'An astonishing report has reachd05 Ghat members of the' Shang-i and Woosung Constabulary, under the Commissioner, Brig-Gen. Chang Te-ying, who had not rosel their pay for June? July and August, have been notifed that hereafter all officers receiving more than $40-will be required to sacrifice 30 per cent. of their pay. A further matter of wonder is the fact that the notorious so-called Volunteers and Protectionary Forces are illegally collecting funds for their own upkeep and, indeed, have taken it upon themselves grant themselves substantial increases in pay.
The affair is one of considerable interest in Chinese circles, but 10 far nobody has come out to express, themselves against these freebooter volunteers and "'protection ary" men, Brig.-Gen. Chang's visit to Narking during the week-end was in connexion with the payment of his men. He is reported to have complained bitterly to the Civil Governor (under whose control the police are and who is responsible for their upkeep) and made strony: representations on behalf of his men, The Civil Governor (Mr. Cheng Chien) admitted very frankly that there was no money an jand to-pay the men, nor did there appear to be any method whereby he would be sure of raising any.
The pay for the members of the Chinese police who are for the most part trained men, is extremely low in comparison with the police in the International Settlement and i: is not at all surprising to learn that efforts are frequently made by the former to enter the Municipal force, where the pay is much higher and the hours shorter. In the Chinese force, the men do patrol duty day and night on the average of between 10 and 12 hours a day and their pay is but $9.. There are occasional increases but these are few and far between, and the most the men earn is $12.' Non commissioned officers receive $20 to $40, according to rank, but the district sub-station chiefs get only $60. This is stationary and these is no chance of their receiving promotions or increases no matter how served in the force. District station heads receive $100. The Chinese policeman say that to hope for increases or promotion is the same as hoping to reach for the moon. and an attempt to cause a breach of the regulation invariably results in the offend standing a chance.of being shot. Any attempt to get money from the local people, either by taxation jueeze" will render a policeman in Chinese territory subject to court martial—so we are told.
On the other hand, we find the called Volunteers and Protections getting their pay from the local people, both by illegal taxation and "squeeze." This is permitted under their rales and the members, who are mostly' the rabble of defeated armies and rogues, are free to do as they wish, with: out being subject to martial or any other law. The pay for these braves is higher by approximately 30 per cent. of that of the Chinese police, and yet they are still dic-satisfied and are levying further taxes on the already overburdened citizens in order that they, useless snd good for nothing as they are, might live an easy life. All that one sees of these fellows is when they are sitting down or asleep on nominal patrol duty.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.