Replies to Local Commissioner's Suggestion Apropos of the article which aps peared in these columns. recently, from the Chinese press with refer" ence to proposed measures to re+ medy the China tea situation with a view to restoring it to its premier position in the world's tea trade, several interesting replies have been. received from the various Ministries of the National Government by the Commissioner of Social Affairs for Greater Shanghai, Mr. K. C. Pan, some days ago, submitted certain schemes to the National Governe ment for approval.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Mines says that the Commissioner's proposals are far-sighted and mentions that they will be kept for re" ference and the Chiaotungpu says that the various shipping firms have been ordered to give tea traders all facilities and to reduce their freight rates for tea. The Ministry of Railways, on the other hand, says that the charges for tea transported. over the government railways. al ready are much lower than. they. should be and there is no possibility. of their being further reduced. The Minister of Education says that he will enforce in the government schools the proposals of the Social Affairs Commissioner to advocate the use of Chinese ten and tea production, ete, The Ministry of Fine ance mentions that the abolition of taxation of tea will be considered by the Tariff Commission, and the reply of the Ministry of Industry, Come merce & Labour says that the Commissioner's proposal that large sums of money should be allocated by the Ministry for propaganda purposes in foreign countries eannob be entertained at present because no money is available,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.