But Kiangsu rice and Wuhu rice are alwa comparatively expensive. They are superior vices, used by the well-to-do, "In cities' outside Shanghai, Canton and Ningpo, to name only two, these fine quality rices are not used by the masses of the people. The masses use either Joeally-grown rice or Saigon rice, large quantities of which are also consumed in Japan. Saigon rice can be sold on the local market for §12 per" picul. An important 7 merchant and an oficial interested in the tice problem both stated yesterday that the difference between Kinngsu rice and Saigon rice war urgely imaginary and that only <picure could really distinguish between them, although some Chinese say that Saigon rice is unpalatable to them.
Saigon imported each year, Nevertheless, large quantities of
In 1924, China imported Hk. Tis, €3,248,78, of rice. Of this amount, Hk. Tis, 49,616,801, was imported from Hongkong. The largest part of this rice was Saigon rice shipped to Hongkong and from. there reshipped to other cities of China Hk. Tls. 4,866,824 was. shipped directly from Saigon to China ports There is also a large shipment of rice from Siam and British India, but this rice is consumed principally south China. It is. impossible, then, to. suggest that the Chinese do not care for imported rice in the face of the figures quoted above, 'The Dealers' Trick average Iabourer's family is taken to be five persons, it is easily seen that unless three' members of the family work, there is not sufficient to go, round, With rice at $12 0 picul, a certain relief is afforded, Saigon rice ought to be purchasable on the Shanghai market at $12 a picul at the present time, British Company's Generous Lead The +British-American Tobacco Company has for some years relieved its workers of the rice problem by giving them a rice allowance. This allowance is arranged in the follow-jing manner: the Company accepts $3 per picul as the normal price for rice. Whenever the market price is above $8 the Company allows each worker in the factories the difference between $8 and the market price the basis of a picul of rice per month for four individuals. This allowance is paid in money, not. kind, The result is that B.-A, 'T. factory labourers are in now Subject to the vagaries of the rice Profiteer, Record Reached in Peace time Prices The price of rice on Wednesday rose to $18 a picul for grade A Kiangsv, probably" the " highest tu, obistony for peace "time prices. The price now ranges from" $16 to $18, The cheap rice depots are still operating and are dispensing about 500 piculs a day from the five stations. This i all Saigon rice and is selling for $11.60 a picul, As fur as nourishe qualities "are concerned, Saigon rice id to be as good as the native rice, but ig not #0 palatable, The cheap rice depots are losing daily about $750, which is being borne by the depot committee, which is) supported in turn by wealthy Chinese. They are able to supply only about five per cent. of the daily consumption, "In a dition to these depots, ore or two of the large cotton mills and flour mills have imported about 100,000 piculs of Saigon rice which they ave selling to their employees at reduced prices (about $12 a picul). One company in Nantao is sell native vice at this figure, losing $4 a picul, The General Labour Union held 4 meeting on Wednesday at which they discussed ways and means of preventing the rise in rice prices, The matter will also be taken up by ether public bodies, it is said.
Union's Demand for Limitation and an Increase in Wages Shanghai general inbour union held a meeting under the presidency of Kung Palesen on Wednesday, to discuss the situation regarding, the price of rice and. ths local strike, The following points were discussed:
In Shanghai, the dealers have hit upon this subterfuge: They gave the impression that there was a shortage of Saigon rice, They then mixed 20 ber cent, Klangat rie of. various beyond the standard of and wage capacity of a large part of the population. Thi crease in price was effected at a time when there was, to repeat, 600,000 piculs of Saigon rice in the city, in godowns in the Settlements, Pootung, ete, It is understood that _certain Chinese public leaders are about to throw this Saigon rice on the market, sell it at public stations, encourage the labourers to use it and thus break the profiteer, who utilized a period of inaction among local Cainese leaders, due to the Chamber of Commeres elections, to make fortunes out of the suffering of the poor.
The danger to Shanghai of expensive rice cannot be over-estimated. The average wage in Shanghai is "now approximately 60 cents a day. If the labourer works all the time and at full time, his maximum average wage is approximately $18 a month. With rice at $17.50 -a Picul, there is an impossible situation "unless all members of the family work. The theory is that a picul of -rice is sufficient for one month for five persons. As the 1. That the union star is to be increased in order to bring the prevalent strikes in Shanghai 2 That a manifesto is to be issued in connexion with the high price of rice.
3. That 'a petition sheld bs sent tothe commissioner of Police requesting the return of the money and properties taken by them before the closing of the union.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.