The Joint Commitice held 50 regular "meetings during the year. The number and variety of the ques. Mons discussed at these has been conveyed to members in the reports issued from time to time. A sugges: tion was made that more than one eneral meeting of members. should be held in each year 30 as to give the Committee an opportunity of Fe: porting on current problems and on actions connection with them, hoped to hold an extra eneral meeting in December, but I regret that owing chiefly to stress of work aid many other meetings eon tinually: being galled it was not found practicable to do $0.
T would like to make it quite clear that information on all matters is lable to members at any time on application to the Secretary, and minutes and documents in connection th any question are open to their confidential inspection, addition to the regular meetings two special meetings were held on May 19 and December 9. We were honoured by the presence of HUM. Ambassador on both occasions and by the attendance of the Commander-in Chief at the second meeting.
Sub-Committees 'The sub-Committees of the Cham-liber have been active during the year under review and. many' medings were held. The matters discussed at these meetings have of necessity been entirely connected with the problerts that have arisen from the hostilities. 'Their deliberations and recommenda: tions have been of much assistance to the Joint Committee during a it time, and the thanks of the Chamber are' due to the members of all sub-Committees for services they have rendered.
The Language School The Language School sub-Commit-toe had again to face the dimeult problem of trying to place the School on a self-supporting. basis.
The con-
School is proving a di Chamber's resources. aad hav caused sour Finance Commitiss sane cone as apparent that the time coma whee tate would bs alternative but to close. the School Unless it could be run without further ess." The whole question was fully considered by the sub-Committee and the Principal of the School the inese teachers also met the n by consenting to a reduction in their salaries. This new arrange ment came into force on July 1, and under it the School could just' pay lis way provided an average of thirty students. per-month was maintained ughout the year. Tt is hoped that 'e-may be a material increase in the number of students and thus obviate the necessity of closing. The matter has the serious consideration of your Committee which is desirous of continuing the School, if possible.
The thanks of the Chamber are due to Mr. 8. G. Hoare and Mr. G.
Creighton for conducting the Chinese Language examinations in Shanghai, and to Major G. A. Hexbert, Mr. Allen Price, Mr. KW. Tribe, Mx, Trounce Nelson, Mr. G. V. Kitson and Me. 'B. Boothby for conducting the imitations. in. Tientsin, Hongkong, Ghetoo and: hankow,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.