The annual general meeting of members of the Exporters Associa tion of Shanghai was held on January 31 at the offices of the Secretaries, Messrs. Beck & Swann, with Mr. J. H. Liddell in the chair.
In presenting his report on the year, the chairman referred to a Secrease in the number of members during the past year of from 44 to 39, Stating that a minimum of 40 was essential, he asked that a drive for further membership be me stituted. The balance carried forward to the next year's working account was $1,604.16, as against $2,051.79 at the end of 1933.
In reviewing the work of the year, Mr. Liddell referred to the difleulties experienced by members in the Egg Albumen, Tobacco and Bristle trades, and to the valuable work done by sub-committees of the association. Messrs. Smith, Erich and Kale were thanked for the assistance they had divan. Speaking of the association's duties, Mr. Liddell said:
"The association has_ important duties here in China, The export trade is vital to the Chinese nation and a valuable part of it is in our hands. Anything we can do to improve the conditions which govern it and to increase its volume, automatically increases the wealth' of the nation asa whole, and for that reason we have the right to expect the support of the Chinese authorities. China is the only country In the world, that T know of, which levies a tax on her export in a large way. There is a tendency 100, among Chinese, both merchants and officials, to think that the world must use China's produce, regardless of its cost. 1 would like to impress upon them that, in many articles, there fare other countries which can offer as good and often much better pro-duets at strictly competitive prices fand that every effort isbaing made in Goodyear 7. and R. tot 1041 104 me Ret and Tel, Gone. oat Ent Tel, and Tel. St Gat Met, Dairy 1631 1081 Pecige agy fast Rew York Gentrat New Conv. 109° Jos those countries to increase production, improve quality and reduce costs.
"The Chinese Government has done lot in recent years to open up the Jcountry with new ronds and railways four even so these are still quite inadequate for the effective and Jcheap transportation of goods. The" carrying charges on. mer chandise "from interior districts to Coastal or river porte are, there. fore, on an average far higher than in other counteles and as a result, the farmer in China does not receive competitive value for the products fof his farm. Further than this, he has not the benefit of the same financial assistance us is offered in other countries and consequently can li afford to develop on up-to-date me.
"We hear a great deal about Government programmes for the indus trial advancement of China, but China is a nation of land owing farmers and it seems to me that agricultural development would be the more natural programme and surely one of equal if not greater imporianee. A start could very simply be made by removing all duties on exports and this is something T think We should press fur at the frst possible opportunity, The report and accounts were unanimously adopted and the following committee elected'—Meaers, W. &, D. Smith Gardine, Matheson Ca, Lid), Chairman, H. H. Erich (Carlowilz & Ca.) Vice-Chairman, Kale (E. Kale & Ca.) Chairman Furs and Skins Section, H. Dieck~ mann (Melchers & Coo, P. Huet (Olivier-Chine), A. Hummel "(Puhrmeister & Ca) H. K. Peters (H. K, Poters) W. Russell (Arnhold & Ca., Ltd). N. A. Viloudaki (Viloudakt Ca, Fed. Me. US.A.)
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.