In spite of his strenuous duties at the war front, Gen. Chiang had) not forgotten the date of the opening of the new bank 0 he had sent a wire of congratulations and appointed the speaker as\ his per-_ sonal representative and as representative of the National Government, military and political situation, said! 'Dr. Kung, the development of industry and commerce ordinarily should be of secondary consider tion but, to demonstrate the fast that the' Government were anxious to develop these, they had beea placed before even military operstions. "The fact that we have faith {in the party; in the Government and in the future of our industry and [commerce is borne out by our 6pening this new bank on time.—We have spared no efforts and we will give every possible assistance to the development of oar commercial and industrial enterprises," concluded Dr. Kung.
Sir Frederick Whyte, adviser to the National Government, was the next speaker and he emphasized the point that the formation of the! Manufacturers Bank would not only give an opportunity to the industry' and commerce of the country to utilize the bank's capital, but it would establish necessary contacts between the merchant leaders. and industrial captains and government} officials. This was @ sound and wise policy and it should eventually work out for the development of the industry and commerce of this On behalf: of the local merchants and bankers and the guests, Mr. Wang Hsiao-lan, chairman of the) Commission for the Reorganization of Shanghai Commercial Organizations, offered his congratulations, to which Dr. Kung responded in a few! choice words, in the course of which he thanked his guests for their attendance and appealed to them for their assistance, advice and constant ce-operation.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.