The policy-holders of insured pro-Jperties in Canton destroyed by. fire during the "Red" massacre of Canton merchants on Black Wednesday, October 15, last, will oppose [the contention of the insurance companies that this was a war loss which the policy does not include: by bringing a test case before the [Canton Courts. At a meeting of the property-owners last week, it) }was decided to contest the decision jof the insurance companies, and formally to demand on carly settlement; in the alternative to sever trade' connexions with insurance Jcompanies "which refuse to pay these claims; to organize mutual fire insurance companies among themselves pending the settlement lof their claims; and to organize committee to carry out the resolutions and decisions of the meeting Tt has been suggested that a test ease in which a Chinese company will be made defendant, or respond: ent, will be brought first before native court, and if the insured win their case, it is believed that all foreign agencies take this as a precedent. Something like $15,000, (000 are involved in this case, it roughly estimated.
The Volunteer Fire Brigade of Canton, with central station on the West Bund, has issued invitations to the ward committees and street unions for each to send a squad of six to 10 members to the central station to receive regular instruction jin preliminary fire-fighting. The Brigade will give this instruction free, The reign of terror in Canton attributed to the activities of the Chinese Bolshevists does not appear to have been so bad as generally reported in the native press, according to police figures. In October, only 158 cases of robberies came before the attention of the police authorities, The Tobacco Tax Canton cigarette stands are still unable freely to dispose of their goods, because of the non-settlement of the revenue stamp question. The Kuomintang is asking the tobacconists to guarantee the use of '$9,000 worth of stamps monthly, while the manufacturers, like the British-American Tobacco Com-
Pany, are unwilling to share in this amount, the contention being that foreign' importers usually oppose the payment of double duty. The Chung Kuo Tobacco Company and the Nanyang Brothers—Tobacen Company appear to be willing to manded by the Kuomintang order to enable the stands to resume business at once. There are about 60 cigarette stands in Canton too small to undertake the burden farther taxation.
Amalgamation of Labour Unions To avoid further friction among attempt is being made to amalgam the leading organization "The most influential labour federations in Canton for the present are ion; the "Kung Yeh Luen Association of Industrial Workers} and the "Kung Tai Piao Hui," or 'Workers' Conference. Each represents a number of labour unions. The Workers' Conference has members from the first two, being wholly composed of organizations afflicting with the Kuomintang pol party. The Conference is part of Dr. Sun Yat-son's Red regime and has 13 labour unions. There are 117 unions in Canton altogether.
The Income from Grambling General Li Took-lam, locally known as the uncrowned king of Honam, Canton, has submitted his resignation as the commander of the Srd Corps of the Cantonese department of the Red Army in Canton,. His resignation is taken as his protest against an attempted interference ith his control of Honam by the Yunnanese.. The Yunnanese, several days ago, raided:-some houses in: Honam and arrested: shout 20 persons for illicit gambling and: opium-amoking. 15] has been. apparent for. some time' that the Yonnanese will strongly hold the gambling traffic, at least, in order to prevent their force from financial embarrassment. General Li is being accused of allowing gambling to exist within his jurisdiction without paying the necessary fees to the Yunnanese, but pocketing the income himself.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.