Rise of Three Dollars Per Picul Within the Last Few Weeks The gradual increase in the price of rice is causing no ation among the local Chinese, community and the cereal, which was being charged for at the rate! of $12 and $13 per picul several weeks ago, is now costing not less! than $16 for the best grade. Even in the rice producing centre, Wusih, the grain is costing as much as pical, so, "with freight ded and other incidental rice shipped to Shanghai from that place is not bringing the farmers much extra, There are a number of reasons for this sudden increase, such as illegal taxation, the threats of warfers. and the large supplies which will be required to feed China's huge armies the event of fighting breaking out with Soviet Russia; "hoarding and smuggling for export to Japan; th refusal of junkmen to bring the Grain to Shanghai because they are constantly being molested by pirates and because the autho have failed to take steps to suppress these wrongdoers; the congested state of the Soochow Creek; and the recent, typhoon, which caused con siderable damage to the crops by. Lcating them down and flooding the According to a report issued by the Greater Shanghai Rice Supplies, Commission, the stocks in Wusih at the present 15,000 peu meet the requirements of the people of that city. This being the case, Prices have soared there and it is only natural that Shanghai, being great rice consu sheld find Proportion.
Expensive Huchao Fees Coming on top of all thi news that the Hunan provi thorities are imposingsa hue of $3 per picul on grain. shipped from that province, and that a similar tax (though much smaller) fs being levied by the Kiangsu pro-Vineial government.
However, it is reported that fairly large shipments may soon find their ito Shanghai from the other provinces, in which event a rice famine will be averted, and prices will decline, though not to a very large extent, it is expected.
this connection, itis of interest to note that the chairman of the! Shanghai Rice Guild, Mr. Yeh Hui-chun, has addressed a circular letter to rice merchants throughout Sha hai appealing to, them to keep thei rices at a steady level and not to' allow them to exceed $16 per picul for the tine being. Mr. Yeh left yesterday for a tour of the rice pro-Gucing districts with a view to meet ing the leading vice merchants and discussing, measures " to' prevent! further ineveages in prices...
Meanwhile, reports the Chines tress, the "Commission for the Reorganization of Shanghai Commercial Organizations have address-oda letter to the Chinese Rate-
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Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.