To the Editor of the ~Noars-Cusa Darcy' News."
'Sim,—I_was interested in the article in your Monday's issue, with the new regulations put forward by "the Great Majority." But why did not this Great Majority make themselves heard at the recent Municipal Council election?' I suppose there are many people here quite in sympathy with the proposed Socialistic legislation, but we may as well be frank with ourselves and admit that there is no hope of anything of this kind in Shanghai; the " powers, that be" and the vested interests are practically the same, and have everything their own way. When (in the dim and distant future) we have our trams, we shall find that, these run into districts where these same financial gentry have already bought the land. and they will gradually raise prices there in the orthodox way.
T have not met any young men in Shanghai whose way of living seemed consistent with a want-to-marry-but-can't-aford-it condition, but to hear that there are such moves mo to make a "heroic" suggestion. Tu more than one district in England have T heard remarks such as this: "A few years ago hardly a building to he seen, but now—houses galore!" The next station to the Rifle Butts on the Woosung Railway is Chiangwan: why not make thie ville of the newly-married. with its own distinct. tive characteristics; not the lofty Shanghai type of buildings, but fairly small bungalows; Jess architectural luxuriance, more garden, All the "expectant husbands" might unite to form a society ce-operative pri and make the district a pin Tandlords cease from troubling, and the ete.—where they can indulge in legislation to their hearts' content. Newiv-married couples unre the folk for this pioneer work, for being "all in all to one. another." the solitude will not matter. The train service yond of course require improving. but it would he to the advantage of the railway company to do this, as soon as there was sufficient demand.
This suggestion may appear extravagant, Init the rant anestion ju Shenahay qeill wat settle itself, hut will hecnma mare scuta, and will not be alleviated by imnrinary hwe-laws. even when framed by the " Grnat Motori." Parhone thie soma adequate. but more sober means of solving the problem heine broached.
Tam.
Sunurnan.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.