Meanwhile traffic in the Soochow Creek is to be temporarily suspended owing to the heavy taxes imposed on goods carried by launches running between Shanghai and Soochow, and also other cities in the interior, says a Chinese report, Numerous so-called peace maintenance committees demand taxes from the launches all along the Creek. Even passengers have to pay 20 cents per head before he is allowed to travel from one district to another, it is reported. These taxes have seriously affected the business of the launches.
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