In his report for 1920 Mr. A. Wilson, Commissioner of Customs at Canton, includes several interesting items regarding the development of industries in Kuangtung. He mentions that native cotton cloth, once the pursuit of a few country-women, has grown into a promising industry, mills being scattered over the whole province, employing tens of thousands of workers. For the moment the cloth is exported free of duty, as an encouragement and to foster the trade, and its exportation has grown appreciably.
Softwood has fallen off owing to the West River districts being disturbed by fighting.
Much has been done during the year in the development of home industries. New factories have sprung up like mushrooms, and many more are in course of erect tion. At Honam an_ up-to-date cotton-yarn-spinning factory is nearing completion. Machinery of the very latest pattern is to installed, and when completed and in full working order sufficient yarn, it is anticipated, will be produced to meet local demands and requirements. The company has been promoted locally, with a capital of $5,000,000.
A foundry, supplied with up-to-date machinery, for the manufacture of copper sheathing from ore mines in the province, is in full working order, with satisfactory results.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.