Interviewed regarding the proposed increase in. motor licence fees, Mr. J. K. Choy, Commissioner Finance of the' Greater Shanghai Municipal Government, said that even, after the proposed increase is put in force, the Chinese licence fees will Yemain substantially lower than those charged by the International Settle ment and) French Concession authorities, despite the far greater mileage' of available Chinese "roads. The Finance Commissioner stated:—
"The proposed increase has been approved by the Provisional Municipal Council and sanctioned by the Executive Yuan of the Central Government after careful considera~ tion of the relevant facts.
"Miles and miles of roads have been built in Chinese territory out of general revenue. If the building of these roads had been dependent solely on receipts from motor ear and truck licences, most of the roads would not be in existence to-day, "These new roads have had to be maintained and Kept in good con= dition out of general municipal revence. In view of the extent of the Greater Shanghai area, most of the roads run through sparsely inhabited farm land with: practically no substantial revenue such as house rates for their support. On the other hand, all the roads of the two foreign settle ments run through highly congested areas, which yield an enormous rev~ ence from house rates, "Nevertheless the public pays more for foreign than Chinese motor. Meences as the following comparisons show:
Contranarive Licence Pies class and Shanghat International Greater
French Cone. Pres. "Prop. Private Cars '01/1010 "kilos. $1960 $14, IT. Hire Caro 'OO1/1010. Klos. $2040 $21.28, Private Trucks '2101/2180 kilos. $9080 $22. $2, Hire Trucks '7101/3180 kilos." $3780 $39. gat. Motorcycles $20. #20.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.