At the outset, the lotteries were very successful, there being but tule Chinese competition, but. the Position latterly has not been favourable; for, whereas in the beginning there' were only two oF. three Chinese concerns operate there are now, or were until qu recently, some 16 or 17, and they tend to' increase. In face of this competition, the sale of tickets has substantially decreased. In the first lottery between 80 and 90 per cent. of the total number of tickets was disposed of, but the figure fell toa Little over 30 per cent. in the last lottery held, Added to this difficulty, the Chinese authorities have twice stopped the lottery, on each occasion allowing it to be resumed after a good deal of discussion.
The Committee was placed in a further difficulty recently, when the Chinese authorities once more issued. an order prohibiting the holding of this lottery. Further interviews took place, and it would seem that the Chinese action was based on financial considerations, permission to resume the lotteries being offered on cond tion that the sum of $1,000 for lottery is paid over to the authori= ies concerned in, or concerning themselves in, the' matter. This Jdemand was alternative to others put forward and declined, At the monent, the position remains indefinite, but no doubt satisfactory arraus ments will be made for carrying on with the scheme. It is extremely unfortunate that these difficulties should have arisen just at the time when the way is open for repatriat~ ing the Cadets, especially as tran port arrangements may' now more easily be made and at less east than was the ease some months ago,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.