Turning for a moment to consider tual operation of such a bureau, it would, if all export silk to be compulsorily submitted to it, require an enormous establishment, nice only to house it bat in technical machinery and personnel as well, {for whilst the annual shipments from Shanghai do not much exceed 100,000 bles, it must be borne in mind that Gemand is spasmodic and. large ovantities have to be handled ina start space of time in order to meet the sudden offtakes of the buying centres "abroad. This obviously means that a building, equipment and staff capable of dealing with tuaximum call on its services would ave to be maintained all the year sound, whilst doring long and Intermittent periods of this time there would be little or nothing. to Yep it occupied, thus making. its operation highly' uneconomic and, bby reason of the high charges it would have to institute in order to pay its way, torning it into a burden fu the industry. This in turn would tend to beneke' silks of Japanese and Italian origin and_so be yet mother nail in the coffin of the China trade. The incoming mittee will no doubt be afforded the opportunity at an early date of Giseussing this subject with the Chinese officials and the silkman cerned with the project, and you of course, be kept fully aclinted with' developments and your advice and instructions called for before any action taken by your Committee, Thanks to the Secretary think it might be mentioned that quite recently your Committee addressed the various Shipping Conferences the object of trying to secure a reduction in silk freight yates and it is gratifying to be able to state that our representations have met with some success in far as the Pacific Lines are con-
In conclusion I should like to express: the thanks we all owe to car Secretary, Mr. RV. Dent; for the constant care and ability with which he handles the ever growing affairs of the Association; and urge you all, in order t> somewhat lighten hia-task, to. pay the: utmost dare: in. detailing-your weekly: ship
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.