the Editor of the "Norru-Cuuwa Dany News Si—So much publicity seems to be given to the views of the Japanese Ratepayers on the Telephone question (og. the article on page 10 of your issue of to-day) that T think it is high time that somebody aired other views and told the other side of the story.
May I give the views of a non-Japanese Tatepayer who has been a shareholder of the Company, and a ubseriber, for many years? This will make along letter—it it must be published as such and can't be ac-Copied as an article—but T would at Toast ike shareholders of the Com: pany to read it, Shareholders who have not had any dividend for six years from a Public Utility Company which is serving all the rest of the community, are surely entitled to some consideration!
When the new Company took over my capital in the form of new shares, this was done on the distinct understanding that both the Councils had agreed to give them a franchise under the terms of which I should get a dividend on my capital: when the franchise negotiations were concluded Twas disappointed to find that my Company had agreed to accept certain fixed rates for a period of three years, rates which obviously meant T'should have to wait another three yours for a dividend. 1 was, however, patient, thinking that, when this period of probation was over, the Come receivable under the franchises would be sufcient not only to give me some dividend but perhaps. to make up for some of my past losses (of which the whole community has had the benefit). Long and dificult negotiations took place about the new rates and it was understood that both Councils, after having employed all their experts of all kinds—French and British accountants, French and British, engincers—were. satisfied with the schedule of rates offered by my Company. 'Then, like a bolt from the blue, came' the Japanese Ratepayers with a Resolution at the meeting of ratepayers; this was) originally quite an innocent resolution—harmiess to my Company and not embarrassing to the Council-—and so no kind of defence was prepared by anyone concerned. But at the meeting Itself the Japanese, by means of an amendment which changed the whole nature of the Resolution, re ly brought forward an entirely new resolution of which nobody had received any notice, 'In my opinion and that of many other ratepayers, this amendment which created. the new resolution should never have been allowed. Yet by methods such fas these the' Japanese ratepayers, voting ina solid phalanx, - undid months of work by the two Councils concerned and foreed them into a breach of contract with the Company in which my capital, and that of many other residents, is invested.
Following this political triumph th Japanese Ratepayers or "Residen have nailed this famous Resolution to the mast and flaunt it in the face of the Council at every move. I can only say that in my opinion the best course from every point of view would be to call a special meeting to cancel this resolution.
Looking back on all this, 1 now want to ask myself and all' my fel-Tow sharehold can the what unusual activity in the affairs of the International Settlement?
Do they want the removal of a Toll Charge in the Chapei area, which affects their nationals more than most others? I don't think this can matter much for it is a very small. affair and could easily be settled.
Do they seriously want to provide work for a Japanese telephone "expert"? Anyone who has lived in Japan can tell the most dreadful tales of their telephones—was it not true at one time that you had to pay a broker as much as Yen 1,500 then. £150) just to get a telephone? Surely no sane resident could suggest that awe should "get a child from the Kindergarten to teach intricate subjects to the Headmaster, There must be a misunderstanding about this somewhere.
Have the Japanese Residents ever nously alleged that he rates offered by the Telephone Company did not compare favourably with those of the other great cities of the world using automatic telephones? It s0 1 have so far falled to see their Agures; so that cannot be their reason for this action.
Is it possible that' the Japanese residents are going to press for increased representation at the end of this year, and so wish to assume the guise of "champions of the poor" at the earliest opportunity? If this the case then my Company is! being used as a tool for political purposes: and if T can prove this to be the case then I propose to object in no uncertain manner.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.