To the kdlitor of the "Nonmn-Ciuxa Dany News"
Sin—A good deal has been said and written on the subject of factories of various kinds being erected in the; residential districts of Shanghai.
Those are not the only undesirable additions to. the Western district. Take, for example, the two large cofinimaking establishments which have been allowed to instal themselves on the vacant bit of ground at! the route Say Zoong end of Avenue between the Luck Apartments Apartments. products of such fa trade an eyesore 19 the neighbourhood, but there is another and more serious aspect—that of danger from fire, Tmmense, quantities of wood are! stored in. these two compounds and rumpers of coffins, and the place is Uttered with shavings and sawdust, These and the three matsheds, two Jorge and one small. constitute serious menace to property in the near neighbourhood, as the employees and their families live on the pre-rises, sleeping in the coffins, not to mention numerous friends from the country who sojourn there, and native workers are not over-careful as to the disposal of cigarette ends.
If permission to set up such a business has to be obtained from the French authorities, it is. surprising that the latter should grant it In view Of the serious danger of fire, especial ly as there would seem to be no water installation in the compound, water being at present obtained fromthe buck premises of Haig Apartments. such permission has been granted, however, as the compounds are newly' numbered 329 and 331.
Il is unfortunate that Avenue Haig! Jshould have been favoured by two, such undesirable installations storage for corpses and a coffin manufactory. One wonders if there is any connection between. the two, and whether the properties are owned by' the same person.
There is another source of danger too to be considered—that of whole families of Chinese living in garages, Jdoing their cooking in the garage, in close proximity to cars and gasoline. Hin one garage, known to the writer, there have been no fewer than twelve JDersons living, eating and sleeping—grown-ups and children, the number being added to by two rickshaw coolies who lodged there for the night.
Another aspect—sanitation—or the Jack of It One is exposed to not a few annoyanees these days, one way and another and not a little risk from infection and fire. And one has to pay 4 surtax of 2 por cent. to the French authorities, starting 1938.
Axonex Avexur Hac Dweure, Shanghai, Apr. 1.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.