OCCASIONAL NOTE

The reduction of the export duty upon Ceylon rubber has led to a dispute between the buyers and the sellers which it would tax the wisdom of a Solomon to adjust. The general arrangement of the trade has been that the seller deducts the tax from the price paid by the buyer, who, in his turn, pays the tax when he exports the rubber. At the present moment the buyers hold a considerable quantity of rubber on which they will only pay a duty of three cents per pound, whereas they obtained it from the sellers at a reduction of 7 and half cents per pound, the tax having been reduced from 7 and half cents to three. The sellers now claim a refund of 4 and half cents from the buyers, comparing the position of the latter to that of a clerk who has been sent to the Customs House with a large sum in hand to pay duty for his principal. The duty amounts to less than the sum handed to him, whereupon the clerk misappropriates the balance. Naturally this argument does not appeal to the buyers, who point out that the sellers have not lost anything as the result of the reduction of the duty. The buyers have made a little – that is all – and they deserve to make it because, according to one of them, “the deals are naturally speculative, and the buyers are entitled to any benefit which may come to them.”

PRIMARY EDUCATION IN BOMBAY

At a meeting of the Municipal Corporation yesterday consideration was given to a letter from the Government offering to contribute one-half of the additional expenditure in regard to primary education in the city. By section 62B of the Bombay Municipal Act it was provided that if the Government passed legislation making primacy education free and compulsory, the Government would in that case only contribute one-third of the additional cost. In December last the Schools Committee formulated a programme laying down a period of ten years for the expansion of primary education in the city of Bombay, preparatory to the introduction of a complete system of free and primary education. At the instance of Mr. Chunilal Sitalvad, it was then resolved to approach the Government with a request to agree to share to the extent of one-third from year to year the enhanced expenditure proposed to be incurred in giving effect to the Schools Committee’s scheme, the Corporation being unable to undertake the whole burden.

TROUBLE AT MADRAS MILLS

This morning large crowds of mill hands collected at the gates of the Buckingham and Carnatic Mills. The police, under the superintendence of the Deputy Commissioner, Southern range, preserved order. The following notice was put up by the management at 9 A.M. today:- The mills, except the weaving department, will run from 6 A.M. till 12 noon and a full day’s pay will be allowed. Wages will be paid from 12 noon to 1 P.M. The weaver’s shed will be closed. Those working in the weaving department who are desirous of expressing regret for their recent misconduct, and who are prepared to signify their willingness to resume work and obey orders, may register their names between 7 and 9 A.M. By doing so they will enable the manager to decide on a date for reopening the mills. Weavers will be paid on their regular pay day for this department, namely Saturday 14th December.

KARACHI EDUCATION CENSUS

The census of children of school-going age undertaken by the Karachi municipality with a view to the introduction of compulsory education has been only a partial success, the residents in poorer districts refusing information, partly because of a rumour that the census was being taken with the object of sending children to Poona and men to the war, but also because of genuine opposition to compulsory education. Men working at the Ghizree quarries struck work as a protest against the enumeration of their children.

CANADA AND PEACE CONFERENCE

Mr. Rowell, President of the Privy Council, in a speech at Port Hope, Ontario, strongly demanded direct Canadian representation at the peace conference. He added that if only one oversea representative were able to participate he should be a Canadian, as Canada was the largest and oldest Dominion. It is officially announced that the enlargement of the Welland Canal will be resumed immediately as part of the reconstruction programme, involving an expenditure of twelve millions dollars and employing four thousand men.