As rice 1s definitely the most important article of food for the great reportion of the community no ex-use is needed for giving a few more figures outlining the position. It is estimated that the present population of the Seltlement and. the French Concession ig about 2% millions. Allowing 1 1b, of tice per head, a population of 2.250,000 will require 2,250,000 1. or, say, 1,000 tons dally.
may, perhaps, be assumed that 25 per cent, of the population will not Feceive this full amount of rice, and minimum requirements, therefore may be placed at 750 tons or 7.500 bags daily. Stocks actually in the Settlement' and the "French" Concession are estimated to be 20,000 tons:
'oF 200,000 bags, which would give roughly a 2? days supply. In addi~ tion, amounts hoarded and in the rice ins of the fomitles would be about 50 per cent. of the warehouse stocks: so {hat the total existing supply may be regarded as sufficient for forty days. These estimates are on a con servative basis.
Tu order that necessary reserves may be maintained. orders have been laced in Saigon for Saigon rice and frst consignment is due shortly. 'Other shipments will follow, and questions of freight and cargo' space fre being considered for still further Supplies should they be thought ne-assary. It was upon the basis of these figures that the rice situation was reported to be satisfactory.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.