Three of Canton's leading" off cial arrived in Shanghai on Jetober 11 by the N.Y.K. m.v, Chi-'Maru—Gen, Chen" Ming-chu, chairman of the Kuangtung Pro-Vineial Government: Gen. struction for Kuangtung Province: and Mr. W. K, Ling Mayor of the Canton" Municipality. AN three Granted special interviews to. the "North-China Sunday. News" after they reached the Burlington Hotel, where they are staying until tonight when they will leave for Nanking to confer with Gen. Chiang. Kai: shek and other leaders of the Gentral Government, Gen, Chen stated that Kuangtung was once more enjoying a reign of ence and it was his sincere hope that this state of affairs would @ermanent, so that trade-conditions sould be revived, and the people made happy once more, The Kuangsi campaign was nearing a conclusion. and this would mean Ahat Kaungtung would have to go to 4 great deal of expense in connection with the rehabilitation of its The head of the Canton Govern ment expressed pleasure over the fact that Marshal Chang Isueh-Jiang had assumed is appointment as. Vice-Commander-in-Chief of the National "Army, Naval and) Air Forces and sah! that, with the Young Marshal's assistance, the Prospects of national peace" were Very bright indeed, - Gen. Chen did not anticipate that the Central Government would experience much WiMiculty in writing the word finis to the northern rebellion but he earned the iilea that the Govern ment had bought" over Marshal Feng Vu-hsiang. He thought. the! Government had given Feng too many "chances and everybody realized the kind of man he was to Put too much trust in him, Gen. Chen said that he had been called to Nanking to meet Gen. Chiang Kai-shek and other leaders of the Central Government in conference, He declined to state the nature of the discussions but -mentioned that "important. affairs ha {ng a bearing on the whole nation would be considered.
Asked whether there was any truth in the reports that the Cantonese armies had come to an strangement with the Kuangsi bels and whether he thought. the ulti-Kuangsi campaign would be of Jong duration, Gen, Chen aid the campaign would be over very shortly. The fact that the Government forces were continually pres ing the rebels was. sufficient 0 prove the reports that an. arrange. iment had been reached, Dealing with relations between Hongkong and Canton, the chairman stated that these were very conial, The relations which exis ed detiveen the officials of the two places had never been closer.
Gen, Teng Yen-hua said that the Bureau of Reconstruction, of which tho was head, was endeavouring to carry oura reconstructive programme which would be of real benefit to the people of Kuangtang: He proposed to carry out his work quietly and preferred to do as Tittle advertising as possible. The people would see the results in a few years ime. At the present time, only the initial steps had been taken so was yet too early to make pre-
"We are encouraging agriculture and afforestation and, for this purpose, we have established model agricultural experimental stations Lofo, Chaochow,—Shaokuan, Shiuhing and Kiungchow and have planted no fewer than 30,000,- 000 sprigs during the past 12 months, We are trying to teach the people to plant trees instead of tearing them down for firewood as they have been doing in the past. he development of waterways is bewise an important item on our programme.
"Investigations which have been shade reveal the fact that the theople of Kuangtung consume $400,- '000,000 worth of rice each year but the annual output of the province ig. only three-quarters of that amount. For the rest we have to @epenid on Annam and Siam, Kuang-ung. soil is fertile and there is no yeaton why we'should not produce oer own vice." As there are plenty of opportunities for "development, ywe plan to grow. sufficient ree for Jour own use instead of depending Jon foreign countries and we hope to this during the next ten years. "Of course, we are aiming at big things, but it is no use trying count our chickens before they are hatched."
Gen. Teng mentioned that the fishing industry and said that steps were being taken to encourage thi lon a wide scale. There were some 300,000 fishermen along the Kuangtung coastline but, through anti-[quated methods and old. apparatus, they to do not dare to venture into the deep water, where the best fish fare to be obtained, with the result that the Japanese have been en-Jeroaching on the into Chinese waters. An aquarium had been built and the Bureau had obtained three vessels for the par-Pose of teaching the people who depended on the fishing industry for a living the most' up-to-date methods.
A network of roadways had been planned and work on one of the main roads, between Canton and Luichow, had been completed, Other main roads would extend from Canton to Hoifung and Shaokuan (and later into Hunan). 'The total length Jof roads built by' the Reconstruction Bureau was now more than 5,000 Li, By this. time next year, was hoped to complete 7,000 Li Most of the roads were built of mud or macadam.
Gen, Teng also mentioned that mining, industry and _sericulture [were being encouraged and he hop-Jed that, since the Government had taken the lead, the public would follow, Dealing with municipal affairs Canton City, Mr. W.K. Lin, the Mayor, stated that a little progress had been made but of this much had been written in the press, Questioned in connection with the proposed Pearl River bridge, Mr. Lin said that plans had been drawn up and experts had been engaged. [Work would begin next year and, it was hoped, would be completed two years." The cost was estimated /at Tls. 1,300,000 and it would injelude a moveable span. The new [bridge would be 600 ft, long and 60 ft. wide. There would be a main. roadway 40 ft. wide, with sidewalks on both sides, each ten ft, in width. reply to question regarding' the water supply, Mr. Lin mentioned that the Municipal Government had taken over control from, ithe merchants who had administered, it in a most fneficient manner, the result that the supply was now greatly improved. The former output of ten million gallons was insufficient to meet the demand and new and up-to-date machinery was Doing installed, costing H. K. $1 400,000, which would be capable of supplying a similar amount, Installation work was nearing completion and it was expected that it would be brought into use next April or May, when the Waterworks would be capable of supply ing the needs of Honam Island as as well as Canton Proper.
Turning to finances, the Mayor mentioned that everything was carried out in accordance with a programme of strict economy. The monthly income of the Municipality was about $300,000, $120,000 of which was being used for the promotion of education in comparison with $70,000 when he took over office. The Municipality maintained 80 free primary. schools, several libraries, several score of middle schools and a museum. Then, als endeavoured to look after the aged, infirm, maimed, blind and dent' and dumb, Benevolent _institutions had been established for the housing of these people and several thousand mow of land had deen allotted as a training ground for those who were able to work. On this land, it was proposed to Duild 100,000 houses, half of which had been constructed already.
The Canton automatic telephone system, he was proud to say, was the most efficient in China and the complaints regarding the service were next to nil. Tt was hoped next' year to complete the Canton-Hongkong underground long distance telephone service.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.