But it is sad, however, to see t long line of sampans, with their owners, on each side of the harbour waiting all day long for fares thet never come, doing nothing and their source of livelihood appears to be gone. The Mayor of Amoy promised to see that other work was provided for them, a promise that raised hopes but which will be difficult to fulfil. On the day the motor ferries began, the sampans were stopped by the Kulangsu police. It will be noted that official notice has never been given to the Kulangsu Municipal Council that the service began, It was taken for granted that the Kulangsu jetty could be used, and that Kulangsu could have no say in the enterprise of a Chinese municipality.
Instead of communicating with the Municipal Council of Kulangsu, H. M. Consul was approached for an explanation. In turn, he telephoned to the Chairman of the Council who stated that the Council had never been officially informed of the service. A revenue of $300 per month had been obtained from sampan licenses and eventually was agreed that $150 should be paid for the use of the jetty for two weeks, thus giving time for the two Munici-polities to come to a mutual arrangement At a subsequent meeting of the Municipal Council of Kulangsu, one of the members considered that {3150 per month would be sufficient remuneration in lieu of the loss of the $300 sustained. It was decided that $150 should be accepted for July. From July to October $250 tentatively should be paid, and if feasible this sum would be paid monthly for three years.
At the end of three years a new franchise would be signed whereby one half cent would be paid on the fare received from each passenger. These terms, however, do not seem to be acceptable to the Amoy City Government and the whole matter is far from being settled. Meanwhile the sampan men have cause for grievance.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.