Ye will be remembered that a few weeks ago we published brief information to the effect that} Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Ca. acting as agents for the Indo-Ching 'S.'N. Ca,, La., had decided to reduce} the salaries of the officers of their ships as from March 1 next in view of the heavy losses incurred during the last few years, and that the officers ud held meetings at both Hongkong and Shanghai at which it was decided to oppose the reduction on the ground that the increased cost of living since the present rates came into effect made pny reduction quite unacceptable 'What has happened since we do not know exactly, and neither the officers' representatives nor Messrs. Jardine Matheson are at present] prepared to issue any statement for. publication. The condition of trade in China at the present time, however, is such that the general commercial public is keenly interested in anything and everything that may influence, even to the smallest extent, the unhindered con. duct of business. We are but} stating a widespread belief when we say that any serious breach between any of the big shipping companies and the officers at the present time would constitute little short of a calamity; and though the contending parties in the dispute have not seen fit to take the public into their confidence (for excellent reasons, we have not the slightest] doubt) the public has a direct con-corn in anything that may affect business operations on the China Coast. For that reason, if for none ther, it is strongly to be hoped that the present difference will not} be permitted to reach a serious stage and that a settlement will eventually be reached through the channels of amicable negotiation. China Coast commerce generally, and British shipping interesta especially, can afford no other method.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.