Peking, Feb. 17.
The net Salt Revenue, after meeting administrative expenses, paid in to the group banks in 1921 amounted to $77,987,838, representing a decrease of $1,076,285 as compared with 1920 and a decrease of $2,618,665 as compared with 1919.
All_ obligations} secured on the Salt Revenue were fully met and the surplus released to the Government in 1921 amounted to $70,474,- 331, of which, however, some $18,000,000 represent sums either retained locally or appropriated by the provincial or military authorities.
The decrease as compared with 1920 is explained by the facts that certain amounts, retained by the local authorities, had not been transferred to the Group banks by the end of the year, and also there was increased expenditure on compensation for the acquisition by Tthe Government of ferential rights of salt merchants and the purchase of property.
The actual collections in 1991 exceeded those of 1920. During 1921 the reserve in the group banks was increased from $6,000,000 to
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.