The rice situation is becoming still more acute. Rice stocks in Shanghai are decreasing, while very little or no fresh grain has been arriving, On Monday rice was being sold in Chapei for $15 per picul, and if steps are not taken to relieve the situation it is feared that prices will soar still higher and reach the $20 mark. During the part of the wesk, the price of rice increased by 54 per picul.
At a meeting of rice dealers, in Shanghai on Sunday afternoon it was decided that a letter should be written to the Chinese General and the Nantao Chambers of Commerce asking them to telegraph to the Central Government for relief and protection.
The cheap selling depots have have been busy ever since their inauguration. At present there are about half a dozen cheap sales depots, but of these the Lung Huang (Dragon God) Temple is the busiest. There are so many people going to this depot that during the rush, a number have sustained in. juries by being trampled upon. On Monday more than 200 bags were sold at this place alone.
The Customs have issued notifica tions prohibiting the export of the cereal.
The string spinners of- Shanghai applied for increases of salary on account of the high price of rice. Their demand was refused and they went out on strike in a body.
Asotuer Rise is Price.
The price of rice showed another increase on Tuesday, and Chinese circles report the situation to be alarming. The price for best ity rice rose to 815.80 per The greater part of the trouble is stated to be the result of gambling in the commodity, and it is even hinted that something in the nature of a "corner" is responsible for the present high prices. What makes the truth of the matter most difficult to reach is that China is a non-statistical country, and it is impossible to lay hold of figures showing stocks in godowns and in transit.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.