Continuous Decline Shown During Past Two Years Figures show the employment situation in the Jocal silk filature industry as steadily on the decline. In June, 1931, there were 20 filatures established within the Settlement boundaries. Twelve months later the number had fallen to 12, Jand during the present month only ten have been left. Two years ago the total complement of employees was 11,471. This had been reduced to 7,096 by June last year, and is now given' as only 5,359. Only seven of the ten filatures are in operation, with 4,089 hands actually engaged.
In Chinese controlled territory dro} in 1981 and 62 in the total number of features has
1982'to 61, of which 47 are in operation, having 19,747 employees work. ing but of their fall complement of leprosy. 2 est of students in the problem of An air of mystery still surrounds preparations for the conference over fehich Lord. Marley is to preside in Shanghai, and which has Been vane ously descrived ax the World. Anti-Imperialist Conference and. the World Conference Against " War. JOviginally it was reported that the conference would take pace at the fend of July or beginning of August. ater the date was given as ubout tie middle of Auguste and it is now said that the conference. has, been Postponed unt the made of Sep: agstiding to the ye sult of these, it is understood to be probable that the series of meetings will be held either in the Chinese
lor in. the premises of the Wor YMCA. Boulevard ne. Monuigny, Literary Society in Route Ferguson.
Thirty nations are expected to be represented among the delegates now travelling to China to take part in the conference, the total number of representatives being estimated at more than three hundred," While it was predicted here that Lord Marley, the British delegate and
Jarrive in Shanghai on Monday, anchat of the conference, would Jother report stated that he would not be here until about August 18.
Prominent among those mention led as delegates, in addition to Lord Marley and Miss Ellen Wilkinson, who has taken a leading part in Jwomen's suffrage and trade. union movements in" Bri [Theodore Dreiser, of other works which have gained wide - recognition in the United States; M. Henri Barbusse, French left wing writer, probably best known in England for his grim war Feu"; other leaders of anti-in England and and Japanese representatives Whose names sre quoted as Tokunaya, Takada, and Sakamaki, In Chinese quarters itis believed that left and other countries have " secretly. reached Shanghai, hile Mr. Dreiser has already arrived im Japan.
Mme. Sun Yat-sen (Soong Chinging) and Dr. Tsai Yuan-pet, named is heads of the Chinese delegation, interviews with the Chinese press, and in response to written inquiries have disclaimed all knowledge of the subject. Besides anti-war propaganda in various parts of the world, matters to be jscussed at the conference include the furtherance of the anti-imperi-Jalist'movement, the Manchurian and Mongolian situation, and problems relating to colonisation in Asia, the straggle with world "Fascism, and safeguarding of freedom of speech land assembly.
Probably the most important of lall_the resolution to be submitted during the deliberations—which will Nast at least one week—relates to ithe question of Japanese armed action in tHe north-east. Rumours that
known as the "North-east Inquiry intended io set up a body to be [Commission" "have attracted close Jattention on the part of the Japan-lose authorities, who are said to be keeping close watch "on the movements of the three chief Japanese delegates. Other representatives from the National Labour. Federation, the Left Wing Writers' League, Hight Wing Artist Leagoe. and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.