critics to cancel the old style Russian Christmas completely upset the plans made by many Russians to) spend their holidays in olden style. 'There were three of the staff of the Railway who boldly went up to their departmental manager and asked for three days' holiday, and this being refused, they handed in their resignations. ' Many of the railway staff went to work in frock coats and immediately 3 o'clock struck, dashed of o pay visits in the manner they have done for years. There was little work in the offices as the Leading of cars was insignia ficant and with the general depression, and holidays at the banks and all other institutions, no new work, came in to be attended to. Thus many of the staff telephoned to their friends and otherwise filled up the time till working hours were over. Provided the banks and firms in the town follow the example of the railway next year, there will be no old style holiday and Harbin will come into line with the rest of the world.
'The British Economic Mission left Harbin to-day for Mukden, after]: having had four days of visiting factories, stores and the ray offices, and being banquetted daily during their' stay. They happened to come to Harbin at a time when the severest cold weather of many years was experienced, yesterday the thermometer registering 45° below zero, Fahrenheit. In such severe frosts their visit was attended with many discomforts but they nevertheless managed to secure all the information that they required which may result in more trade in British goods in this district, British woollen goods are already well known here but cottons are not, principally owing to the fact that the latter are worked through Shanghai and the Manchurian buyer has no intention, of paying a commission to Shanghai for his purchases from Great, Britain. In woollens, local buyers} work direct, avoiding all possible extra charges and if British cotton' manufacturers want to sell here, they must also work direct.
While in Harbin the members of the Mission were entertained to dinner by the Consul-General, by irish Chamber of Commerce, Administrator and by h firms. They did not meet the largest wholesale Russian buyers of British goods in Harbin, these firms having no connection with the British official institutions, Russian firms do considerable busi ness with Bradford and sell the goods to the smaller Chinese firms all over Manchuria, but they will not deal with any' British manufacturer who has a sole China agent in Shanghai, to whom commission must be The economic crisis is now being] felt in Manchuria more than ever, ment in general business. It was noticed that there were hardly any buyers in the large stores just before the New the old been cancelled by the orities, this holiday in Harbin history, doll and uninteresting.
Added to the general depression the local dollar fell making matters worse than fever, especially as rents have to be paid in Japanese currency, not even Chinese owners agreeing to let their flats in their own dollars. From 45 sen per dollar, the exchange has fallen to 40 and it is feared that there will be a still further fall which will result in many bankruptcies. As it is, over 30 firms have been compelled to close their doors! during the past week and before the fend of the month it is likely that} there will be another string of failures, some of these for large amounts, running into many millions, Beans, on which the prosperity of Manchuria depends, remain without buyers, while prices continue to fall. With the fall in price and the fall in the dollar it might be assum. ed that foreign buyers would come: into the market, but as month passes month, it becomes more and more evident that the Manchurian bean has lost its position in Europe and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.