Short-sighted Protest by Street Unions The Chinese Commissioner for Foreign Affairs has been requested by the Amalgamated Association of Street Unions to enter a pro. test against taxation of rice shops in Shanghai by the Municipal Council. The new tax, amounting to $1 half yearly, is to come into force on July 1. The Associatio: claims that the proposed tax contrary to article 34 of the Land Regulations, w. ch article provides for the licensing of sing-song houses, markets, theatres, circuses, wine shops, lottery shops, pawn shops, stables—but not rice shops.
The letter continues: "Although the motive of the Council in license ing rice shops is to restrict the hoarding of rice and is good, the method adopted is wrong. According to article 3 of the proposed licence, free access should be given to_police on duty and the health officer, and this may cause complica ations.""
The Commissioner is requested strongly to oppose the proposal, Proprietors of rice shops in Shanghai have asked the members of the Chinese Advisory Council to approach the Council with a view to having the rice-shop licence regulation cancelled.
The price of rice went down somewhat on Wednesday by about 20 to 30 cents.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.