Front un Ows Comsesronent Harbin, Apr. 14.
On Thursday, April 12, the annual banquet arranged by the General Manager of the C.E-.R, Mr. Rudy, for the leading commercial and industrial men of Harbin and neighbourhood as well as the whole of the Consular Body of this city, was held at the Railway Club and was probably one of the best that has yet been seen since the establishment of this railway. The guests numbered 180 and consisted of all nationalities. The dinner was served in real Russian style, the zakuska lasting fully two hours, after which the main dishes were served.
'A magnificent programme of artistic talent was also presented, the very best operatic artists and the best dancers in Harbin taking part.
Mr, Rudy's Report The first speech of the evening was Rudy who referred to under which the railway had to work during the past year and stated that notwithstanding all with which the railway staff had had to contend, the results of the year's work showed a balance to the 200d of 20,000,000 gold roubles, though Owing to certain allowances having to bbe made on the carriage of particular passengers and goods, the net profit Wwould be only 10,000,000. Even this sum, however, was much in excess of what had been anticipated. He expressed his thanks to the staff who fad loyally worked during the past year, some of whom had often. been Subjected to great danger and he thanked the clients of the railway for the support that they had given it. He expressed the opinion that as peace and order had been restored in the country the results of the operation for the next year would be even better than the last.
"His speech was thunderously applauded and was followed by out from the C.E.R. President, Mr. Shao-keng. who fully confirmed the figures that Mr. Rudy had given, and {ollowing him the acting vice-president, Mr. Bandura, spoke to the same ffeci.
Mir. C.F. Garstin, H. M. Consul General, a Doyen' of the Consula Body, replied on behalf of the foreign consuls saying that it was a pleasure learn. that the railway had been able to show a profit during the past, year and it should be remembered that it was thanks to the C.E.R. that Manchuria had been developed such a great extent. This railway lin had been the means of opening the country to trade and agriculture He hoped that the railway would continue #0 assist in developing the resources of the country and would give even better results than last year.
From the above speeches it will be seen that thanks to the very excellent management of, the Soviet, generat manager, Mr. Rudy, an the railway showed @ very considerable profit and it is only owing to the fact that a discount of 50 per cen fas to be made on the carriage of troops and military supplies that the net profits have to be cut almost in halt, "The argument that the railway is now of very little value is disprove by the figures which have now been made public by the general manager. trid therefore there seems to be good reason why the Soviet Government insists on a larger sum for the sale fof their tights in this concern {han that which has been offered to them by the Manchoukuo Government.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.