The proposal of the Greater Shanghai Municipality authorities to suppress superstitions customs! and beliefs by levying a tax of 80 per cent. on incense sticks and candles is meeting with much opposition on the part of the local people and, from reports to Rand, the merchants do not propose to recognize it.
About 100 money exchange shopkeepers held a meeting in Nantao and resolved to request the Shanghai District Kuomintang to prevent the tax from being! enforced. In asking for its eancel-1 they say that business already is. hi i, if they are deprived of this method of making. money, they will become insolvent. The National Government, they go Jon to say, has decreed that citizens shall have the right of freedom of religion and this arbitrary step will interfere with the people's liberty.
Dealers also held a meet. ing in the Incense and Candle. Merchants Guild at the Great South Gate and resolved to fight against the imposition of the tax. It was agreed to appeal to Gen.
Kai-shek roque an order for the tax and to forbid its enforcement to call upon candle and incense dealers throughout the country, appealing to them to lend their assistance in the fight against obnoxious and unfair taxation, and to declare a general strike if attempts are made to enforce the tax, Meanwhile, it is said, the avthorities have agreed not to levy [proposed special tax on fire crackers.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.