The following correspondence has been handed to us for publication Chinkiang Chamber of Commerce, 9th June, 1896.
Srt,—In response to a letter from H.M. Acting Consul desiring that information and suggestions regarding British Trade be submitted to you, I have the honour to send herewith a short report by the Committee dealing with subjects which are considered of sufficient importance to bring to your notice.
In reference to the specific points raised in connection with the late war I am only able to say that British trade appeared to be in no way affected by it, and as to the consequences the publication of the new Commercial Treaty must be awaited before in opinion can be expressed.
Thave the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, E. Starkey, Chairman. Byron Brenan, Esq., C.M.G., HIM. Consular Service in China.
Regulations for navigation and trade upon the river' Yangtze.—It_ is submitted that precautions necessary 30 years ago are no longer called for, and relief is sought in regard to certain rules by amendment or modification.
Art, IE (revised regulations) provides that sea-going vessels proceeding further than Chinkiang must be provided witn a certificate described as the Chinkiang Pass without which such vessels are liable to confiscation. This pass, it is contended, is no longer a necessity and shipping interests should be delivered from the serious delays andinconveniercesarising therefrom. Representations have from time to time veen made to H.M. Consul on the subject of annulling the provisions of this article, and during last year following on the incident of a Russian steamer from Hankow proceeding to sea without her papers in consequence of some arbitrary proceedings on the part of the Custom House at this port, Sir Nicholas O'Conor was in communication with the Inspector-General with a view to the rule being modified. Sir Robert Hart proposed that a supplemental regulation be incorporated in Art. 10, whereby lange seagoing, steamers proceeding to Hankow to load teas might as an alternative to taking up and delivering the Chinkiang Pass at that port receive and deliver it at Woosung, and this practice is being observed. It' must be manifest however, that dealing with the subject in this manner does not satisfactorily solve the difficulty seeing that only a very trifling percentage of the vessels proceeding above Chinkiang derive any benefit, and those chiefly of the Russian flag. No redress was proposed in connection with the large amount of tonnage, principally British, Tonding at Wuhu to which detention is immensely more serious than to vessels loading teas at Hankow, to accomplish which there is usually plenty of time.
Itis submitted that the rule in question, which is obsolete and of no practical use, should be annulled, and that vessels proceeding up the Yangtze should be permitted simply to enter and clear at their port of destination.
Art, V. Clause 2 provides that where import cargo is transhipped on board a river steamer at Shanghai it must first be cleared of all duties. "It cannot seriously be contended that there remains any necessity for keeping this rule in force. The port of destination is naturally the place where duties should be paid, and it is also a disadvantage that valuable cargo should necessarily be subject to examination en route when the consignee cannot be present. That Agents of steamers should be called upon in Shanghai to advance the duties on the cargo carried is a distinct hardship and it is submitted that every facility should be given to render the conveyance of merchandise simple and easy. With every prospect of a considerable increase in the importation of British manufactured goods into the valley of the Yangtze, it is important that this matter should receive earnest consideration.
Inland. Navigation.—Free right to traverse inland waters with steam power for the purpose of trade will at no distant date be of great advantage and it is suggested that the restrictions in this connection should be modified or annulled.
Purchase of land by foreigners.—British subjects meet with almost insurmountable difficulties in their endeavour to acquire Ind. In cases where owners have been nite willing to sell the officials have inter-ered threatening punishment and imprisonment, Near the Wuchoushan bun-glow, some seven miles from Chinkiang, a stone tablet was erected some years og and it is still standing, proclaiming at the instance of the Chinkiang magistrate that the people must not sell land to foreigners. In view of the continued growth of this port and the increased necessity for foreigners finding residences on the hills adjoining it is essential that official interference in the legitimate acquirement of Innd should be firmly dealt with.
Foreign Merchandise provided with transit certyicote.—It is claimed that the Transit pass system has flourished more successfully in Chinkiang than in any other port in China, Inaugurated nearly years ago the trade has steadily prog till in 1895 the Customs returns show that almost one-third of the entire collection under this heading was made at Chinkiang. That the port will continue to be a very large distributing centre is undoubted. Daring the first nine or ten years, between 1868 and 1878, the transit certificate appears to have been very generally respected, but subsequently, illegal demands at various barriers in this and adjacent provinces commenced to be made, and these, in order to avoid detention, have usually been paid. In flagrant cases, however, on the representation of H.M. Consul, the Taotai has intervened and procured the release of goods detained, but it is apparent that the power of this official is necessarily limited, and appeals to the Viceroy are fruitless. ' It is contended that the squeezes are paid to ensure a speedy examination and passage of the boats, and herein appears to lie the chief difficulty, as obstruction and delay in this connection would be serious. On the hole it isnot apparent that the exactions have any marked effect on trade but this surmise might be an erroneous one. In dealing with this subject the importance of the announcement that H.E. chang will endeavour, while visiting the Courts of Treaty Powers, to obtain an increase of from five to eight per cent aid valorem, of the import duties levied on foreign goods in China must be kept in view. While it may not be unreasonable to sock some increase in duties, writees should be forthcoming that the subject of illegal charges should be once and for all time finally settled, and not alone in certain ravinees, but throughout the Empire. Without such guarantees, and of a very reliable character, experience teaches that the results would be disastrous, and to British trade in particular. Having regard to the fact that the system of squeezing is so very general, it is probably unnecessary to particularise certain articles, but reference to returns will show that yarns, shirtings, and other piece-goods form a prominent feature in the transit trade. In the case of brought from the interior under certificate the charges exacted are somewhat higher and such goods as hides, goat's hair, and straw braid may be mentioned.
Consuler representation.—This matter indirectly bearing on British trade is approached by the Committee with some diffidence, Tt must nevertheless be apparent tha: the subject is an important one. The Committee fully recognise the difficulties that H.M. Minister has to encounter, and would merely confine itself to suggesting, with all respect, that Titular Consuls should be permitted, when possible, to remain in their posts undisturbed, as thus they can acquire practical and intimate knowledge of local trade and the advancement of British interests be promoted.
The Committee of the Chinkiang Chamber of Commerce.
E, Starkey, A EH. Aries Me Member of Commitice.
F. GRecsox, Hon. Secretary.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.