Merchants to Raise Fund for Public Granary The abnormal rise in the price lof rice resulting from the sudden [shortage of supply from rice-pro-Jducing districts on account of the floods has caused a revival of inter-jest in the project for the creation Jof a Million Dollar Fund for the operation public granary the Kuo Min News Agency.
In view of the constant fluctuations in the price of foodstuffs in {this important trading and industrial city, which produces little for its vast number of inhabitants, the local Food Control Committee' secured permission from the Greater 'Shanghai Municipal Government jin October last for the organization jof a, Subscription Committee to. raise' a fund of $1,000,000 for the establishment of a public granary System for more effective control over food supplies.
The Committee, consisting more than 30 local' business leaders, has now decided to commence immediately a campaign to solicit contributions for the early creation of the fund, The leaders include such well-known persons as Vu Ya. ching, Li Ming, Chien Yung-ming, Wang Shao-lai, Pan Kung-chai and others. With their joint efforts, it is expected that the necessary sum will be secured at an carly date.
'A' set of regulations has also been formulated by the Committee governing the granting of rewards to those who contribute generously. Honorifie tablets will be given such persons either by the National Government, the Municipal Government, or the Bureau of Social Affairs according to the amount of their contributions.
At the meeting of the Shanghai 'Municipal Council held on July 29, at which were present the chairman. (Brig. Gen, B, Macnaghten), and Messrs, 'G. Sheppard, A. D. Bell, N. S. Brown, JW. Carney, A. J. Hughes, Okamoto, 0. 8. Lieu, F. J. Raven, T. Yuan, and Vu' Ya-ching, the formation of a committee to conder and devise means for alleviate ing suffering cause by the existing shortage of rice was proposed.
The chairman reminded those present of the fact that the Council had contributed last year to the fund for the purchase of rice, Chinese members of Council, also, stated that such action by the Council was not called for at the present time.
Consideration of the proposal was, therefore, deferred.
The supporters of the proposal based it on the belief thatthe existing shortage of rice will become more acute, with resultant enhanced hardship on the poorer classes of the Chinese community. This state of affairs could be al deviated, they thought, by—purchasing' stocks of the' commodity, ud reselling it without profit or loss, which would tend to stabilize local prices. Alternatively, it suggested that the Council migh hypothecate funds for the relief of distress.
It was pointed out that the Coun-ell had no department which can investigate and advise it on such matters. In many large cities in Europe and America a Department of Public Welfare existed, which handled questions concerning, the provision of institutiotis, relief of poverty, ete. The absence of such department in the Municipal ser-Vice was referred to in Mr. Justice Feetham's report, where it. was stated that the institution of such a, department might be, worthy of the Council's consideration, a result of an apprentice meddling with the electrical equipment, on Friday night, an explosion occurred in the Mai Tah Machine Manufacturing Ca., 44 Jukong: Road, Chapei Eleven workers were Wiured and several are As a, result of the recent attempt on the life of Mr. T. V. Soong, an order has been issued by the Ad ministrative Yuan, instructing off< Gials of the Shanghai and Woosung Gendarmerie Commissioner's, office and the Greater Shanghai Bureatt of Public Safety to take over from the railway police the duty of guard ing the Shanghai North Railway Station. The Nanking Railway Station will likewise be guarded bY the members of the Nanking Public Safety Bureau and the Nanking Garrison Commissioner's office instead of the railway police.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.