Motion to Tax Vacant Premises and Undeveloped Land Defeate Road Scheme Rejected annual meeting of Ratepayers of the International Settlement presided over by Mr. A, W. Burkill at the Grand Theatre last Wednesday passed the Report and Accounts for the year 1934, and approved and adopted the Budget for 1935, after Mr. H, E. Arnhold, Chairman of the outgoing Council, reviewed the work of the year in a comprehensive speech. Questions raised by Mr. John S. Barr regarding the Council's rickshaw policy having been answered, the meet rejected resolutions moved by Mr, L. R. Hossenlopp for the abolition of the Municipal Orchestra, for the investigation of the possibility of imposing a tax on undeveloped land, and for the raising of a loan to accelerate road-widening respectively.
A lively discussion followed on the amended motion by Dr. XK, S. Mui for consultation with one or more experts in telephone technique before adopting the new rates proposed for the Shanghai Telephone Company. Dr. Mui illustrated his criticisms by charts specially prepared for the occasion, and he claimed that as there was considerable uncart: ty over the figures put forward, offi ly and semi-officially, by both Company and Council, there was a case for further investigation.
He did not support any breach of the Council's legal obligations, but he desired to be assured that the Shanghai Telephone Company studied Shanghai's interests as an organization which belonged to Shanghai. The meeting, which was attended by about 700 ratepayers, including a solid body of Japanese, was clearly impressed by Dr. Inui's remarks and in addition to Japanese support his motion appeared to receive the votes of an appreciable number of other ratepayers present.
In accordance with the decorum of the time-honoured procedure of the annual meeting of the Foreign Ratepayers of the International Settlement Mr. A. W, Burkill was voted to the chair at the Grand 'Theatre last evening, without specific reference to the fact' that it was probably the final appearance of that "esteemed fellow ratepayer" ina part which he has 40 long: filled With dignity. and firmness. The thought, however, was in many minds and it clearly inspired the hearty applause which accom= panied the vote of thanks terminating strenuous but, on the whole, good tempered session.
'There was what Mr, Arnhold lightly called a "ood oratory" but the interest was well-maintained to the end. Mr. Arnold, fas the Chairman of the outgoing Council, gave a clearly read review the year's working. He was short and to' the point in. dismissing the Political situation as "tranquil." The normal peace and order of the Settle. ment had not been disturbed. Then he touched on the economic depres-lon and its attendant unemployment at least 20.000 workers out of Jobs. He took the meeting fully into confidence regarding the interminable Aiscussions over the Outside Roads.
Every-one "had been reasonable, agreement had nearly been teache Dut at the moment there was a dead.
Tock Telephone Question 'The Telephone question—ot which the meeting was to. hear more before "it dlspersed—was expounded with emphasis on. the Importance Sbserying legal rights and' obligations enshrined in the Company's franchise MiAtmnold date "with the sewage Ut insisting that local factors prompt-Fate proposal by commending is logic
td the need for careful consideration Before coming to definite decision ihat detail' The Company had the ight {oa certain fixed percentage of revenue, but the right to Introduce message rate lay within the diseretion of the Council, In spite of dimeulties, the Rickshaw Board had made' substantial Drogress in carrying out the Council's declared policy of leensing the pul-Jers, but the rickshaw owners were not amenable and had actually" tempted fo impose what amounted to archiale serfdom on the pullers. The Council must eradicate that evil but in other respects it had adopted caution for it held that at a time of economic [depression, any large addition to the ranks of the unemployed could not be contemplated with equanimity by those responsible for the peace and lorder of the Settlement
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.