March 30, 1908.]
THE SHANGHAI GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
ANNUAL MEETING.
1.
The annual general meeting of this Chamber was held at Shanghai on March 16th. There were present Mr. W. D. Little (Chairman) and representatives of Messrs. Scott, Harding & Co, Olivier & Co., North-China Herald," Char- tered Bank, Dodwell & Co., Gibh, Livingston & Co., Melchers & Co, Reiss & Co, Wisner & Co., Siemesen & Co., R. Haworth & Sons Jardine, Matheson & Co., and Butterfield & Swire.
The notice convening the meeting was read by the Secretary.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT
SHANGHAI RATEPAYERS'
MEETING.
The annual meeting of the ratepayers of Shanghai, on March 20th, was attended by 137 ratepayers, an advance of sixtoon per cont. over any previons attendance. This increase was apparently due to interest in opium regals- tions within the Settlement.
The Chief Justice, Sir Iavilland de Sus marez, presided. and told the meeting that although the Council's Financial Statement had not been published for as long a period prior to that meeting as the Regulations called for, the proceedings of the meeting would not be invalid, if they agreed to go on without adjournment.-No adjournment was demanded. Mr. Landale, Chairman of the Municipal Council, then explained various items of the accounts. Defence and police had been better provided for. Owing to the abolition of corporal punishment, the jail accommodation had to be increased. Within the Settlement the Health Department worked well, but its success was spoiled by neglect outside. The extension of the Settlement had helped to improve this state of things. On public music Tls. 40,000 were spent. This had been much criticised, but he thought it well spent. Public Works went on well, and this year there was large extraordinary expenditure un- der that head, bridges and tramways being the chief items. There was a surplus (ordinary) of Tls. 372,000, but altogether a deficit to carry forwarded of Tls. 202,000. Bridges had cost. more than was expected, and Tis. 44,00 in excess of the appropriation had been spent on now roads
It
The Chairman-Gentlemen, the report and accounts have been in your hands for some time, and with your permission we will take them as read.
We have to thank Mr. Beswick for auditing the accounts. The membership is the same as on December 31, 1906, namely 136. The Conservancy of the Huangpu progresSES, and although recently subjected to some criticism will, I venture to believe, continue to develop satisfactorily. Currency reform and Trade Marks Regulations continue to form the subject of discussion, but would seem to remain far from attainment. The imitation by the Japanese of well known trade marks and the defects of the Japaneso registration laws have been the subject of some correspondence and will doubtless have the earnest attention of the incoming Committee. A recent Reuter's telegram stated that it was understood in London that an agreement would shortly be concluded with Japan for the protection of The Rov. II. V. S. Myers said the delay in British trade marks. We await with interest publishing the financial report was unquestion soms further advices on the subject. At the ahly avoidable. It was only another instance of last annual meeting your Chairman closed his official indifference to duty. As it was, it remarks with the observation that the year 16 produced in his mind an impression of ex- had not been remarkable for any particular travagance. The estimates for 1907 were incident, but the depression in piece goods and
generous and liberal, vet the Council shipping had been marked and the general bad exceeded them by Tls, 67,000), and only by result dull. The main featurs of 19. 7 has been reductions on Police, Public Works, and the severe losses in import and export. The Fire Brigade had they avoided a further exce!% current year shows improvement in pro- of Tls. 46,000, or Tls. 113000 in all. This was spects in ROMO directions. tocks of unwarranted, and should not have been made staples, articles of import have been reduced, without the sanction of the ratepayers. but in all kinds of fancies stocks are still seemed they did not alect servants, but masters, excessive. The credit system inaugurated in who ignored their desires and did as they pleased recent years at a great northern port, which (murmars and applaus) The Secretariat had formerly drew its supplies largely from Shang-got Tl. 21.000 in excess, and yet it could not hai, seems likely to be abandoned. Before I produce the statement in time. Beginning with put the formal resolutions I shall be glad, as à deficit of Tls. 13,0 0, the Council endel far as I am able, to answer any questions with a deficit of Ts. 201,00 What would regarding the report and accounts.
they do next year? (Applause). concluded: Why is the stock and stores. account allowed to exceed the estimato by 'Tls. 33,000? Were these stores so neces«afy that they could not wait until the ratepayeru had a chance to pass upon any such item as that, after having allowed a large margin for such purchases? Another question I should like to ask is, who supplied these stores, and what percentage of profit was there upon them? Into whosa pocket did the profit go. (Hisgov.) I would like to add : who got the cort-set for the cement? I don't know, neither do I think that any man under the sun, except the Council and the man who got it, knows. (Laughter.) I would like to ask where did that Tis. 14,001 go for advertising and printing? I am quite sure that if I were running a paper and rec ired Tle. 19,600 for advertising. I would be Cary loath to criticiz, the Council. (Applause). There is an excess of Tls. 21,00 for the Secretariat and yet we have no rules of or ter on the floor. Probably that is one of the items of economy on the part of the Council. Now, Mr. Chairman, Ladi-a and Gentlemen, we may well ask in view of those excesses whether the new Council, which
There being no questions the Chairman proposed, Mr. J. N. Jameson seconded, and it was carried unanimously that the report and accounts as presented, be accept d and passed.
The Chairman said that the next business was the election of a Committee for the current year. Twelve members had signified their willingness to serre, but he would be glad to receive any further names.
No further names were put forward, so Mr. Valentine propos d, Mr. Theis seconded, and it was carried unanimously that Messrs. F. Anderson, R. Brasier de Thoy, J. N. Jameson, H. R. Kinnear, D. Landale W. D. Little, A. M. Marshall, C. Michelan, G, Miller, J. Stern, 0. Struckmeyer and A. Wright be elected as Committee for 1908.
The Chairman then mentioned that at the last annual meeting it had been proposed from the Chair that the Secretary should be instruct- ed to collect Tls. 20 subscription from members for the year. The subscription was really Tls. 30, but Tls. 20 had been found sufficient for requirements last year. With the mem. bers' permission he would propose a similar resolution now, Last year the reduction in subscription had not resulted in any increase of membership. This year they had already got five new members.
|
The Chairman then proposed, Mr. Michelsu seconded, and it was carried unanimously: that the Secretary be instructed to collect Tls. 201 instead of Tls. 30 as the subscription by members in the coming year.
This concluded the business and the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the
outgoing Committee, proposed by Mr. G. Maller, and seconded by Mr. H. R. Kinnear.
The speaker
substantially the old Council, will consider that it is bound by this, or by the estimates any more than it was bound last year by the estimates, or shall we expect that at the end of the next year we shall carry forward another large debt? It seems to me that it is time for the ratepayers to instruct the Council ant to exceed the estimates, but that their experitare shall use pablic money as though it were publis be kept within the proper limit and that they
and that they should realiz, that when
money,
215
is a good deal of evidence in this report of gross incompetence or gross-negligence. (Applause.
Mr. H. D. Hatobison said only Tis. 10,000 out of T's, 32,000 voted for drains had been spent. Where was the balance? Under the heading of P. W. D. axlariés ?
Mr. Landale explained that the money spent- on stocks and stores was an investment. They had to utilise the best opportunities for baging, ahead of actual requirements. Tenders were publicly invited and results fully published. Custom had been fairly evenly divided amongst local printers. The surplus under the heading of drains had not been spent at all. (Applause.) They would have to spend more this year.
The statement was passed.
Mr. Landale then moved that the Council have power to arrange and revise assessments at any necessary time, with the usual provisions for appealing. No drastic changes were intended, but there had been cases where the Council should have had such power.
The resolution was carried, only three or four dissenting.
ex-
Mr. Landale then moved that the number of licensed opium houses be reduced by one quarter from July 1st 1903, or earlier, as might scem advisable. They wished to keep pace with, and even be in advance of, Chinese reform without demoralizing their arrange- ments. Shanghai had been used as an poriment in the abolition of corporal punish- mont, with bad results, and without Chins following. They did not want China to use them in an anti-abium experiment in the same After the proposed reduction, they would watch China, and act accordingly with further reductions.
way.
Mr. E. 3. Little mored an amendment, that all licensed opium houses be closed on or before the end of 1909, Three of the greatest and most powerful nations in the world, representing three continents, were waiting for this decision of the Shanghai ratepayers. (Rt!" and laughter) Cries of Rubbish!' and more laughter, greeted a rapetition of the statement. They had China's solemu pledge to abolish opium, and wo derful progress had been made. They must not lag beliind, China was sincere this time. He submitted four appeals from anti-opium petitioners.
The amendment was seconded, and supported, by rarions missionaries and others, and lost. The original reg lation boing carried, many people left the meeting.
The Budget was afterwards passed, calling for Tls. 000, and Tls. 621,000 for extra- or linary purpose, the latter indicative of the growth of the Settlement.
FROM
MACAO.
OUR CORRESPONDENT }
A SENSATION,
March 25th.
The Court yesterday issued a warrant for the arrest of cartin prominent Chinose merchanta, but the polica have so far failed to execute the warrant. The merchants are said to be part- ners in some of the leading Chinese banks as well as in
many of the monopolies lonsod by the Government. The issue of the warrants ap- pears to be in connection with the failure of the Chines - Bank "Tay- V»,"
A PORTUGUESS MURDER CASE.
Torres, shit a girl named Placé and then shot On Friday 18, a police sergeant named himself in the girl's room.
The murdered girl
is described as of " bad reputation."
A. FOG SIONAL.
A bell has been fixed on the walls below the San Francisco Fort to be sounded in foggy weather as a warning to shipping pissing at this point.
LOCAL PATRIOTISM !
A petition has been presented to the Govern- ment by some of the younger residents of the Colony asking for the formation of a military
corps of Macanese, for the assistance of the garrison in case of need. But where are the men and boys to form such a corps?
Wo
they are spending it, and when they are using haven't enough of them in Micao to make a it, they are discharging a public trust, Thoro respectable show.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.