Government Firm on Inland River Conservancy Impost "Moreover, with the increase of the number of small steamers and Ianches on the various rivers, the embankments of these rivers have been thrown in a dangerous state Tu spite of vigorous protests on the part of the merchants against the introduction of the inland river conservancy tax and the many telegrams sent by the various native ehippinz companies requesting the abolition of this tax, the Kiangsu Provincial Government has definite-Jy rejected the demand.
It will be recalled that, a couple of weeks ago, the various native shipping firms running ships on infand rivers, in a telegram to the National Government, threatened to suspend business if the Government Failed to comply with their demand this respect. "However, thi threat failed to produce any' effect for the Government's reply says:—
"After careful consideration of the question regarding the introduction of the inland river conservancy tax by the Bureaux of Finance and Reconstruction for Kiangsu Pro-Yinee, it has been found that fax is necessary at present because the inland rivers of the province have been in a bad state for Fong time, with the result that both, agricultural fields and water comahunieations have been greatly affected.
"The inland river conservancy tax must not be regarded as a vexatious tax because the rivers are used mainly by the shipping firms and the tax is to be collected from those who use these rivers. The tax itself amounts to only five per cent, of the total passenger and freight revenues of the shipping firms ang its collec tion is limited to rivers on which these firms run their ships. Furthermore, the tax is quite. different) from others in that the proceeds: will be used entirely to improve the conditions of the rivers and to facilitate water communications, whereas the proceeds from other taxes go to the Government. Therefore, the merchants' demand for the abolition of this tax must be rejected."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.