1938-02-24 — Page 10

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.

THURSDAY

FEBRUARY

How Much Do You Think You're Worth?

D

O you know what is

a juryman's Worst job? That's easy, most people would answer: giving a verdict in a murder trial.

And most people would be wrong.

....

The most difficult task any Juryman can face is estimating the value of someone else's life..

Have you ever thought about that? About how much you are. worth-not'in cash in the Post Office Savings Bank, but as a productive unit in the social system? Have you over asked yourself what is the capital value of a human life?

The odds are heavily against oven a briof pause for duch obscuro consideration. For there is no basis of calculn- tion, no standard of values — well, none worth preserving."). Yet these are questions that fomeone ought to try to answer. Because to know how valuable the individual is to the community is economi- cally important — and darned interesting!

An official of the Canadian Bureau of Statistics has declared that at birth every boy is worth £1,800 to his country and (I regret to record it) every girl is worth 2000.

And, at 35, the man-child, he says, has increased in value to £8,000 while the woman-chlid's capitalised earning power has become £3,000.

But these are stump prices-- and the last slump, at that. They wore current in 1931.

PTSHREE years later, the head of the Reich Health Omco began to think about the subject. And in due course he declared chint every. Gorman in possession of his" full working capacity " was .worth to the State between

£15,000 and £20,000.

Now that is odd; for the other departments of the Reich pro- vido littlo evidence that they value life so highly. But, then, do we?.

The one standard which per- mits of any kind of official reckoning in this country puts the value of the life of a married man at between £300 and £000. A working man, hò has to bo.

THE

ASKS S. E. R. WYNNE

For this standard is provided by the Workmen's Compensation Acts. And this is what these Acts do:-

If a married man without children dies as a result of an industrial accident his widow may obtain as damages "£200 or a sum equal to her husband's, earnings during the previous three years-up to £300." ...

If children also wore depen- dent upon him that sum may ba increased to a maximum of £600. case you consider this In maximum ungenerous you may like to know that it was fixed Seventeen thirty years ago. years back the Holman Gregory Commission recommended that it be increased to £809. It has not been increased. And there is no guarantee that even the present paltry maximum always paid.

15

OR the State recog- nises that all cm- ployers are llable when their workpeople are involved. in accidents; but it conveniently omits to compel the employer to Insure against the risk.

In the House of Commons the

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BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE

You

other day Jack Jones asked that these anomalles be ended. His motion was dofcated. should look up the names of those Tory MPs who decided that a working man's life is worth only £300 to his widow.

Are the wealthy content with Of course such a reckoning? not.

R

ECENTLY a man earn- ing £40 a week was "killed in a road acci- dent. His family brought an action for compensation.. For the pain and suffering to which he was submitted they recolved £25. For the expenses of his funeral they were paid £62 16s. His widow was awarded £5,015, his daughter £500, his elder son £300, his younger son £700.

You will not object to this man's life being valued at £0,002 165. You will disappoint me if you aren't profoundly angry that a working man's life Is still omcially "valued ̃at ̃£300;

Three hundred pounds is, in fact, an exaggeration. In the last year for which returns are available Workmen's Compen- sation payments in fatal acci-

1 1⁄2 WAY TOOTH PASTES CAN'T FIGHT TILE TWO-WAY BATTLE against tooth decay ....against gum infection

One enemy decay-attacks teeth. An- other Pyorrhea-threat- ens gums. This second enemy it so dangerous that 4 out of 5 people over 40 suffer from it. Merely brushing your teeth de but half the battla, Brush both teeth and gums with FOR- HAN'S and defeat both ene- mies. Forhan's contains a special sum-protecting ingredient found in no other toothpaste Dr. Forhan's famous AF tringent. Bo,inaddition to making testh sparkling fötham 'white, Forhan's keeps - gums sound, firm and healthy, Start using- Forlan's today}·

Forhan's

Grond The Original Tacikpaza fov-

both TEETH AND GUMS Formula of Dr. R.J. Forben

Hfulier, MacLean & Co, Ind. French Bank Bide. Hongkong, China,

COUNT THE TELEGRAPH”

EVERYWHERE

dent cases averaged £290. Nor Is this the only anomaly of the law.

A London working busman's life has been valued at £3,500 following a court décision ob- tained by his union-fighting not under Workmen's Com- pensation legislation, but at common law,

In somewhat similar clicum- stances, the value of a lorry driver's life, has been put at £6,000, 'stevedore's at £7,500. But in each case the victim still lives, and the greater award is some recompense for health and prospects shattered.

W

FELL, that is reason-" able; you expect the figure to be rather more than that miserable £200. But do you expect the figure to

BANKS

1938.

'HONGKONG AND. BHANGHAI : BANKING CORPORATION.

Authorised Captial jit. $00,000,000 Zared and Fully Pald-Up **** $20,000,000 Reserve Musta S

Sterling-inari 4,500,000 Hougkong Currency. ItessTV #10,000,000 Reserve Liability of Proprietors $20,000,000

HEAD OFFICE HONGKONO. BOARD OF DIRECTORS)-- 0. Miskin, Big, Chairman

Hon. Mr. M. T. Johnson.

Deputy Chaleinat.

2.K. Houdel, Esq. H.B. Morrison, Esq A. H. Comptan, Esq. Hon. Str. 3. 7. Paterson 9. 11. Dodwell, B. T. F. Pearce, Et. J. IL Mason, Esq.” A. L, Batida, EKI-

Bir Vandeleur. M. Grayburn, CHIET, MANAGER.

AMOY JANGKOR ΠΑΤ BOM!

CALCUTT CANTOR CHETO COLOMB DAI

FOOD

HAMBUR

JANKOW HARDIN HONGKEW ILOILO

KOBE

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THINGTAO YOKOHAMA -

Current Accounts_opened in Local Cur rency and Fixed Deposit received for one year, or shorter periods in Locs! which Currency and Bterling ont terms

The higher for less serious in-will be quoted on application.

juries?

..

A girl has just been awarded £2,250 for the loss of two fingers, "another girl £2,600 as compensa- tion for a mutilated arm. Too much? Not a bit; but they do show, that the Workmen's Compensation figures are too small.

There are the distinc- tions: £7,500 for a steve- dorc, who will never

work again; £2,250 for a girl who has lost two fingers; £300 (perhaps) for the widow of a factory worker. There is the conclusion: we have no idea at all about how much a human. He is worth.

How muddled we are on this subject Mr. Justice Singleton emphasised nt Manchester Assizes in dealing with t claim for loss of expectation of ute,

He mentioned four cases in which judges" and furles had variously estimated the cash value of human life. For a child of three, the figure was put at £90; for a child of eight at £1,500, for a man and a woman both in their twenties at £1,000 apleco.

And just to help matters along Mr. Justice Singleton, in the case which he was hearing, put the figure at £962-for a 74- years-old-man.

M

PR. JUSTICE SINGLE- TON may have been "as: generous as those who refuse to improve the Workmen's Compensation Acts are mean.

We don't know. But we ought to know.

For it, instead of the elusive x, we could value a man's life in pounds, shillings and pence, we should at once begin properly to respect the life that sum would represent.

We should see that it repro-.. sented his akill and technical ability for the worker has no other capital.

We should seo that every in- crease would be a gain to the community, every decrease a loss.

Wo' should see that it would be worth while improving stan- dards of health and conditions of employment-if not in the Interests of the individual at least in the interests of the State.

Why, we might even get those Tory MPs to agree to raise the Workmen's Compensation aver- ago above £2001

Kowloon Tiger

Back Again

Big Animal Seon At Chungshawan

that

A six-foot long tiger was alabled. the vicinity'· "ol by a Chinese in Cheungshawan on Triesday.

He reported to the polleo about 2.30 p.m. while looking from a window of his house, he saw the aminal chaiing a dog in the vegetable plantation beside his residence.

The dog wai. not caught and finally the tiger ran away in the direction of Taipo Road, Claw prints wore visible in the field where the ger had been running.

The tiger was estimated to weight about 2001b and bore black and yellow stripes at its neck.

ALSO up to date SARS DEPOS BOXES in various sizes TO LET.

Hongkong, 10th May, 1997,

: HONGKONG BAVINGS BANK.

The Bulness of the above Bank Li conducted by the Hongkong and Shang- hal Banking Corporation. itwe may be obtained on application. FOR THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION.

V.AL ONAYBURN,

-Chief Manager, Hongkong, 18th May, 1937.

.

THE CHARTERED BANK OF ̈· INDIA, AUSTRALIA & CHINA

Incorporated by Royal Charter. 1833 HEAD OFFICE LONDON. 38 bishopsgate, B.C.A.

£3,000,000 Paid-up Capital Series******** Reserve Liability of Proprietors £3,000,000 Reserve Fund ............ £3,000,000 MANCHESTER BRANCH:

7 Mosley St, Manchester.

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now

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Foreign Exchange and General Bank- Ing busines· transacted.

Current Accounts opened" and“ Fixed Deposits received for one year, at shorter periods at rates which will be quoted on application.

The Bank's Head Ofico in "Lebdok undertakes Executor & Trustco business and claims recovery of British-Income Tax overpaid, on terms which may be ascertained at any of its Agencies d Branches.

THE YOKOHAMA SPECIE" DANK, LIMITED.

Capital (fully paid-up) ......100,000,000 Reserve Fund, you were Y.134,400,000 TIKÁD OFFICE YOKOHAMA, Branches and Ageneles ut Alexandria Hongkong Rangoon Bangkok

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Interest allowed on Current Accounts. Deposita received for fixed perioda at rates to be obtained on application

KANO,

.Hongkong, 12th February, 1938.

Manage.

BURNS PHILP LINE

Passenger & Freight Service To

AUSTRALIA

Excellent passonger accommoda,,iza

number of single cabins

“NEPTUNA"

due

12th MARCH

salling 16th MARCH

For:

SAICON,

MADANG, SALAMAUA ERABAUL, SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE

with a forgo

no supplement.

-Built-In Swimming Bath and Spacious Sports Deck.

First Class to Sydney:-

Singlo-£47.10.0d. Return=£76.0.08.

Passenger & Fraight Agents-

· GIBB, LIVINGSTON & CO., LTD. Tel, 28031

P. & O. Bldg.

NYK

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San Francisco via Japan Ports & Honolulu.

Cargo only);

Taiyo Maru (From Kaba) Mon, 7th March Tatsuta Maru (From Komo) Tues., 22nd March' Seattlo & Vancouvar (Starts from Kobe).

Holon Maru

New York via Panama.

Nojima Maru

„Mon., 14th March

Sun., 27th March

South America (West Coast) via japan, Honolulu, B Hijo, Los Angeles, Mexico & Panama.

V†Atago Maru (From Kobe) -- Mon., 2th March

Hoiyo Maru (From Hongkong) Mon., 14th barch London, Marseilles, Antwerp & Rotterdam.

Infozaki Maru

Saws Maru

Terukun! Maru

.Sun., 27th Feb,

Sat, 12th March

Fri, 26th March.

Liverpool via Port Sald, Beyrouth, Istanbul, Piragua,

and Marseilles,

+Dolagon Maru ̧

***Tues., 1stTM March

Sydney & Malboumno via Manila & Ports.

Kamo. Maru Atauta Maru

Fri., 25th Feb..... ..Sat., 26th March

Bombay via Singapore, Ponang & Colombo..

+Nagato Maru (Omit Penang) Tues., 1st March +Ryuyo Maru (Omits Penang) Wed., 0th March Calcutta via Singapore, Penang & Rangoon,

Malocca Maru

Sun 18th March

Kobe & Yokohama. (Omitting Shanghai)

Hakusan Maru

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Kitano Maru

Fri, 25th Feb.

Fri, 11th March

Fri., 18th March

General Passenger Agents in the Orient for the CUNARD WHITE STAR LINE.

THE TAIKOO DOCKYARD & ENGINEERING COMPANY

OF HONGKONG, LIMITED.

BUILDERS OF ALL CLASSES OF SHIPS.

BUILDERS OF RECIPROCATING STEAM ENGINES. BUILDERS OF MARINE AND LAND BOILERS. BUILDERS OF TURBINE MACHINERY.

Under Licence From Messra, Parsons..

BUILDERS OF DIESEL ENGINES

Under Special Licence From Messrs. Sulzer Bros. Winterthur.

Licensed To Manufacture Lanz Perlit Iron, Specially Sultablo For Internal Combustion Engine Working Parts. DOCK & SLIPWAYS

FOR DOCKING VERY LARGE, AS WELL AS SMALLER VESSELS

ON ANY TIDE.

ALL CLASSES OF SHIP, ENGINE AND BOILER

REPAIRS

AND EXTENSIVE WELDING, BOTH ELECTRICAL AND OXY ACETYLENE, SKILFULLY AND

PROMPTLY CARRIED OUT.

Tek. Address "Talkoodõsk: Hongkong. Telephone No, 30211.02

Cell: Flagt "Numeral One" orar la

BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE Agents

HONGKONG

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