The process of exhaustion of supplies, coupled with the need for conservation of resources, following its due course in both Japan. and China, and it is only natural that the personal appeal for economy should follow. In Japan, some bold steps have been taken to enlist popular support and encourage popular sacrifice {in order to assist the Government in its campaign. Economy in food consumption, abandonment of the use of luxuries, adoption of simpler living habits and the wearing of cheaper clothes of a uniform type, the use of alcohol in gasoline and many other methods of contributing to the teneral fund of resources have been adopted, The movement has now spread to China and Dr. H. H. Kung, Minister of Finance, added his authority to the appeal in his opening address fat the Bankers Conference at Hankow Wednesday, While the major business before the conference is the discussion of national "financial conditions in the light of strengthening China's war efforts, Dr, Kung introduced the persons note by urging people to live a simpler life, Fewer cigarettes, simpler clothing, earlier bedtimes to consume less kerosene and electricity, simpler house furnishings were among the sacrifices the Chinese people were called upon to make. He also referred to food and gave ood advice when he remarked that "Elaborate meals and entertaining are out of place, A simple diet will do much to Improve health and efficiency," but as long ao he did not refer to some of the horrible concoctions the British public had to swallow during the Great War the body politic ought not to suffer much through ce-operation with him, The Eleventh Hour The hurry of the Hongkong Legislath Couneit to pass an Eviction Prevention Bill, as reported in this issue demonstrates. all "the phases of a government suddenly awaking {o the realities of a situation, which for a time had chosen to ignore, With the commencement of hostilities in. China there was an, influx of refugees into the colony. There was an increasing demand for housing accommodation, and the landlords,—probably no better and no worse than similar fowl in other Tands-—proceeded to make hay while the sun shone, Rents were raised wholesale, old tenants told. to get out if they did not want to pay, and ina very short time the agitation of the unfortunate tenants grew to such a pitch that the Hongkong, Government was obliged to: appoint a commit sion of investigation. That body returned. 1 reassuring report, and despite renewed agitation the administration preferred to shut: fis eyes to what was happening. Rents were increased in some instances as much as one hundred per cent, and the case of Mr.
Clark, a former resident of Shanghai, whose Fent was raised a mere beggarly 25 per cent, seems to be tame in comparison, Mr, Clark fought against the increase in the Courts, and the law being what ft Is, lost his ease, Eventually an eviction order was issued which was extended. The Bill, which has now been assed, is designed 10 protect permanent resift anis against profiteering landlords. and evie~ tions in favour of wealthy Chinese, This is not the rst occasion Hongkong has been troubled by the profiteering landlord, Only a few years ago the Legislative Council was obliged to ass an act restricting rentals. and to the ord-mary resident in Hongkong it has not. been clear why that measure was not reinforced immediately the trouble was brought to the notice "of the authorities. The hurried passage of the present enactment Jocks remarkably lie a piece of eleventh-hour-legislation, to save situation which would never have developed had the Colonial Government listened even sympathetically to the representations which were made to it. But undignified as. it has been in its haste to make the best of a,,.:{ very bad job, it has the vonsolat!"~' that, last, it really has done something—and. thal something-after all, is it not?
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.