The recent announcement to the effect that the Messageries Maritimes Ca. had increased their rates for passengers from Shanghai to Marseilles by 50 per cent., -i.e. bringing the fare up to no less than '£160.16.0, must have come as a sudden shock to residents who intended to make the journey Home, vid Suez, this spring. The reason for this increase is, of course, the high value of silver in proportion to gold and the low value of the francs. But to. make an immediate comparison, the rates of the P. & O. S. N. Ca. from Shanghai to Marseilles and London are £80 and £84, respectively, and this at the current rate of the day of payment.
On the Trans-Pacific Route, the Canadian Ocean Services from Shanghai to Vancouver make a minimum charge of $288 for first class passage to Vancouver, the Toyo Kisen Kaisha, the Pacific Mail Steamship Company and the China Mail Steamship Company a minimum charge for first class passage to San Francisco of $288, all of these charges being on the basis of one gold dollar being the equal of one Mexican dollar. By the Canadian Patific service, the equal dollar basis ceases on arrival at Vancouver. Thenceforward, of course, the gold standard is in use; but it may be said that a first class passage from Shanghai to Liverpool or London would not average more than Mex. $510.
The Nippon Yusen Kaisha rates come still cheaper, as the fare to Seattle by this Company's boats is Y.500, that to Marseilles Y.660, and that to London Y.720—all at the current rate of the day's exchange.
It seems quite probable that in the near future all fares from Shanghai to foreign ports will have—to be paid in Mexican dollars and that the various Companies concerned will make the adjustment on a level basis, but before this can be done the agencies here will have to await instructions from head offices.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.