To the Editor of the "Nonra-Cinxa Dany News"
Sin—While passing along Bubbling Well Road to-day, I noticed that, in the neighbourhood of St. George's, straw buts had been erected on each side of the street on the pavement. These straw huts occupied the whole Jof the pavement #0 that pedestrians had to walk in the roadway, and furthermore, the shops fronted on to that part of the Bubbling Well Road [were completely obscured.
Tt would appear to me that during the period that the basket fair is in existence the trade of these shops must be reduced almost to nothing.
One naturally wonders why such a state of affairs is permitted. What would happen if tenants of the buildings on the Bund arrived at their offices one morning and found the Jentrances to the buildings blocked by row of straw huis extended along the whole length of the Bund!!
Tt may be that the SMC. remits the municipal taxation on the shops affected, for the duration of the fair, order to partially compensate them for their loss of trade, but doubt it.
consider that the public Is entitied an explanation as to why the nual obstruction caused by the Basket [Fair is. permitted.
Shanghai, May 10,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.