When a builder was charged at Feltham, Middlesex, with being drunk in charge of a motor-car, it was stated that he was asked' answer the following questions to test his sobricty:—What is your occupation? Do you know the di trict well? How far is it from Hounslow to Stanwell? Draw plans of the Staines Road from Hounslow to where it intersects the Great West Road, giving the position of the turnings on each side of the position where you are now. 'What did you do in the afternoon? Any celebrations? Draw plans of the house you say you sold in the afternoon, and draw a section of the roof.' Draw a plot of ground with 55° foot of frontage and 4 chains deep. Put a house in the lo, and show what margin you have but, according to a valuation ma in 1922, previous to the outbreak of the anti-foreign agitations in China, the worth of the reversionary terest in the land and buildings held under leases with an unexpired term of approximately 30 years was £730,000; at a later date it was anticipated that these rev nary interests might have realized about £400,000.
The position in China, renders it impossible to proceed with the scheme for the sale of these interests without guarantees. of tenure, which would be wholly inconsistent with the policy of His Majesty'
Government. The land was acquired under perpetual lease from the Chinese Government, to whom a fixed ground rent continues to be paid, and concurrently by purchase from the actual Chinese owners. The concession areas a situated at Tientsin, Hankow, Kiu-Kiang, Chinkiang, " Amoy, ind Canton; they consist of a total of 232 acres, divided into 234 lots. These properties are chiefly in British but partly in other hands. They are to be transferred to the present lot-holders without payment and unconditionally, except for the proviso that the lot-holders shal any expenses arising from the assignments, As regards future ownership have no reason to ant pate likely to be detrimental, interests, but I must remind the Hon, and Gallant Members that is the policy of His Majesty's Government to relax rather than to control in the areas. Other foreign Powers had immediately transferred the petual leases to their respective lot-holders; and in no other ca foreign Government ground-landlord of any jar area in Chinese territory.
Market Value Practically Nil Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy Do T understand that we are getting no return from these tenants for the giving up of Crown property worth able value which we could sell in the present circumstances, but, of course, it has a value'to the lot-holders,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.