1938-04-14 — Page 7

1

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

RENTS COMMISSION INQUIRY CRITICISED

(Continued from Page 1.)

ROOT OF THE PRESENT SITUATION

THE HONGKONG®

TELEGRAPH,

THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 1988.

ROOSEVELT DEFENDS POPULAR OFFICER

TAX BILLS

(Continued from Page 1)

LEAVING MACAO

.

Macao, Apr. 13.

Thus the total outlay will reach. Bradley, Commissioner of the In the departure to-day of Mr. H, $5,000,000,000.-Reuter.

MINIMUM WAGE AND

HOUR BILL

Washington, Apr. 13. Representative Mary T. Norton to- day presented to the House a Labour Wago and Hour Bill, to establish a 40 cents an hour minimum wage, rind a 40 hour maximum week.

can be cited of forced sales and foreclosures proving what a profit- kong since the beginning of Sino-able yield the existing rentals supply.

Meanwhile Mr. John Lewis, leader Here is an illuminating example of of the Committee of Industrial Or- Japanese hostilities last year."

an investment of $0,000 by a non- ganisation, has demanded that the European landlady in a house in the Administration provide the leadership European realdential district of Kow-to break the deadlock over the wage loon Train which she collects in rent and hour controversy.-United Press. The Commission found difficulty in the sum of $100 per month.

She had giving "a continuous history" of the spent $2,000 in reconditioning the rise and fall of rents during the last premises. This may appear to be an ten years. On their own admission extreme ease; but if enquiry were to "this fact is of grent significance and be pursued far enough other similar goes to the root of the present situa-cases could be found as strikingly tion of rents in the Colony." No favourable to the landlord, explanation is given for this state whether cases of this type have ment. This is unfortunate. Tenants been brought to the notice of the were unable to furnish that "cos Commission, and whether the Com- unuous history."

mission, in pursuance of the powers vested in them by the

Commissioners Powers Act of 1888, had subpoenaed any witnesses before them and elicit- ed similar startling revelations, one cann cannot tell. This is

is a moot point

The fundamental level of ten years go provides considerable useful data for the reasons I will now explain. For 1026-20, it will be remembered, big surplus balance was recorded for Hongkong. It fell to the Hon. (now Sir) Themes Southern to re- view the financial position of the

Colony when

of

some importance, and is considered to be determining factor for pur- poses of rental comparison. Without presenting the Esti- it only an ex parte case has been mates for 1929, The Officer Ad-made out. That is one contention. ministering the Government sald the 20th September, 1928: "The re- MILITATING EVIDENCE FACTORS venue of the Qolony shown a remarkable recovery....

There are several reasons why the There

collection of material evidence has is по doubt that the

on

has

|

upon by the Commission is that of the farming of whole blocks of houses. To avoid having to deal with Individual tenants of

at

no!

Chinese Maritme Customs, Macao

સ

RADIO BROADCAST

From the Studio

LONDON RELAYS

Radio Programme Broadcast by Z.B.W. on Frequencies of 845 k.c.8, 9.53 mic's per second. IKT.

loses an extremely popular resident. Talk on the Bridge Olympic From the time of his arrival in Marno, Mr. Bradley took up sport with en- thurinam and worked unsparingly to encourage tennis among the younger members of the community. He re- presented Macao in two tournaments against Hongkong clubs, Bret

against the Club de Recreio, second against C.The Civil Tennis Club the K.I.R.C. of which Mr. Bradley has been an active member from the time of his arrival here, presented him with a handsome cup on the eve of his de- parture as a mark of friendship and

esteem,

Mr. Bradley is going on home leave,

CHINA RECOGNISES "ANSCHLUSS”

Berlin, Apr, 13.. The Chinese Ambassador has in- formed the Foreign Offee that China has decided to recognise the anschluss, and will replace its Legation with a Consulate-General-Reuter.

"legislation

RO

prohibiting.

orc on

to speak of cubicles, owners make it. a point of "farming." The "former" agrees to lease the houses on a cer- lain fixed rental; he in turn free to let to whomever he pleases and at whatever rent that suits him best. A hasty perusal of the Commis- sion's report gives no inkling into the extent of the increase which the "furmer" receives from his sub- tenants. Strictly speaking, so for the landlord is concerned, he appears cable; but the "farmer" who, in fact, before the

avictions Commission as impec-

alone without at the same time rC- stricting increases of replaces the owner becomes the real prove useless." It was a most serious reni would offender. My practical experience

erence grievance that had given cause for leaves me in no

doubt as to the existence

much dissatisfaction-landlords' of this form of abuse.

insistence on evletion. This unbend- *** population of the Colony has been not been as complete as it shout Quite often the "farmer" will allegeing attitude of certain landlords Is otherwise be. Its very incomple- tenants intend vacating at the end

to the landlord that n group

of notorious. Under the existing laws - increasing during the year, and as

teness militates against the value of of the month. Upon this so-called

Inndlords may summarly throw out the vacant houses are occupied an

the report; the recommendations, notice he traffics to the extent of passing

Sled resident tenants for the benent of

visitors. impetus is given to building opera- accordingly, fall short of the require-

Tenants the data to new tenants, or Hons and land purchase for which ments of the fundamental data. For

Orgoud the existing to remain in

ground when they

Volce com- considerable funds seem to be aval- example, there are the

of tyranny Iable."

shyness and timidity of a of a higher rent. Add to this the illition. The plight of fomilled tenants which is exercised without compune- Our veteran (Uten senior) unofi- witnesses to appear before the Com-elt "squeeze" assuming such cuphoni-is truly distressing. Their utter help. cial member,

Sir Shou-son Chow, missioners; the restraining influence ous designations as "key" "ica," or lessness excites the greatest expressed the gratification of his of the language difficulty experienc- "shoe colleague when he spoke

of es-ed by foreign tenants in some cases upparent to what lengths the victi- made.

money, and it becomes pathy. For them an urgent appelt is imated revenue for 1928 kely and initeracy in others, and, lastly. misation of sub-tenants is carried.

It looks very much as if this to be exceeded by the sum of not fear of retaliation by landlords,

appeal must fall on deaf ears, less than $2,571,000. That, he At the same time ample allowance thought, might be taken as evidence must

made be

for the "hasty that conditions in the Colony were nature" (the phrase is of the Com- Brady returning to normal. remissioners own coining) of the

demand for building sites."

inquiry, because of the alleged the honourable senior unofficial

of the position and of the urgency member said, "could be taken

as Chairman's pending departure from proof of a further Increase in the the Colony.” population, as well

healthy DAR

Impartially, EO blame sign that confidence in the future attached to the Commission. of the Colony was being restored." much is granted. If they had

been placed in the position for judicial sifting of cases in the Interests of tenants the latter are at fault.

REVENUE BUOYANT

Hongkong's revenue for 1928 ex- ceeded the Estimates by $4,805,009, and of that of the previous year by $3,622,803, which prompted the off- efal author of the preface to the Administration Reports for 1928 to indulge in a note of optimism when ..he

he wrote that "1928 showed a con- Unuation of steady recovery in the financial and commercial position of the Colony."

** of usor the

consideration of Paini against a form

inherent

can

KOWLOON RESIDENTS'

ASSOCIATION

be That

a

WATER RATE IN RELATION

TO RENTS

been

sym-

12.0-12.20 p.m. Relay of Service of Intercession from St. John's Cathe- dral.

12.30 Cicely Buchanan and Belections.

Courtneldge, Jack Musical Comedy

The Dubarry-If I Am Dreaming. Heddle Nash (Tenor) with Orchestra cond. by Ernest Irving; "Follow The Sun"-Selection..... Jack Jackson's... Dorchester.... Hotel

Orch. London, with vocal retrain; Fancy Our Meeting (Erom "That's A Good Girl'); Now That I've Found You

(From "That's A Good Girl'). Jack Buchanan and Elaic Ran dolph; "The Flying Trapeze' Jack Buchanan. with Bruce Carfax Trio and Harry Perritt and His Orchestra: Things Are Looking Up (From the Film). Cicely Court- neldge (Comedienne),

1.0 Local Time Signal and Weather Report.

For Two Pianos, Op. 17.

1.03 Rachmaninoff-Sulte No. 2

Played by Vronsky and Babin. 1.30 Reuter and Rugby Press, Weuther Forecast and Announce- ments.

1.40 Variety Programme. Vocal-Someone To Care For Me (From "Three Smart Girls'); Il Bacio Giris")..... (From

"Three Smart Vocal You Needn't Have Kept It A Deanna Durbin with Orch. Accomp.; Secrets Gour Morion Downey with Orch. Accomp.

Goodnight To You All.

Thot Orchestra--The Mood

I'm In- Slow Fox-Trot; Goodnight My Lucky Day-Slow

How Fax-Trot (From 234 Hours' Leave').

Gibbons Carroll and The Savoy Hotel Orpheans with

orus: Vocal-Sing If prosperity.reaching Hongkong in vocal chorus;

Sing Something consequence of the recent great In The Morning (From Charles B. growth of population has to be pur- chased at the expense of so much

Cochran's Coronation Revue "Home

No More And Beauty"); No

(From ely and distress; and if Hong-Charl

Charles B. Cochran's Coronation Re- is to

to earn the unenviable re- pulation of being an expensive port Alpar (Soprano) with Orch,, Plano

And vuc "Home Beauty""). Gitla for the profit of landlords and

Is Not The Same (Mar- Solo Paris Is 1 larger colonial revenue from assessed taxation, them 'let this Colony

Hackforth).

Leslic (Piano) with Orchestro; dearty purchased and so unpopularly Orchestra-Don't Look Now Fox- acquired.

Trot (Cahn, Chaplin).

.... Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra with vocal Dorsey

notice remove all abandon a form of prosperity 50); Singing For You

water

"WAITING BRIEF" RECOMMENDATION

one

chorus by Trio,

2.15 Close Down.

....

5.0-8.03 European Programme. 8.03-11,0 Chinese Programme,

To what extent the Commission has probed into one feature of the rent increases must remain a matter of conjecture, The report offers no elucidation. I refer to the question of water rates.

Several Cases that have not brought to my

doubt that as an indirect method of adding increase upon

Increase of rent is the inclusion of water charges. When the housing shortage began to be felt, an increase of the original rent inclusive of water was made and

The Commission makes but conceded, followed by a salve of the complaints had been received from tion of a surcharge ingeniously de-

It is learnt from the Report that landlord's conscience by the imposi-nal recommendation (p. 21, parn. 4). it one, however, that conveys little

5.0 Relay of the Dance Orchestra the Kowloon Residents' Association, signated as water rate. The

comfort and less folief to the suffer from the Roof Garden of the Hong- and in a summary which a deputation rate fixed by the landlord was a fiat might be kept

ers. It recommends the a

Hotel.... watch kong from that Association presented to one

landlords' on

(a) Serenade to the Stars; (b) Bob actions the Commission it was that we applicable to all tenants of the after the submission of.

the

White; (e) Moonlight on the Sunset The quotations should carry con-

report. there were six cases of

rent prises three or four storeys let to as achieve, and to what extent it is Music from Z.B.W, that house. The building usually com- What good this recommendation can Trail: ta Snake Charmer. viction that Hongkong had emerged increases exceeding 150 per

5.16 Interval of recorded Dance out of the chaos created by the in-

cent. many tenants. Some satisfactory explanation should tensive anti-Hongkong strike and be forthcoming as to why the Com-water rate is a determinable figure, for, much less an eradication of, the Give

It is well to remember that the does not say.

going to lighten tenants' burden, it

It offers no palliative 6.20 (a) For only you; (b) I Can't boycott of 1925 to enter upon one mission did not discover "any such

but Love; (c) of those cyclical prosperous periodt huge inercase us was alleged the and the landlord in placing it at any evil against which a loud a volice Confeagin'; (d) My Blue Heaven. during which there

was much summary given by the Committee's

thething higher than that figure is de- has been raised. What is going to

5.35

Interval of recorded Dance speculation in house property, To deputation."

it is inconceivable that itely muloting his tenants in higher be the Government's exercise of Music from Z.B.W. attain the best results under the

rent such a representative body like the in an indirect manner. He at authority and watch over landlords

5.45 (a) Who are we to say; (b) concomitant conditions of a boom, K.R.A can he capable of gross taxes on the additional rent collected not say. Do the

same time evades payment of actions, again the Commission does. Now they call it swing; (c) Shadows rents were forced up in order that exaggeration.

members the investments in properly might One salient fact emerges on

expect on the Moon; (d) The Shag under a different the

erent name. To that that each individual case com 8.0 Studio The Children's Hour. of the Government Asses-

extent the

7.0 Peter Dawson (Bam-Baritone)- of the Colony plaint shall

I be brought to the holice suffers for the and Interest

50.

and Light Symphony Orchestras. at present not one was suitable for This view places in doubt the the Portuguese

where is the constituted authority to

"Princess Ida"-Selection (Sulli- clerical class be equitably invoked.

receive complaints and Ipse dixit of the Commission in paru

act upon

them van), New Light Symphony European subordinates," 2 that the majority of property porn. 1).

(Page 15,

londlords Intuition has Certain

when they call for prompt and sum-

Orchestra

Watchman, What Of The initely

secured

"the monetary legally created tribunal, to await the gia owners must be regarded as "legiti-

mary decision? In the absence of Night (Saricant).

Peter Dawson There are so many factors influen-

to themselves out of any

Д duct with himself; mate investors." Not all will agreeeing rent that statements submitted proposed change of the incidence of creation of the necessary practical with their claim.

Rusticana" Intermezzo I apprehend that machinery would be to relegate to (Mascagni); Barcarolle ("Tales Of New Light aggrieved parties. recent

Symphony Orchestra; Fantasia Water Charge:

On Norvegian Folk Songs

(Arr. Haland).

Norwegian Light Symphony Orchestra.

Closing local Stock Quotations,

bear the most favourable relation that "of the vacancies on his list Herein

Go the

landlord, of the Government? And, if

between! capital cost yleld,

LOANS ON INSUFFICIENT

sor

or

Intervention can

by landlords must be subjected to the water stalled the Financial the Greck Kalends sutisfaction for Hoffman"Offenbach)

close scrutiny before any valuable they have deduction can be made from them. Secretary, who. in his The removal of disorderly houses Mem, randum on t

AN APOLOGY

MARGIN Numerous changes of ownership om

from certain districts and their Question, laudably seeks to protect arose out of the speculative spirit occupation by trades and professions the tenant, for he writes: a transfer

capable of

of paying higher rents, the of charge would mean shifting

I plead limitations of space and absence of water service and fireproof burden from the comparatively the time for what, after all, must be a staircases and the provision of these to-do to the poor. I regard such

which sent prices up during the re- covery period; these changes accom panied the Inevitable reaction that set in and Hongkong begun to fal: temporarily on evil days. This con dition was nggravated by the failure

of some of the native banks which created a panic bordering on an neute crisis, Good property, in widely scattered arcas Was practi- cally unsaleable. Such might have been the condition of the Colony that - furnished, to quote verbatim from the report, "a wealth of cvidence (presumably supplied by landlords themselves J.P.B.)

to prove that

ten

of Interest. House property bought on 'wholly insuficient margin.

Very

very hurried and imperfect review Condon Relay-At The Black

of a report of absorbing interest.

in competitive premises liave'n vary able of the tee us most undesire The Commission's report contains bar-pariour. Presented by Pascou Mr. Wilkes at home in his own material influence in determining the able because I greatly fear that the much if the conclusions of the comparative to pay more as a result of the pro- cannot adequately he dealt with in port and Announcements. value of rents, so that it is douftful poor tenant will be found

provides excellent material Thomion and S. E. Reynolds, balance on

for a prolonged controversy that Agures submitted in several para-posed change in the collection of a single review within the compass

8.0 Local Time Signal, Weather Re- graphs can be accepted as incon-water charges, while the Hongkong of a newspaper letter.

8.09. Chinese Programme Studio lestable proof in support of any taxation system already. taxes deductions in the absence of material poor more heavily in proportion to

Concert, evidence in the other direction.

11,0 Close Down. It is apposite to the serious con- income than the wealthy."

Radio Programme Broadcast by. This is alderallon of the problem under dis- ZEK on a Frequency of 640 Kilo- Just what has been happening in very cussion for reference to be made, in eyeles recent times. There will generally conclusion, to the statement by the

agreement with

the Financial Home Secretary, Sir Samuel Hoare,

METICULOUS DOMESTIC PROBING INFRA DIG.

flon in

have

bc

the

гед-

8.03 Mendelssohn's Compositions, Fingal's Cave-Overture..... St.

No. 4

Sie Hamilton") In A Major, he

The

--

owners of house property were the sional character of the composition main the adjustment between land-22, Sir Samuel was speaking on the

With all deference to the profes-Secretary when he says that "in the in the House of Commons on March Loula Symphony Orchestra conduct- victims of a disastrous slump dur- of the Commission, I make the sub-economic forces," It is greatly to be said that "while doubtless there was Op. 53, No. 4); Lost Illusion (F sharp

lord and tenant be left to ordinary plight of the Austrian refugees. He ing the years 1030 to 1837." The mission that the pursuance of the desired that careful note be taken general desire to

ed by Rudolph Ganz: Song Without Commissioners were careful to guard questioning to ascertain the number

Worda; Sadness Of Soul (F Major, themselves in the assertion that "no of domestics of

maintain the doubt there were during the last

household in order of the Hon. Mr. S. Cainc'a re-traditional policy in Britain of offer- Minor, Op. 67, No. 2), Ignaz

commendation. years cases of speculative to building in which men of straw hap meet his rent is undignifying and of charge Government should make sons, had to leave their own country, Spring Song to find out the tenant's find announcing the change of incidence political, rucial and religious

He urges that “in

"ining an asylum to persons who, for Friedman (Piano Solo); Symphony

ed to make a quick boom

profit."

outside the Commission's functions. It clear that landlords are expected there were on the other hand obvious

Harly conducting At the height of the speculation. The quacy of the rent in proped to adjust their rents in consequence objections to any policy which would without words No. 30). money was borrowed at high rates and its suitability are really what and that in the last resort Govern- ggravate

to the accommodation

unemployment, housing Angelus Octet: Song Without Words W matter. The argument which the morn may refuse

Instal and other social problems."

Venetian Gondela Song No. 2 (F .A tempting high rate of interest Commission makes, that the reduc- separate meters for any landlord who

sharp Minor, Op. 30, No. 8); Lost operated as the bait for smaller mar- in the wages of one servant bys shown to have used the change It is Just this matter of housing Happiness (C. Minor, Op. 39, No. 2). gin

serics of

solely with him might mortgagors dispensing

to his own beneft" Where that is of immediate concern to the Ignaz Friedman (Piano Solo). Inllures synchronized with inevitable provided the amount which

the an adjustment has already been made Colony and so vital to its good name.

8.50

Studio-H Honour Mr. foreclosure that followed in the wake tenant needed to meet the Increased detrimental to tenants' interests, the At no time is it advocated that Hong-Justice Lindsell-Talk on the Bridge of the incautious scramble to get rich rent, is poor (puge 10, para. 18). Its provisions of the new law should be kong should but its door to the nd- Olympic. quick

fallacy wil

mlesion of distressed will be made more evident it made retroactive.

people

who

0.0 Dance Music. In the present controversy the new the analogy is extended to, say, the

seck sanctuary within our gates. Fox-Trots Please Remember owners successfully enlisted

FAIRER BASIC RENT sym case of an individual

Hongkong's traditional hospitality has pathy by the representation that of $2,000 or so a month. Does it

earning a

(Denby and Watson); On Linger a solary

been earned on a polley of broad-

Longer A fairer basic

Island (Kennedy--Carr)..... com-mindedness based for

on some little Jack Harris and His Orchestra with

Carroll Gibbons and the Confession (From the

Hotel Orpheans with vocal chorua; Once In A White (Green and Edwards); Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen. (Secunda Cahn-Chaplin), Jack Harris and His Orchestra with vocal' re-. frain by Sam Browne.

son; they do not yield, they say, an economic return on their money,

CANDID ADMISSION

n

A candid admission is obtained on more is not digh as 50 per cent.nure and the rent at, say, the bo- | tice, enough has been said to establish

further in-

satisfactory

3. Р. Вялал,

Reader's Complaint

out a percentage in rent equal to that charged just prior to the large volence there. Theoretically, the ap that paid by his humbler fellow- increase in the population, 1.0., In pointment of a Commission of Inquiry citizens?

If the orgument is hold, July of last year. Between that appeared a logical course. In prac a percentage de and more is not unknown. The case ginning of this year an average could the barrenness of any of a modest Chinese page 10 of the cogency of the fore-

enabler in have been struck that would not results. going argument when the owners foreign employ, and another of a have deprived the landlord of his confess that they had "acquired the speciile instances by whom I have tenants, unmolested by

Filipina laundress, can be cited as just dues, at the same time leave properties as mortgagees and enter- ed into possession during the de- been approached. By further analo crease which has threatened, and in pression.

The not return with sous arguing, there was nothing to many casta been enforced, since then. the proposed Increases will not cover prevent the Commission probing in Extending the benefit further the Interest charges on the amount to a family's dolly bill of fare, or the landlords favour any, rent (exclusive advanced on mdrigare.

husband's drinka" and "smokes,” und

Sic As a regular, ·· folerant and Afollows, therefore, that the the family amusement costs for upon, between the two parties might your lihastration of the Greek Chorus the water surcharge) since agreed appreciative reader, may deplore off over valuation of property ten years sinema and other forms of recrea be left untouched. The principle of under the heading "How It Begant"

o does not furnish a true basis for ton

spageti pret reciprocal contract, thus remains in Your Blustrator appears to be us purposes of a comparison. This ap- FARMING KEY

-"KEY" "IRA, AND

violate.

Ben ignorant of the habits: of, the Greeks "SHOE" MONEYMİMA days. By contrast, cases not appear to b

The Commitlon An unfortunately they: flourished databa quicked · Committed" to the ⠀: conclusion, that

LB.H

Of such a standard...

decandroosfle!" Willi-tenania

In

An aspect glitha question-degreeMPTIONS PROMIBITIONɔg dan ta'sir of the period turing which

bay

been

(Continued on Page 6)

TYPEWRITING AND COPYING

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