Referring to the financial aspect of the project, Mr. Palmer recalled that for some five years past the payments of the British share of the Boxer Indemnity had been deferred, and that at this moment London. ye therefore followed that there were no funds available in
any sums of money to be made available for the purposes of this textile school would have to be advanced by the British Treasury. It wag not unnatural that before the Treasury advanced these moneys, Parliament would require to be convinced not only that the scheme was a good one of itself but that ib would receive the wholehearted moral support of those in China who would directly benefit by the technical education of China's youth.
When he returned to London, he hoped to be able to report that the mill owners, both Chinese and foreign, would at least accord the proposed school their support by the selection and provision of a number of students. He also hoped to be able to report that some contribution, commensurate with the business done, might be provided by the merchants and others engaged in the business. He attached some importance to the ce-operation of those engaged in the trade, because without it it was impossible to demonstrate that full advantage might be taken of the opportunity which it was proposed to provide and without which Parliament would doubtless fee) not justified in the allocation of funds for this purpose.
Support and hearty appreciation of the scheme were given by Mr. Sidney Barton, Mr. C. C. Nieh, Mr. James Kerfoot, Mr. G. A. Haley, Mr. HY. Moh and Mr. H. G. Simms. Mr. Moh emphasized that if they were to save the cotton industry they must have better management, while Mr. Kerfoot, who warned they that there were severe times ahead, suggested that support for the school ought to be forthcoming from the Chinese Government, the Municipal Council, the mill-owners and the artisans themselves.
At the conclusion of the dinner Mr. Calder Marshall expressed his ebetesianon of the support accord-
Mr. Chung Bing-him, compradore of Messrs, A. W. Burkill & Sons, has been re-elected chairman of the Cantonese Merchants' Association of Shanghai.
Amonest the honours, recently announced in the Swedish Government Gazette, is the Royal Order of the Nord-Stjarn (Polar Star) conferred upon Mr. H. von Hei-dens tam, of the Swedish Corps of Royal Engineers, Engineer-in-Chief to the Whangpoo Conservancy Board.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.