1948-04-07 — Page 1

"EXTRA RICH NIGHT CREAM

Colonial Dames Hollywood

ACTIVATED

WITH

VITAMIN

D

On Sale at Leading Stores SOIT AGENTS NAN KANG CO, UHION BLOG M. K.

The

HONGKONGATTLEGRAPHA

Forʻand on bañol) of VLANGGA SOUTH CHIRIA MORNING POST, LEI

Strankl

· Printer and, Publisher.

TO-DAY'S WEATHER: Fresh east and southeast winds) weather cloudy, with ooenzlanak rain and drizzle.

Noon observations: barometele pressure 1013.8 mbe. 293D Intars tetuperatura 741 deg. F: dew polni 65 der; humidity 81 per cent; wind direction ESE; wind forco 10 knots,

Longkong Telegraph.

VOL., III NO. 80

Cripps's Startling Budget

MORE TAXES ON WHISKEY, BEER AND TOBACCO

New Levy On Investments

London, Apr. 6-The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Stafford- Cripps the reputed "apostle of austerity"-today announced á “res- tricted pleasures" Budget. He imposed heavier taxes on beer, whiskey, wines and tobacco, and doubled the tax on football pools, the country's most popular form of gambling.

Sir

In his first Budget speech to a packed House of Commons on the financial and economic situation, Sir Stafford balances against these increases a more generous scale of allowances which will free many lower paid workers from income tax and reduce the tax payments of most "middle class, families with incomes of £350 to £500 a year.

He also announced changes in the purchase on sales tax-the tax on goods regarded as non-essential-which, he said, will cut prices by almost 10 per-

cent.

.

Those who draw income from investments will pay a new levy on a graduated scale, rising from 2'- in the pound sterling on income between £250 and £500, to 10 in the pound sterling on incomes of £5,000.

12/6 la 1930.

men without children earning £700

Stafford Cripps new toxes, to pay income tax as a result of bound rate. Typical income tax will bring the price of whiskey to the increased 'allowances.

payments will be: a married man; 33/10d a bottle compared with only The Arst £135 of earnings will with two children, carning £400- now be completely exempt from £3 a year tax instead of £5; a income tax, compared with £120 married. -man with ono child, Beer, which before the wor cost hillorto. The Budget also exempts carning. £500 £40 10. Instead of da pint, will now cost 18d.

from tax one-nith, of a person's total £63 5. a single man earning £500 earnings, compared with one-sixth £85 10. instead of £110 15, married Cigarettes, now to cost 3/6d for 20. previously. On the first £50 of were sold at 1/1d for 20 in 1930. taxable income, a person will pay £120 Instead of £155 6; married The Budget increases the tax on 37 in the pound, as hitherto, but n with two children, earning football pools from 10 per cent to will then be allowed another £250 £2,000-£540 instead of £020 5. 20 per cent and imposes on book--compared with £75 hitherto at a

spore figure of the makers at greyhound racing tracks / in the pound tax before be Chancellor stood before a crowded a graduated licensed duty for each coming table o

House of Commons for two hours 9 in the pound.

and 14 minutes to relate the new The change means that a single measures to combat inflation Goods which will be cheaper be man will be able to earn £8 17. 0. encourage production. cause of purchase tax cuts, include a week and married man with two calculations prove correct, Britain carpets, cutlery and sports goods: children £130. D. a week before will end the current financial year Half a million workers will cease having to pay at the full_0/- in the with a surplus of £778 million.

meeting,

the full rate

The

falt,

If

and

his

THE DANGER OF INFLATION

Warning that Britain could not There would almost certainly be afford to waste a moment in her a net increase in infintionary tenden- efforis et recovery, he declara; "The cles this year as compared with last great act of the United States in your. bringing into operation the European "It is clear that, despite the large recovery programme gives us and surplus of last year's budget, In- the Western European countries time, fiationary pressure has not decreased but time is the scarcest commodity to any marked extent. of all today, and we cannot affordi to waste,a moment of it.

Sir Stafford also warned of the danger

of Inflation. There

can be no doubt that during the last year, maby signs of inflationary pressure were to be observed."

EDITORIAL

"Therefore, Britain must secure an exceptionally large Budget sur- plus-big enough to yield a balance after all forms of Government ex- penditure have been met.

"I hope my proposals would prove sufficient without weighing unduly

"Key Money" Racketeers

FOR eleven

months

an. Or .dinance has been ta effect making "key; money" and Its kindred rackets relating to the letting and sub-letting of residen- tlal accommodation legal. When the clauses were introduced into the Bill consolidating and amend-

ninr. to law pertaining ing the law

the restriction of rents they were Freeted with

considerable dexres of public. satisfaction, although at the time editorial writers warned that to.

A

too

money"

outlaw was one thing, but to make, the ban effective quite another. The past year has aliown, only clearly,

that the "key racketeers have flaunted the regulations with scarcely any re prisals. Now today, the Telegraph discloses that what was, hitherto fartive and underground opera- tion, has developed into open da flunce of the law. Self-styled estate agents, anashamedly, ad.

business. vertising their

have sprung up and are offering vacant or shortly-to-be-vacated flats,

cubicles for

"Key

rooms

આવે

was no fear of prosecution be- cause no receipts would be "lued for any deal. We do not know whether these disclosures will in- tereni the authorities, but

certainly think they should, fact wo

to

|

heavy on the

taxpayers, but we must watch the situation and able to delect the moment when in- be flationary

vanishes

and gives place to deflation.

pressuro

"If such a thing happens, we must then make a rapid readjustment of our economic and financial policies." Sir Stafford announced that the total revenue for last year was £3,845 million-£346 million more than the revised Budget estimate of last October.

Of this, customs and excise duty produced £1,421 million—a surplus of £16 million over the estimate,

Beer and wines and spirits at £378 million showed surplus of £0 million.

"UNFORTUNATE” SÜRPLUS Tobacco too had "unfortunately" produced a surplus. Tobacco con-

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1948,

RUSH HOUR IN REDDER ST.

For

Rervations

el: 27880

Price 20 Cents

"Key Money" Racketeers Openly Defying

The rush hours in 'the city daily find vehicles and pedes- trinns i a tangle as each and all endeavour to make their way home Our staff photographer caught this typical scené yesterday at 5 o'clock with two lanes of traffic converging down Pedder Street and office workers threading their way through stationary cars at the Pedder Street-Queen's Road Intersection.

JEWS SLAY BRITISH

SOLDIERS

Four Lined Up Against Guard

Room Wall And Shot

The

Law

"REAL ESTATE AGENTS" WHO ADVERTISE

The "key money" racket which hitherto has been conducted in Hongkong surreptitiously, has now blossomed out into open defiance of the law.

A Telegraph reporter this week discovered four agencies in Kowloon brazenly advertising their willingness-to-obtain-living-accommodation on pay ment of commission from "key money."

Ironically, one of these establishments was set up in a street at the rear of the Mongkok police stalion, and another was located little more than a stone's throw from the same station.

The other two agencies are 10-figure of $20,000 was demanded for ented in the Yaumati district just out- a fat with a dining room, sitting side of the Mongkok-Yaumati boun- com and three bed rooms. This flat, dary.

situated in Austin Road, required a These "real estate agents adver- monthly rental of only $170. tise freely, sticking self-written pos SOME OTHER PRICES ters on pillars. electric, standards -For a flat" with one allting room" and vacant walls along Nathan Road. and one bedroom in Prince Edward Their business

would is further made Road, a prospective tenant known by large posters standing or have to pay $18,000 and $100 for hanging outside the shop-fronts, ent. Another ant, located in Hum- bearing many small strips of

was paper iphreys Avenue,

priced at containing scanty information con- $18,000 with a rental of $250, while cerning houses or flats, with their another in Nathan Road, near the for approximate location and layout that terry a four room flat-called are ready to be "taken over." Three $23.000 and a

monthly rental

at of these. establishments occupy the $200. entrances to houses along Nathan

A sum of $13,000 was Rond while ong has a more business for a flat in Konkow Road, the rent. like set up with an office partition of which was set at $120 a month," and two stained glass sign boards, and in Kimberley Road; $18,000 for

a four-roomed flat at $200 ront. MUMPLENTY OFFERING -

A quick count of the strips paper disclosed that there were

Ds

or to

demanded

was

rental

Olle dat in the congested area in Shanghai Street was offered for of $1,200 with a rental of $33. The

Ichance

ince of sharing a two or three | many as 40 houses, fints, half-a-rooms flat in Kilung Street

house, fixed-walled rooms and

who would be offered to anyone wooden-parillioned cubleles situated willing to pay $1.700 and a In various districts in Kowloon, of $25. either ready to be occupied

agent During the discussion, the be vacated within a week or 10 days disclosed that it was dificult to find upon settlement of key money, ellents to take over premises requir The exact location of any of these ing large amounts above $10,000.

Though there were on their pos premises the "agents" would not re-

safeguard their ters many flats to be had, there were veal, abylously to interest in the event of direct ap- Kew rooms or cubicles offering. This proach to the landlord or the present is due to the fact that rooms are in tenants. But the terms are divulged a very great demand because less willingly enough. One only has to money is required for the -tenancy. point at a strip of paper and ask For rooms and cubicles

only,

the Suba quarries, it was semi-officially"How much" and either the manager agents charge a sum equivalent to a reported here.

or his assistant will, name a price month's rent and are willing to re- that is far too high a figure to bo ¡duce the commission, if the rental is

Jerusalem, Apr. 6.-The commanding officer and five other ranks of the 12th Anti-Tank Regi- ment, Royal Artillery, were shot down and killed by Jews today as they were evacuating the Army camp of Padress Hannah, between Tel-Aviv and Haifa, proparatory to leaving Palestine. Seven others were wounded.

The Jews. disguised as British police and driving two police-type armoured cars and a saloon. çar. burst into the camp. where the soldiers were packing their kits and landing up evacuation lorries.

Racing wildly around the camp they blazed at the soldiers with

machine-guns.

The Jows also held, up u sentry and forced him into the guard room, where he and three other soldiers were lined up against a wall and killed by gunfire.

Indni

SHOT IN THE. BACK The soldiers in the guard were shot in the back, it was later learned.

t

JEWS FALL BACK The report said that the Arabs rental and too low to be a purchase nywhere near $200 a month.

He also states the rent. price.

Having gained the confidence of

had recaptured the Suba quarries, where over a 100 uniformed and steel helmeted Haganah

of the agents by saying that he had one men been entrenched.

had

many Shanghai friends who had plenty of gold bara to spend for fighting raged as the Jews accommodation, our Heavy

-reporter fell back on Castel village, which the Arabs were trying to isolate.

able to obtain some information about the way these agencles

A

high tower at the quarries was

blown up and some buildings were operate.

in flames as the Arabs and Jews battled with mortars and machino-. guns.

Although the battle

Was

10 PERCENT COMMISSION

sumption had not gone down as the and others made off with 02 riconthe main Jerusalem-Jaffa road, not so generous, was only

Government had hoped."

The excess over the estimate

10 Bren guns and four

the

The absence of rain is

now so serious that further" wator restrictions may have to bo introducod.

You have a duty to

Save Water

Attempt To Wreck Bollaert's Train

It was learned that besides was roging large sums demanded for taking at the side of the main Jeruzalem- over any premises, the prospective Other Jews held up the signals Tel-Aviv highway, military traffic on itenants must also pay an additional clerk und blew up the radio most. the highway Was not interfered ten percent on the key money to

with..

the agent as commission. There According to official reports, the Jews took up strategic positions In

The latest reports sald the Arabs, would be no fear of a prosecution, the camp, and sent streams of fire who had built up a cordon around he was assured, as there would be

Salgon, Apr. 6.---The French High Mount Castel, five miles west of no receipta issued in respect of any in all directions.

had linked up "their money transferred. This agent was Commissioner Emile Bollaert took During this firing, the commanding Jerusalem, officer and one soldier were killed, Sanks and were advancing uphill to willing to share the 10 percent with the place of the engine-driver of his anyone who would introduce busi- special train, on Tuesday, after attack Castel. thers wounded...

The police station at Belt Dajan, ness to him, while another, who was three bombs were taken from the The Jews

willing track. of 28 Sten guns, 18 £625 million had been £43 million, anti-tank rifles, and a quantity or/was attacked with mortar fire, but ito part with one-third of, hls com-

The bombs, one of which

a 210-millimeter shell, made from million for ammunition from the camp armoury, casualties or damage was re-mission.

ported.

The highest tea money on his list were found on the Hanoi-Haiphong Army Headquarters sald,

After four Arabs had been taken was for a fiat in Tak.Shing Street. lino just, before M. Bollaert's train... Опр of the cars used was an hostage by Jews at Petah Tikvah, These premises, comprising one sit- was due to pass. armourert personnel carrier believed cast of Tel-Aviv, today, Arabs counting or dining room and four other The train was halted while they stolen from a police station,

tered by seizing three Jews in Uving rooms, servants' quarters and were moved. CONVOY BREAKS BLOCKADE Jerusalem.

modern conveniences, were to be Then M. Bollaert drove the train The Arabs said the Jews would taken over for $33,000 plus 10 per- himself to the Halphong viaduct, he Breaking through the Arab blockade, Of this, nearly £2,000,000 came a lorge Jewish food convoy today be held until the fate of the Arabs cent ($3,300), for the agent. The rent was going to inspect--Associated from don race totalisators, and the reached the beleaguered Jewish was known-Reuter.

was stated to be $400 a month. The ¿Press: ~KA balance from football pools..

colony in Old Jerusalem, lifting the Income tax at 21.100 million was threat of rationing from the 100,000 £104 million up-again a reflection Jewish residents there.

wo

giving a total of £500 tobacco.

In

Deshoe in predecessor; Introduced to

The new duty on football and dog are mildly astonished they are unaware of them. It to be race betting, which came into effect presumed that the Police depart- In January, brought in nearly £3,- ment possess plain clothes detec 750,000, against the estimate of

£3,000,000. tives who

who can read Chinese, and onc would imagine that any of them, upon reading' the same advertisements as our reporter. would have fell justified in being funt as inquisitive about them. It

These commission agents are going to be allowed to operate in open dedance of the law, what possible "chance. Is there of stamping out the key money racket? Thess arents are just as strictly govern- ed by the ternu of the Ordinance Ph sny landlord

principal tenant, and if they are prepared

authorities to challenge the such an impudent `manner,”- the challenge should be accepted. Up to the present the police have complained that they are handi- capped in tracking down "key money"; racketeers, because the general publlo are not willing to come forward and supply them with evidence; this their illeral

Ume - the ofences are being blatantly.com- .the mitted on the doorstep of authorities and apprehension the offenders should be a, aimple maller. Tho. very least the poller can do is to make an effort to catch up with these illegal "real" estain" agents. Failure to do so Is exfentated to "stretch; pubilo. confidence to breaking point. V

con-

to

money" ranging from $1,500- to• $50,000 plus a' ten percent com- mission. Audacious and ndent, 'these arenia-make no si- tempt to cover up nellvitles, but go so far us display in front of their premises of vacant accommodation which can be had at a price. The Telegraph's investigator had ho dimtoutty in obtaining from these operators "key" money"." charges and rentals for half a dozen flats. sltasted in well known residential areas, with assurances that there

near

Jerusalem.

"Monty" And Sokolovsky Attend Secret

Berlin, Apr. 6.Behind the guarded walls of a Grunewald

Д

મ

Dinner Party In Berlin

recent model

American

Was

Arab.road blocks secrot dinner party at which.fr/ punctually at 7 p.m. GMT. car | excluded from the grounds of the

They Als-

of the Increased profits and earnings. It had got through after a six- and evidence of the

Inflationary day running fight along the Te- tendencies in the previous year. • Aviv'road', and its arrival was the Including the taxation of the Sup- signal for great rejoicing. At least plementary Budget which Dr. Hugh 10 of the 40 armoured vehicles in

the convoy were lost during heavy villa leading British and. Rus- inflationary tendencies, the Arab attacks when they attempted aian officials met today at

house, expected

1047-1048 to smash down surplus for would have totalled £918

Marshal During the day Field They entered the walled grounds Khulda 20 miles west of was believed atmined relations through a gate guarded by 12 mill-Montgomery conferred with General "Instead." Sir Stafford said, "the

BioT and with realised surplus has amounted to

Later, reliable Arab sources re-between the East and West in tory, police and were saluted at the Robertson and his twice that sun-036 million."

ported that a striking force of armed the administration of Germany door by Tour British soldiers stand-General: Luclus D. Clay, the Ameri Excluding the £22 million for the

Ing at attention. One of the guards can Miltary, Governor.

the Sinking Fund, which, for technical Haganah men attacked and captured might come up for clarification. jobs was to keep photographers and cussed general situation fit

the village of Khulda. The Arab reasons, appeared in the Buduct ex-

reporters out of the house and Germany and Berlin.

Robertson also made penditure of last year.

sources said there were only comh- the total

The host was General Sir Brian grounds.

he had demanded paratively low Arab, guards in the Robertson, British Military Gover expenditure showed an excess

the time..

Field Marshat Montgomery arrived put in writing. his, at only £0 million over lost April' village

110г, His guest of houpur was plane this morning from the that planes of the While the convoy was fighting is Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery, by estimate, or less than

an one-fifth of one per cent.

way throuth, several Haganah men Chief of the British Imperial General British zone, landing at Gatow alr, henceforth would not Dealing with the prospects for had seized the Arab village of Casiel, Staff and First British Military port in the British sector near the interferenco in

near Jerusalem, as part of the Governor here, who is on a visit to scene of yesterday's crash. the Chancellor, said that existing basis of taxation, he manoeuvre to break the blockade, Harlin. Their Rurston guests were Ho denied that his dining - with estimated expenditure

£2,070 while British troops blew up the Marshal Vassily at

D. Sokolovsky, Sokolovsky had special significance. million-£205 million less than last ArabTM road blocks.

Soviet Military Governor and April's estimate and 2233 million. Today, however, Astrong Arab Deputy, Llout den, M. I. Dentvin.xplaining that they were very old

riends." less than the actual expenditure last force developed a deformined counter Behind a Jeep load of British year

Attack on the Haganah forces occup military police the Russians drove The press was barred from the to Berlin, be discussed in a full, four ying the village and the nearby up to General Robertson's House ja dinner and photographers even were I power meeting —-Associated Press. |

of.

thin

on the

(Continued on Page 8)

of

1

known that that Sokolovsky oral, assurances Western Allies

encounter

any. the air corridors Western

2ortes.

Inking Berlin with the

The British also were still awaiting

Soviet restrictions... announced on. reply to their proposal that the

March 31 on land passenger: traffic,