The Municipal Report— volunteers, Fire Brigade, Police and Health—Pointed Remarks on Opium Smuggling, Bribery and Corruption Part I of the report of the Shanghai Municipal Council for the year 1920 has now been issued, this dealing with watch, health and educational matters.
The report of the Officer commanding the Volunteer Corps mentions that the units which show substantial increases are:—Light Herse, Field Artillery Battery, American and Japanese Com panies, while the Customs Ca. has declined considerably.
Referring io the number of ex-service men who have joined up, particularly in the Light Horse and Field Artillery Battery, the Commandant remarks I need hurly say that it gives me the greatest pleasure to see this public spirit of "comrades of the Great War," and to note that there are many in the ranks who have held commissions at the front but who are still willing to da their hi for the protection of the community of this Settlement in any yank. Iam sure that such men are equally welcomed in the Corps by those who ave unfortunate enough to be "nable to claim war service to their credit.
Hows axp Anmourep Cars, 8,262,500, being a decrease of Tls. 6,242,400.
In the matter of equipment Mr. Pett states that in recent years we have not advanced to meet the needs of the Settlement. The position here in his opinion is still precarious, it being almost dangerous to put one machine out of commission, 80 severe is the shortage. In such an event there would be no reserve with a fire of any magnitude, whereas working with a factor of safety, not more than half the pumps should be out of the station at any one fire, no matter how severe.
Reference is again made to fire alarms, and the present "so-called system is so inefficient that nothing can be done with it." Regarding the water supply, the comment is made that if something is not done very quickly dire results will accrue. As regards hazardous and dangerous trades, these require regulation and constant inspection, while the licensing of garages should be carried out. In conclusion attention is drawn to the important subject of fire prevention.
Dealing with the prospective arrival of the 4.5 Q.F. field howitzers, the Commandant points out that the howitzer is much better suited to operations in the Settlement than a gun owing to the low trajectory of the latter.
Regarding the Machine Gun Ca., Col. Marr Johnson says that the Maxims in their possession are very old, and urges that carly steps be taken to replace them. armoured car which is being fitted up locally seems at last to be on the eve of completion. The necessary armour plating has been the difficulty, but has finally been obtained through the good offices of the British Naval Commander-in-Chief, China Station. The Commandant urges the provision of more armoured cars as a_ matter of primary importance for the safety of the community.
In other remarks on the Corps; the Commandant mentions the prospects of obtaining new rifles, Lewis guns' and web equipment. Tle points out that the Corps, containing a remarkably fine personnel, full of vigour and keenness, is severely: handicapped by the lack of up-to-date equipment, and he gives alist of 13 items which should be secured. Already the Council-has taken steps for the provision of a number of these.
Tue Dancer from Tire.
Mr. M. W. Pett, in his Fire Brigade report, mentions that the number of calls received during the year was 315, an increase of 20 on the previous year. The total loss on buildings and contents within! the Settlement was estimated at Tls. 245,385, being a decrease of Tis.. 235,840 on the previous year. The estimated value of buildings and contents at risk was Tis.
The report of the Commissioner of Police contains an admirable summary of events in the Settlement during the year as well as political happenings throughout the country which have had a local influence. Dealing with traffic he says, Unless drastic measures are taken, such as those in vogue in certain American cities, it is not vasy to sec how improvement can be effected."
In the section of the report dealing with the Mixed Court reference is made to the filing by lawyers of applications for suspension or mitigation of sentence, a practice which has increased greatly during the latler half of the year. The grounds on which these applications are based, the report says, are as a rule of the flimsiest, and the filing of such motions would hardly be tolerated in any other Court.
Tue Trarric ix Oricm.
Dealing with opium Mr. McEuen say!
"It would perhaps be unwise to put into print all that is known to the Police of the efforts made in certain quarters to evade the laws of China and the by-laws of the Settlement, but an opportune time should be taken by the Council to put the matter before the ratepayers in order that more satisfactory conditions can be enforced. The quantity of opium seized by the Police and Customs in this port alone—a very small percentage of what actually finds its way in—shows how futile are the efforts made to suppress the evil. China, j who first advocated its suppression, Ihas displayed the utmost laxity in the supervision of poppy cultiva-[tion and the manufacture of the drug... At present the efforts made to suppress opium are a pure farce.
"So far as Shanghai is concerned it is safe to say that the smuggling of opium has led to an alarming increase in extortion, corrupt tion, bribery and all manner of ill practices of this nature, and makes one at times almost lament the days when opium was not a contraband article. There are no Half measures possible in the matter—either opium should be licensed once again or its total prohibition, especially its cultivation, should be insisted upon in such a way that the drug would be unobtainable except for medicinal purposes. And there are no two opinions as to which is the correct view."
Regarding the bars situated off the North Szechuen Road Extension the Commissioner remarksghat it is believed that the Chinese authorities now see the necessity for eliminating them, Herat oF THE SettLeMent.
The Health Officer reports an improvement in the mortality rate, and the absence of Chinese mortality from smallpox for two years in_ succession.
With reference to choleraic diary rhoeo research work done in the Municipa! Laboratory is tending to show that the micro-organism presents certain differences from the organism hitherto regarded as true cholera.
The foreign death-rate during the year was 15.2 per 1,000, and among Chinese 11.2 per 1,000. For the first time for 20 years there were no foreign deaths from scarlet fever.
Tae Nevawens ar Scuoon.
The report also includes educational matters. The following numbers were on the rolls of the respective schools in December Public School for Boys, 283; Public School for Girls, 407: Thomas Hanbury School for Boys, i82; Thomas Hanbury School for Girls, 200. In the case of the other schools the enrolment for the various terms was as follows:—Public School for Chinese, summer term 461, winter term 434; Ellis Kadoorie School, summer term 263, winter term 381; Nich Chih Kuei, summer term 144, winter term 168; Polytechnic Public School for Chinese, summer term 157; winter term 152.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.