the Secretary of State

hadwick, the expert sent out by had their money's worth in the conclusion was foregone and the would be the means of saving Colonies to

use of the ruler-mains for 26 disenssion could hardly have been considerable expenditure to the study and Original Object.

report years, having paid only $222,000 more than a facing of the facts public. on the water problem of the for laying the mains, From these quotations from Colony in 1902. That remark is having been called upon by the ence to page 232 of Hansard of und not and an explanation." A refer-

Act of Equity. Hansard it is clear that the prin-contained in para 21 of Sessional Government to pay for their main- 1920 show that when Sir Cecil cipal object of the rider-mainPaper No. 4 and is this: "I maintenance,

We therefore expresa It should be pointed out system was to detect and prevent tain that the meter system is the that the question of upkeep never all-important words: "It will, of will accept our amendment, not gave his promise, he added those carnest hope that Your Excellency waste. That object was irrated only system of rating which is formed part of the scheme, for at aud reiterated by the Colonial thoroughly elicient and equitable."

courac, be impossible to discard only as the beat and most reason- meeting of It is significant that Mr. Chadwick Council held on the 17th Septem-

the Legislative the rider-main system until there able compromise in the circum- Secretary and the Attorney-General for

is an assured supply of water stance, but also as an act of that day. After 26 years used the word "rating, and did ber. 1903, the operation

Hon. Colonial available both on the island and equity demanded by the occasion no evidence has been not say that the meter system was Secretary said that after the first on the mainland throughout the and in harmony with the tradi- adduced to prove that the system the most economical. has failed of that object.

paid by the owners year." From this very definite tional policy of the Government "there would be no further charge expression of opinion of Sir Cecil to accord to It stands

of the 22nd June, 1923, were re-to them for the supervision and parted to the Governor of that time, maintenance of the rider-mains Sir Edward Stubbs; and a few days which would be included in the later the Colonial Secretary, Mr. I general expenditure of the A. G. M.

time, it certainly could not have, MR. TSO'S SUPPORT. (now Sle Murchison) Colony." Fletcher informed the Hon. Sir

heen its intention to abolish the In regard to the free use of rider-mains before "an assured It is very well to say, as it has houson Clow and me that the pro-water for 26 years, it should be supply of water is available both

Plea for the System to been said by some, that there isposal would be dropped, and that remembered that

this on the island and on the main-

Abolish Itself. bound in be waste in a system he advised the people in the rider privilege are offset the hardship and throughout the year." which supplies water free, for main districts to apply for meters and

inconvenience which the

We are far from this happy UNFORTUNATE POSITION. people are apt to be careless in the which would be freely granted,

people have bar to undergo, state of things at present; and use of a thing for which they have

almost annually, during that same so it would not be unreasonable not to pay. The matter is too im-

period by reason of restrictions of to ask the Government to accept partant to the tens of thousands

varying severity having been Sir Cecil Clementi's view. of the poorer classes for it to be

imposed on them, and the amount disposed of with

time-worn

have saved to the general public. dietum. Incontrovertible facts are

is the supply of a sufficient quantity of water to the town of Victoria with the least possible waste, may be effected without incurring the hardships which the Bill of 1992 would be inevitably inflicting on a certain setion of the community using water Rider-muins are

a means by which the supply of water can be regulated to blocks

of houses as effectively ng it can be by ueders in the case of single houses,"

le reason that a system which is subject, as the rider-main system is to severe restrictions for long periods at a time, almost annually. cannot but conserve materially our water supply.

necessary.

the Hon

21

water

For the

The proceedings of the meeting

Meters Increasing. We thought at the time that, by following the Government's advice, the matter would end there. That that advice has been largely follow- ed can be seen in the steadily in- creasing number of meters that have been applied for and installed

الله

Further argu-

Government "Bargain."

cost was

against

of water which such restrictions

Many Protests.

The Time Question.

the

Clementi it is clear that whatever considerateness all communities might have been the contemplated (Applause), and justice.

poley of the Government at the

Principle Accepted. But after anxious and careful consideration of all aspects of the

the principle of the resolution, but

The Hon. Mr. S. W. Tso: I rise to second the amendment pro- posed by the Hon. Dr. Kotewall, Senior Chinese Member of Coun- cil, to the motion before us to-day,

The amendment just proposed by my ilonourable colleague is not at variance with the motion of the

given, the people in the rider-muin

For the various reasons I hav, problem, we have decided to accept on. Colonial Secretary

in prin-

since 1923. At this very moment, districts cannot see the necessity to ask that it may not be carried ciple, but merely asks to allow the

date.

On Wrong Premises,

What are the facts that the Government s

according to the reply given by the

system to apolish produced? To

or justice of the Government's Hon. Director of Public Works to strengthen his assertion that they question put at the meeting of

into effect for 2 years, from this rider main proposal:

Dy We have

We realise that Suoner or itself, in two years' time received rider-main system was wasteful, this Council on

later the system has to go, not the gradual installation of meters, strong representations, urging the the 4th August, retention of the Colonial Secretary in-

because it is wasteful or because which my Chinese colleagues and I formed us that a comparison hal 100 meters have been appiled for various institutions, including the from system,

universal meterage would conduce consider, is the best mode of at ben made by the Government of but not yet installed in the rider-Chinese General Chamber of Com- to economy-both of which we do taining the object, which the Gov-

main districts. But for the dif-meree. the Tung Wah Hospital The water concumption on the

not admil-but because a uniform ernment desires to effect. without faland and in Kowloon, which re-

ficulties which the people have, un-Committee, the Hongkong and til quite recently, experienced in Kowloun Property Owners' Asso

system of water supply for all casing the hardship and incon- vealed the fact that the former was obtaining meters-a fuct borne out iation,

parts of the Colony has much to venience to the people living in the which im- consistently some 30% higher per, by the

the Sugar Merchants' recommend it, and because the rider main districts head; and he went on to say that awaiting attention- pore applica-Association, the Chinese Engi/ment will tend

21applications still Association, the Chinese alerta present intention of the Govern mediate abolition would. "this comparison made 1, impossible tions would have to avoid the further conclusion that

been made for neera Association, the Po Yick gradually obliterating the rider- applications for meters, thus the rider-main system could not be

Commercial Association, the Chao- absolved from the charge of

Chow Residents' Association, the

main system without undue haste wastefulness."

er unnecessary compulsion. Ling Tung Association and the Hongkong Cooltes' Guild, as well Two-Year Respite. as from hundreds of individuals.

Government's Figures,

them.

Now the Government has revived the qucation-in fact, has actually taken some action, without having produced more arguments to justify

to accelerate

Unfortunate Position.

It is very unfortunate that the Government did not take the Chi- nese community Into its confidence when it decided to abolish the rider main system in February last and

it, except that the large 11001- In addition to these we have The reason for our request for look steps to disconnect certain

her of meters

on

that have

many strong

revonue.

More Proof Wanted.

We say that that conclusion is founded on wrong premises, It has been pointed out to us that in making the comparison, the Gov

be received from the Chinese General a two-year respite is that, in our houses from the rider nuin.

If the Government had prepared erament did not take into account applied for in recent years has Chamber of Commerce a letter view, the people should not be the considerable quantity of water make it necessary to make the addressed to them in the name forced out of what, after all, is a scheme beforehand showing the supplied by Hongkong to the large change, for, according to the Hou, of the Kai-fong, which bears some sort of contract entered into manner in which the Government number of Kowloon residents who

Colonial Secretary, "each new

several hundred chops of firms between them and the Govern- proposed to convert the rider main meter tended come over here daily during usi

to destroy the and shops. Never in our com-

ment, especially at the present System into a universal meterage ness hours to pursue their vocalance of the 1906 arrangement."paratively long careers as public time, when "an assured supply of system and let the Chinese go

the thoroughly into matter, no It would seem from this that the men have we received so

water is not available throughout doubt a tions, as well as to the even larger adoption of the advice of the letters, couched in such

murtus operandi would number of visitors from the New Government of 1923 is now having terms on any one subject.

the year," when it is not really have been found satisfactory to the Territories and

a ense of stopping waste, when Chinese who are chiefly concerned. Cheung Chau, from Canton and Macno and from intended.

an opposite effect to what was

It is maintained by many that the rider-mains are still quite As it is, the Chinese did not know other adjacent ports.

the rider-main eyatem was intro- serviceable, and when, as we have Mr. Chadwick's Views.

duced in the nature of a bargain it from Your Excellency, the pro- what the Government had done or between the Government and the posed change is not a matter of proposed to do until the subject was brought before the Council at The views of the However, we do not entirely rely Government

present people, for the people had to pay

its Inst Meeting and are consequent- this important the cost of laying the mains with Our suggestion in in accord upon this fact, important though it question are also at variance with the consent of the Government. with Mr. Chadwick's idea that the

ly much concerned. is, to show the unfairness of the those of Mr. Osbert Chadwick, Now, one party to that bargain rider-main system should be comparison. The Government it- In paragraph 20 of Sessional desires to abrogate it and has, by allowed to abolish itself by the self has only a few days ago, and Paper No. 4 certain remarks of its action, practically abrogated gradual installation of metera. The Hon. Dr. Kotewall In his unintentionally, furnished an argu- Mr. Chadwick on the rider-main it, while the other prefers the bar. That this object has to a large speech has fully and clearly stated meut in refutation of its own in- system are quoted. ference. In Inst week's Press were these:

They are gain to stand.

oxtont been fullled can be seen the Chinese views on the subject. "Its effect will be three-

from the fact that while 88 I do not propose therefore to ad- published the figures of the fold. Firstly, it will mitigate the

meters were installed in the City duce further arguments against Colony's water supply for the evils of the intermittent system; I readily accept the Govern- of Victoria in 1900, the numbor the assumption that the rider main ninth of July. These figures show and, secondly, it will be a perman-ment's explanation that Sir Cecil went up to 6,329 in 1931; and system is wasteful or that the that the consumption in the city, ent improvement, inasmuch as it Clementi's undertaking not to there are now 2,100 applications meter system can prevent waste of and Hill District during the month will facilitate the detection of abolish the system without giving awaiting attention.

water. But if the rider main of July was 344.38 million gallons; waste. Thirdly, it will greatly this Council an opportunity to

Bystem is a wasteful system, the and this, on an estimated popula- facilitate the voluntary introduc- discuss the question, was over-

Government can surely produce tion of 383.500, works out at 29 tion of metern.” These remarku, looked. Still, it is very unfor

botter proof than it has dono. For It is most likely that the object no far I know the system of water gallons per head per day. The con- and the debatos in Hanaard of tunate that in a matter of such would bo completely attained in supply in this Colony la served by sumption in Kowloon was 177 1003, give us the impression, importance to the people, the the course of the next two years, two means: metered or unmetered million gallons, which works out t

not conviction, that the rider-Government should have begun for there are now only 5,000 an- service. The quantity of water 18.9 gallons per head per day, on an main system which was to be a the work of abolition without metered houses in the rider-main supplied by meters elther for estimated population of 302,200.

"permanent" arrangement, was to giving the people any warning,districts, and this number will bo- domestic use or for trade purposes, be allowed to abolish faolf by the It seems to us to be immaterial reduce to 3,500 after the wants is known and the balance of con gradual installation of moters. whother, an undertaking to give an of the 2.100 houses have been sumption must have been consumed The comparison

Many people in the rider-main opportunity to the public to: dia-supplied. Jocs establisli districts the fact that, tha emawawalezwa.form-feedbackh

by the ridor main or by other user' had motorscuss the matter, had been alveg / Antrobulingsaus

MAMUL. Many more applications, would utMONT (CONTINUED ORNO TULSA TEN

Hongkong Consumption.

have

.

"Consult the People."

Effect of Respite.

Page 20Page 21