r
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Pay
October 16, 1909.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. among them the providing of all the infantry may be fixed by such regulation." This regiments with six "mitralleuses," and they section would operate, of course, against the have also introduced regulations for the in- private importer-the clubs, messes, &c., fantry, which will greatly increase its effi- who pay no other licence fee to the Govern ciency. One element which is likely to incr- ment. That being so
the trade view ease the warlike power of Japan is set forth this section with much satisfaction, and with great clearness by General NEGRIER. consequently are not a little astonished and He says that it is impossible to ignore that alarmed by the Government's intention to the war in China in 1900 was a serious blow repeal it. Surely the reasons for this im- to the prestige of foreign troops. When the portant change should have found a place Powers found their representatives impris- in the Memorandum " attached to the oned in the Legations at Peking, and on Bill. It has been represented to us that the point of being massacred, and sent forces owing to the stress of competition the wine to their aid, the first to arrive were the and spirit merchants are not fully recouping Japanese, and the result of their intervention from the consumer the additional expenses was altogether unforeseen. Close contact put upon them by the new Ordinance; they with European troops diminished their respect have merely added to previous retail prices for them, and they observed that they were the actual amount of the tax, and are thein- much slower than themselves in rushing selves bearing the very considerable expense forward, and concluded that they thus disconnected with the bonded warehouse played less energy and valour. Whether arrangements. One local merchant informs such a conclusion was right or wrong, it us that a conservative estimate of these was certainly an unfortunate one, from a costs in his case would be two thousand European point of view, to be arrived at seeing how great a part our prestige has always played in the East. The General goes on to point out that the old spirit of loyalty and discipline which is embodied in the Bushido has by no means ceased to exist in Japan, and that in point of fact it is that spirit which actually animates its forces, and would be found in full vigour should occasion for its display again arise. A hint is given that the Japanese may not have forgotten the humiliation which they suffered from the European intervention after their last war with China, which interference deprived them of the fruits of victory; and that they may be preparing to resent it. This is not an unnatural idea, on the part especially of a military writer-but fortunately there are many considerations which leave room to conclude that Japan is little likely to come into conflict either with America Or with any European Power, if she can avoid doing so. What is more likely to be in the minds of the Japanese is simply the necessity of putting themselves in a position not to be dictated to again; and in this they will certainly succeed. Their real difficulties are, of course, likely to arise in connection with China, but even in this direction they have| not shown an unwillingness to listen to rea- son; and in our opinion it would take a great deal to bring about another Chino- Japanese war. No doubt Japan intends to have a dominant position, but it does not follow that she will unduly use it.
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PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF THE LIQUOR LAW.
(Daily Press, October 15th.) No sooner was the Ordinance imposing a tax on intoxicating liquors passed than the discovery was made that it needed further amendment, and a short Bill has been pre- pared for that purpose. As usual, there is a Memorandum" by the Attorney-General attached to the Bill explaining the objects of the two urgent amendments, but no reason whatever is offered for the repeal of Section 9 of the principal Ordinance, which licence holders had regarded as an important and very necessary section. It provides that no removal permit shall be issued to any person who does not hold a licence which entitles him to deal in the liquors covered by the permit. The Regulations to be made by the Governor-in-Council under the recent Ordinance were intended to give power to the Superintendent to grant licences in certain cases, and it was enacted that the fee for this licence "shall be such sum not exceeding one hundred dollars as
dollars per annum. Hence there is a strong feeling that those who heavy licence fees for the right to deal in liquors may reasonably ask the Gov- ernment to give them the fullest protec- tion against private importers, whose numbers under existing circumstances, may be expected to grow if they are relieved of the obligation to take out the licence contemplat ed in Section 9 of the new Ordinance. An explanation of the proposal to repeal this section would therefore be of interest to a considerable number of people in the Colony.
RANDOM REFLECTIONS.
Now that the summer of our discontent is The blood has a tingle as it courses through our over, we are beginning to feel the joy of life. veins these mornings, and we wake up feeling the benefit of a cool and refreshing sleep. Summer has its pleasures, no doubt, but for sheer pleasure of living give me winter with its crisp days and its atmosphere as exhilarating as good wine.
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The event of the week was, of course, the Bud- eclipsed his previous best performance by a get speech, when His Excellency the Governor
column or two. Nine columns of solid oratory! It is enough to make any man cease. his sub- scription.
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It is curious to note that although most of the newspapers agreed that the speech was very lengthy one journal is of the opinion that it was not quite long enough, or rather that he didn't say the things that he ought to have said. It's too bad to charge the Governor with sins of omission as well.
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Whether it was the merry compositor that was responsible or not, I can't say, but I noticed one newspaper referred to the military contribution as the mail contract, and another euphemistically brought the gaol under the
category of charitable institutions.
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Most people have ideas about the subsidiary coinage question, and of course it helps us to understand the true inwardness of the saying that in the multitude of councillors there is confusion of thought. The attitude of the protagonists in the coinage campaign would Governor standing by to see which of the emerge victorious is a safe one, but in the circumstances he cannot be blamed. Until those who complain know what they want or agree to what is desirable it is hopeless for the Government to attempt to interfere. They can only sit tight and await developments.
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While the community is reflecting on the Subsidiary Coinage Question, let s take ua long view and reflect on the difficulties to be encoun.
tered on the jointly administered Kowloon Cauton railway. Will this railway department of the Government refuse Canton currency when tendered for tickets at this end, just as they do
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when it is tendered for stamps at the Post Office? Or will the Chinese authorities agree to put up the fare to cover Hongkong's loss on exchange? Eh? An interesting question to be sure.
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While the Retrenchment Committee were so busy recommending economies in every depart- ment which did not concern themselves, it might have been extended. struck me that the scope of their reference I noticed that His Excellency approved of the proposition to rebuild two of the government pavilions on the Peak used by the higher officials. Why these officials should have such a concession I have fall sick they are ordered off to Japan and if never been able to understand. If they should they struggle through their four or five years' service they enjoy a long furlough at home drawing sufficient of their salary to make their holiday the success that a liberal allowance ensures.
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The villas for the lower class of civil servants represent money well spent, but why the Govern ment establishments on the Peak should not be made lucrative in the winter is what I have failed to understand. It seems to me that in- placed officials, who are well able to pay for house stead of allowing one or other of the higher rent, to live in one or other of those pavilions through the winter rent free, the Government should charge a rent for them, as they are entitled to do, and obtain a fair proportion of the interest expended on the capital. For in- stance, the four places I have mentioned could be let for at least $50 a month each, plus the usual charge for the use of the furniture. There
you have $200 a month, or $1,200 in six months.
the Retrenchment Committee, but as they are This may not have come within the purview of
charged with effecting economies wherever possible they might give the subject their attention.
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There are certain features in the draft estimates which give us furiously to think was the original estimate of the Law Courts For instance, we see that the $400,000 which has become $796,200 in the revised estimate, while the original estimate of $500,000 for the
construction of the Post Office has been
practically doubled, being now $930,000. We have had an explanation of the remarkable increase of the cost of the railway over the original estimate. Why should there not be some explanation of these big differences ?
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We are often told that the road to a certain place is paved with good intentions, but what brings the subject to my mind at present is the request of some people in Manila to the Muni cipal Board to repair certain roads, and they promise that the good folks will requite their kindness by saying three Santa Marias a day for one month for their benefactors. I am afraid the Board will want something more substantial than prayers before undertaking such a work.
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:
A smelling competition was one of the attrac- tions provided at the Y.M.C.A. social on Saturday night. Competitors had to guess the coutouts of thirteen bottles by merely holding them to their
noses, and I believe all sorts of violent odours assailed the olfactory nerves of those who essayed to win the prize. It has cccurred to ine that such a test would not be a bad one to apply to Sanitary inspectors, and I commend the idea to the Department.
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Office trucks be allowed to stand practically in Fair play is a jewel. Why should Post the middle of Pedder Street for the greater part of the day, causing an obstruction, while if
they would be promptly summoned Have the tradespeople were responsible for the same any police received orders to discriminate in the
matter? I know it would be a horrible bore for the Postmaster-General, who is also Colonial Treasurer, to attend at the Magistracy, and pay a fine.s Postmaster-General he might object,
but as Colonial Treasurer he could not cavil at
the Treasury receiving even the five dollars which the indulgent magistrate might mention as the minimum penalty.
RODERICK RANDOM,
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