To the Editor of the "Norta-Cursa Datty News."
Sir,—I consider it not only unfair but entirely uncalled for that your correspondent should attack our councillors with ridiculous names.
The extraordinary growth of Shanghai has necessitated the gradual increased cost of administration. The comparison table of cost covering the years of 1916 to 1920, as set forth on page g0C of the Annual Report for 1920, clearly indicates this, Besides which it must be admitted that nearly all salaries due to the present H. C. L, have to be advanced if that clean running of the Settlement has to be maintained. 3
The following figures have been overlooked possibly by your correspondent Page 78C, 1920 Report—Balance Sheet.
Tis.
The Value of our Assets exceeds our liabilities by 8,400,430 Total Loans are Tls. 16,231,030 Loans to Electricity Dept. vide page 28C. 9,886,700
Leaving for general purposes 6,354,330
Estimates for 1921, vide page 91C, show that the Tls. 7,000,000 required for Extraordinary Expenditure includes Tls. 5,700,000 for the Electricity Dept., a very large proportion of which respect of the programme of extensions which was specifically referred to and approved by the ratepayers at the Annual Meeting last year. The electricity capital outlay up to 1920 is Tls. 14,057,819.
The growth of the Electricity Dept. has been phenomenal. Page 5C shows this very plainly:
Units sold in 1915 are given as 49,787,397 Units sold in 1920 are given as 144,839,632 This department has and will require capital. On more than one occasion have the ratepayers in general meeting thrashed out the electrical question with the result that it is still Municipal, vide annual meetings 1907, 1914, 1915.
In looking over the Extraord-mary Expenditure for general purposes on pages 126 and 127C, there are in my opinion no outtageous expenditures contemplated. The new Szechuen Road Bridge is most necessary. The Sewerage Scheme is a sine qua non and has to be met. Any other items, for which the ratepayers are not already committed, I feel convinced are not extravagant and are necessary for the welfare of the Settlement.
It is opportune to point out
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.