Witness went on to explain. that his refusal to pay the tax was due to the Land Regulations which, he said, did not empower the Council to levy such tax on "fan-tan" land, He had entered into correspondence with the Council on the subject and ina reply the Council had slated inter alia, "The Council does not feel under. any obligation to supply the usual Municipal amenities" tu {hose who do not contribute to funleipal expenses and its policy will be shaped as far as practicable accordance with this principle."
Mr, Fang then told the court that his electricity supply was disconnected by the Shanghai Power Company on October 4, last, on which date he declared he was in way indebted to the power company. Witness at this juncture introduced a receipt purporting to show he had paid alt his electricity ills up to date when his' electricity supply was disconnected. The power company, he said, stated in a letter to. him ihat the "Council hod me structed them on September 28, last, to discontinue his supply of electricity.
Witness said the telephone supply was discontinued on October 7, 1a at which time. he said, he was not owing anything for telephon charges, He produced four receipts which were handed into court as exhibits, purporting he had paid all his bills with the telephone com~ any -up to date, The company, added, stated in reply to his enquiry, that it hod been instructed by the Shanghai Municipal Councit to discontinue supplying him with telephone service because of his failure to pay his land tax. Both his electricity and telephone service had not been restored up to the present.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.