Mnoffensivée Men Arrested Whil ile at Work and Imprisoned on) a Licence Technicality Fuom 4 Connesroxoest Searching in Chinese policejnese city.
Mr. Maclean was not stations, and detention cells' in|aware of the "deposit" imposition Chapel for a foreman fitter arrested|as far as he was, concerned for on March 11 by the Chinese police in the International Settlement was the part taken by the writer on a recent afternoon, The search was made in company with Inspector O'Dwyer (in charge of Dixwell Rond police station) and Mr. BB. Maclean of the British & American] Engineering Corp. and occupied three hours. The workman was eventually found in a detention house, the condition of which only be described as filthy and gusting, situated in an alleyway somewhere in the Chinese city. His release could not, however, be effect-din: spite of the fact' that no specific charge had been preferred "To describe the circumstances which led up to the man's arrest it necessary to review the position which obtains in the North Szechuen Road and Dixwell Road area, Messrs, Algar & Ca., who own a "considerable amount of property this district, have recently completed a building on the site of the former North Szechuen Road police ation, Messrs. Larsen & Trock, 10 British & American Engine
Jourse of completing contracts for} arious installations in the building, Corp. and others are in the At was in this building that thg man was arrested and work brought to A standstill by the action of the Chinese police.
The building, which comprises residential flats, faces North Szechuen Road—a municipal road, a side of the" building is on a road under Sasa eontso)) wae. Ral.O, one! Chapel authorities, and the rear of ho building is in Chapei, Yet it is mot a large building. Rates are paid to the SMC. appears that when any conatruetion work is desired in this rea, the, greatest difficulties and annoyances. are encountered by not only the building contractors but by all who- have work to carry out.
In the first place a contractor has to obtain the customary build Messrs.. Algar & Ca. had already paid $300 to the Chapei authorities and it was considered that this fee Jeovered all building operations. It subsequently transpired, however, that Messrs, Larsen & Trock had had to pay a similar amount to enable them to carry out the electrical installation.
On March 11, the Chapei authorities entered the side door of the building and arrested two of. the workmen employed by the British American Engineering Corp. It was not until late in the evening that Mr, Maclean was informed of the occurrence so nothing could be done until yesterday morning. Conferences were held during the morning and Messrs. Algar & Ca. reiter-fated that the "deposit" demanded had been paid. In view of the fact: that these petty annoyances have; been so frequent of late, it was decided to take a firm stand and ascertain precisely what protection the Shanghai Municipal Police were prepared or able to give to prevent! such occurrences in the future, At the request of Mr. Maclean, a representative of the "North: China Daily News" accompanied him to the Dixwell Road police station where the position was explained to Inspector O'Dwyer. The inspector offered to give every assistance and a visit was made to the building in question and the various boundary lines were pointed out. It was shown that, under existing circumstances, the 'S.M.P. could only afford com: pletely protection at the front of the building, ie. that part facing North Szechuen Road. It was further pointed out that owing to the other part of the building (with a doorway) being on x road under the "dual control" of the S.M.C. and Chinese authorities, the latter had the right to exercise this control ich they do in the manner indicated above. Only a few days ago, Inspector O'Dwyer effected the g|release of a Shanghai Power Ca.
Micence from the S.M.C. Then, notwithstanding the fact that he is to Build on a Municipal Road, he has to put.up a "deposit" of (in this ease) $300 with the Chapet authorities, He is then allowed to commence work.
There ave, however, other contractors who have work to carry, out. The water, gas, and electricity companies have to make connections their rains, Plumbing, heating, and electrical installations have to be completed. Apparently a fairly good watch is kept. on any new buildings in this area by the Chap police and as soon as the contract rs arrive (0 carry out their various works, a representative of the Chapei authorities waits until the workmen have entered the house from the municipal road and, being precluded from entering by the same door makes his entrance by the door opening on the road-under "dual control" He then demands to see the Mieence" or "deposit" receipt. such is not forthcoming, arrests are fected anid the whole work is stopped.
It was-in thege cireymstances that the foreman -fitter'above referred to, wag arrested and: taken.to the Chi-workman engaged in connecting the company's mains to the building. It was necessary for the inspector to go into Chapei to do this.
The position having been explained, the next thing to do was to obtain the release of the two plumbers. With that end in view, the three of us and an interpreter started off to the Chapei police station. Here we were courteously received but told that the "prisonfers" had been transferred to another station. After driving through winding alleyways for, about half ah hour, we reached the station in question. They had heard of the ease but the prisoners had been removed to a detention cell in another building. This was' hot very far away so we went on foot and found the wretched hovel Jat the end of an alleyway which fended in a blank wall.
Here we found the foreman fitter behind. the bars in a detention cell—if one can call it such. We were told that the other man had been Feleased, After a fet minutes' talk with- subordinate officials-we were shown—up.a fight of rickety and almost "perpendicular stairs: to-see
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.