Authorities Attempt to Collect 40 Per Cent. on Land Values in Area present trouble in Chapoo, Shanghai, July 12 whence many foreign and Chinese property owners have been ordered to evacuate, appears to be due to the unsuccessful efforts of the authorities there to' collect a tax of 40 er cent. on the assessed valuation of the properties, according to reliable information received yesterday.
Some foreign owners, including the Automobile Club of China and Mr. A. A. Royer, of the Royer Construction Corp., paid this tax immediately it was demanded. Others, however, have refused to do so, on the grounds that they consider the tax legal, and the present attempts of the Chekiang authorities to force them to move away have apparently come as a result of this refus "The majority of foreigners have now returned to Shanghai, with the exception of the, Lazatist Fathers and Marist Brotivers, who are remaining on their property, which they have occupied for more than twenty years. The local authorities there are continuing to dig trenches wherever possible through their property, however, giving the construction of fortifications as an excuse.
Mr. A. A. Royer, who has been in Chapoo for some time superintending the construction of new quarters for the Automobile Club there, returned to Shanghai yesterday with his family. He told a representative of the "North-China Herald" that had received no orders to stop work fon the construction and that they had not been interfered with in any way.
When questioned as to the digiculties which have cropped up in Chapoo during recent days, he stated that it was his opinion that the authorities were trying to force payment of the 40 per cent. property tax, and that tne question' of fortifications entered Into the issue at all. He pointed out, that the authorities expected realize roughly $400,000 from the tax and that they had been severely disappointed by the refusal of the majority of landowners to pa
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