The profiteering bacilli have infected certain of our i tradesmen, with the result that they have developed a malignant form of "profiteering fever." The usual symptoms of selfishness and greed were in evidence, so the local magistrate, who took upon himself the duties of medical officer for the public health, had no difficulty in diagnosing the case. With commendable promptitude he prescribe ed a stiff dose of native physic, which, took immediate effect and produced beneficial results.
Since winter set in, profiteers have been active in the charco: l trade. Fuel is a prime necessity in Tachienlu during the cold winter months, but the supply of late has not been equal to the demand ing to the high price paid for medicinal roots last summer, a great deal of casual labour was diverted from the gathering of fuel and the production of charcoal, and this has directly contributed to the present shortage. Again, some stocks were destroyed in the recent fire, so that when winter approached, and the demand for charcoal increased, the supply was insuficient, whereupon prices rose rapidly. The winter rates for charcoal are usually double those of summer. Inferior charcoal fetched 25 cash a catty in July and August. During September and October it rose Following upon this rise and the continued scarcity, some unscrupulous charcoal dealers cornered int market, and forced prices stil higher, till they reached 80 and even "100 cash a catty. This brought them an easy 100 per cent. profit, but wrought great hardship on poor people, who could only afford to buy in small quantities, and had to pay over 100 cash a catty for their charcoal.
Popular indignation was aroused. and the local official moved to action. He had several of the profiteers arrested and gave them a severe spanking. At the same time he fixed a maximum rate of Ca cash a. catty for the common charcoal, which affords great relief from former rates, yet still leaves 2 good margin of: profit to honest dealers.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.