Chinese employees of the four Government banks in Chekiang have been exempted from conscription for one year, according to an order issued by the Chekiang Provincial Government yesterday.
The four Government banks ari the Central Bank, Bank of China, Bank of Communications and the Farmers' Bank, which, the order says, handle finances behind the lines, Their work is therefore as important as that at the front, according to the order.
The order was issued after receipt of petition from the joint office of the four banks at Yuyao where ccnscription is being enforced. Some of the employees of the four banks have also been required to join the army.
This exemption does not extend to employees of other banking institutions at Yuyao, Minimum Charge of $1.20 From Tomorrow; Hourly Rate to Be $3.60
With petrol selling from the pumps at $1.30 a gallon, Shanghai motorists have been somewhat badly hit for some time past. Now, a second class of motorists—those who, for various reasons, do not have cars of their own, but use hire cars—will find the cost of transportation suddenly shooting up from tomorrow, for the following notice is being issued today:
"Owing to the increased cost of gasoline and other supplies, we... beg to announce that, commencing Friday, July l, the minimum charge will be increased to $1.20 for twenty minutes or $3.60 per hour," instead of the old charges of $1 and $3 respectively.
These new rates apply to the Ford Hire Service, Taylor Garage Ltd., Johnson Garage, Ltd., and the Silver Taxi Service, who form the four major hire car operating companies in Shanghai; between them they maintain the largest and most modern fleets of American, cars which are available night and day—except during rush hours, most pessimists would add.
In addition to these companies are a large number of smaller companies which are expected to fall into line shortly, as they always have in the past. A few of the two or three-car companies, however, will probably hang on to the old rate as long as possible, compensating for the increase in running costs by the slight increase in trade which they expect will accrue to their garages, British C.-G. Arrives in Chungking Chungking, June 29.
Mr. W. Stark Toller, the new British Consul-General in Chungking, arrived here on Monday night, accompanied by Mrs. Toller. Mr. Toller drove his own car from Kunming. where he was previously stationed.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.