200
JAPANESE SHIPPING SUBSIDIES.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND A
Government's programme with regard to shipping subsidies, says the Japan Mail, seems to be abolition of the present navigation encourage. ment and of the system of subsidies to ordered | services and the replacement of both by an ocean lines subsidies law. By "ocean lines" are meant lines to Europe, to North America, to South America and to Australia. Further, it is proposed to change the conditions of eligibility for subsidy. At present the mini- mum qualifications are 1,000 tons gross and 10 knots speed. The new qualifications will be 3,000 tons and 12 knots. Further, under the present system, the Navigation Encouragement Law grants 25 sen to a qualified ship for every 1,000 nautical miles traversed, with a pro rata increase for every added knot of speed; whereas the new law will give a maximum of 50 sen for every' 1,000 miles traversed, and will grant a maximum increase of 10 per cent. for each additional knot, such subsidy to be reduced by 5 per cent, annually after 5 years. Moreover, it is proposed to distinguish between the different lines according to their circumstances, granting a smaller sum in the case of prosperous lines. The calculation is that the result of these changes will be to reduce the total of the present subsidy from 10 to 15 per cent. This will involve the following losses of subsidy
Yusen Kaisha
HONGKONG TRAMWAYS.
*
The Bangkok Times says:-"Their many Bangkok friends will be glad to hear that Mr. and Mrs. J. Stodart Kennedy are on their way East again. They left London last month for Hongkong, stopping in Paris and Cairo on the way. Hongkong will be reached about the middle of next month. Mr. todart Kennedy has been appointed manager of the tramway system in Hong-kong."
Mr. Gray Scott, who has filled this position for the last
five years, leaves for England next month. It is due to Mr. Gray Scott to say that his management of the tramway system has reflected the highest credit upon himself, and the Colony, we think, is entitled to congratulate itself upon having a tram service which has been worked from its inception with greater satisfaction than any system yet established in the Far East.
SHANGHAI TRADE.
Messrs. Ilbert and Co. of Shanghai in their latest Piece Goods Market Report state :-
Business continues very quiet, dealers not being disposed to enter into new contracts of any magnitude in any of the main staples of the trade. About 2,000 packages of goods and yarn have been shipped for Tientsin, but Chinese report that the steamers are delayed at Chefoo as the Peiho has frozen again. The first ship- ments to the North are no longer a criterion of demand, as throughout the winter goods are sent The subsidies remaining after the above from here via Chang-wan-tao at the same rate
Toyo Kisen Kaisha...
Total
reductions will be:
*
YUSEN KAISHA.
European Line
North-American Line
Australian Line
Yen. 540,000
150,000
690,000
Total
TOYO KISEN KAISHA.
North-American Line -South-American Line
Yen. 2,600,000 600,000 400,000
3,600,000
1,000,000 1,200,000
2,200,000
5,800,000
Total
Grand Total
Those figures are independent of the Ship- building Encouragement Law which will be subsequently reformed, though it may be noted here that naturally the above changes will affect that Law also, since builders will have less temptation to construct vessels under 3,000 tons. The only feature of the above programme that seems obviously open to criticism is the provision that the subsidy is to vary according to the prosperity of the line concerned. Such an arrangement not only opens the door to official favouritism but also presents a premium to perfunctoriness. If a steamer's owners know that by offering constantly improved facilities to the travelling and shipping public, the addi- tional patronage thus secured is to be set off by a loss of subsidy, they will naturally be indis- posed to show zeal and enterprise. It should be added that the laws which will be thus altered have been in operation for 12 years.
As to the Shipbuilding Encouragement Law, the idea is to revise it so that no money shall be granted to any vessel of less than 1,000 tons gross-the present figure is 700 tons and that instead of distinguishing between vessels of from 700 to 1,000 tons for each ton of which
olass the present Law allows 12 yen-and vessels of and over 1,000 tons-for each ton of which the Law allows 20 yen-, a general provision shall be made, empowering the Authorities to grant from 11 to 92 yen according to their judgment. The amended Building Encourage. ment Law is to go into operation on and after January 1st, 1910, and will remain in force for
10 years.
This system of conferring dis oretionary power on the Authorities is of doubtful advantage, and will probably give rise to much debate in the Diet.
The return of the number of cases of com- municable disease in the Colony during the week ended the 27th ult. shows 4 cases of plague (3 fatal), 1 fatal case of diphtheria (Chinese), 2 cases of enteric fever, not fatal, and 3 imported cases of small pox, the patients being Indians. All, excepting the case of diphtheria, occurred in districts other than the City of Victoria.
of freight as direct shipments by steamer It is to be hoped that trade with Tientsin will be resumed on the old basis this season, as after the unfortunate out-turn of
much of the direct trade, it is unlikely that it will be continued on a large scale. It is difficult to account for the changes in the China trade, as it is not easy to obtain reliable inform- stion about the condition of affairs in the
interior, but there seems little doubt that the trade in American Sheetings, for many years one of the principal staples of the Northern trade, is not an expanding one. Deliveries for last 4 years are as follows:-
1905
1906
1907 1908
"
5,481,890 pieces 2,869,330 2,546,067 1,963,782
12
American prices are high compared with the level of other producing centres, and not im- probably the development of cotton spinning in China has had an adverse effect on this branch of the trade; most of the Chinese yarns are low counts, from which stout and durable native cloth is made. Deliveries of goods generally are going on in a fairly satisfactory way but there are still much heavier stocks than is desirable in the interests of trade.
THE RESIDENCY-GENERAL IN KOREA.
SEARCHING QUESTIONS IN THE DIET. Mr. Otake Kwamehi, a Yushinkwai member in the Lower House, has given notice to put the following questions to the Government:-
(1) What is the fundamental policy of the Residency-General in the administration of the protectorate of Korea ?
(2) Owing to the lack of control, local ad- ministration in Korea is in an extremely de- moralised condition. What course does the Residency-General intend to take to remedy the situation ?
(3) Prince Ito, the Resident-General, appar- ently considers it a pressing need in the reformation of Korea to cause ill-digested laws and ordinances which are unsuited to present conditions to be issued in order to give a varnish of civilisation to Korea. What is the result of this policy?
(4) The discipline of the Japanese officials in Korea is said to have become extremely lax. Is it possible in this way for them to become medels
for the Korean official?
(5) There are reports that the authorities of the Residency-General have been buying up or menacing journalists or newspaper correspon- dents in Korea, and restricting the freedom of speech or writing so as to hide the true state of affairs in Korea. Is there any truth in this ?- Japan Chronicle.
[March 6, 1909.
FAR EASTERN TELEGRAMS.
THE STRAITS OPIUM FARM.
RECEIVER IN CHARGE.
Singapore, March 2nd. The Government of the Straits Settlements has put a receiver in charge of the Opium Farm owing to the Farmers being in arrear with the payments to the Government.
The Farmers say that the Government policy is preventing the sale of the drug by the Chinese brokers, and this combined with the activity of the Anti-opiumists has destroyed profits of the Farm.
The arrears amount to $425,000, Straits Currency, being part of the rent for January and the whole of the rent for February.
JAPAN'S CONGRATULATIONS.
Tokyo, March 4th. On the occasion of the inauguration of the new President of the United States con- gratulatory messages were sent to Mr. Taft by the Emperor, Marquis Ito, and Count Katsura.
[FROM THE "CHUNG NGO SAN PO."]
THE CHINESE NAVY.
Peking, March 2nd. Prince Su proposes the reform of the Chinese Navy and establishment of two Naval Colleges, one in Peking and the other in Nanking. He also proposes that officials (P foreign officers) shoud be engaged as adivsers.
His Highness also proposes improvements to the dock at Foochow.
These suggestions will be embodied in a memorial to the Throne.
Peking, March 3rd. In ano her memorial Prince Su requests that the Viceroys and Governors of the different provinces should be granted the title of Vice- · Prusidents of the Admiralty, and should have poeer to control the Navy.
THE REVOLUTIONARY
MOVEMENT.
Peking, March 2nd.
the The Wai-wu-pu has telegraphed to Provincial Viceroys warning them that trouble is feared from the operations of Dr. Sun Yat Sen and others now in Japan who are said to be plotting some scheme for creating a disturbance
in China.
THE CHIENTAO AFFAIR.
Peking, March 2nd. The Japanese Minister at Peking has withdrawn his recent admission that Chientao is Chinese territory.
WEI-HAI-WEI.
Peking, March 3rd. Prince Su has memorialised the Throne asking that the Board of Foreign Affairs should be instructed to negotiate with the British Minister, Sir John Jordan, for the redemption of Weihaiwei.
successful, this port could be utilised as a In the event of the negotiations being
Chinese naval station,
The German cruiser Leipzig was paying a visit to Manila last week. The Fuerst Bismarck was also there. The famous Band of this cruiser
gave a concert on the 25th alt. at the Grand Opera house.
The Jubilee of the French occupation of Cochin- China was celebrated at Saigon on the 17th ult. All the troops of the garrison paraded in front of the statue to the Admiral Regault-de- Genouilly at 6 am. At seven o'clock the. Governor-General, and the Lieutenant Governor arrived. The King of Luong Prabang, the governors of the province and the members of the various Councils were also present, and from the tribune witnessed a review of the troops. The Band played the "Marseillaise," and the guns thundered their salutes,
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.