The Shanghai Municipal Council, as was expected, has adopted the report submitted by the Eeonomy Commitice, composed of three of its members and appointed {0 investigate the possi bilities of making further retrenchments In the Council's. stating Fangements in order to case. the nanelal position which has been described as exceedingly serious, The Council has acted within its rights in reaching a "decision 'e-Tore publication but its adoption of that course in preference to the more thod of giving public opi-tun opportunity of being, heard, obviously" exposes "it to criticism, 'JustiNeation Is, of course, discovered in' the dimeult situation with which the Council is confronted. Further clay: in tackling the rim problem of deflect might create a truly manageable ancial crisis. That is {he Council's view, 0 It is believed, Lait such presentation of the public with a fait accompli will be condoned trily If the results achieved conform to recognized principles of prudent hnnsnelnt stewardship and justice. On that the. Report alone can offer material for judgment, BRITISH RESIDENTS, Mr, WI, Hawkings and his Executive Committee are to be conratalated on' the marked. Jnereuse the membership of the British Residents' Association. The rise from Just over a 1.000 to nearly
ings docs well to point out that the 1700 in satisfactory ut INF. owk community as a whole should give jete personal support to an or~ vanlzation which is intended to speak uthorltatively and effectively their behalf, The arrangement lectures for the guidance of mem-bors in important questions affecting their residence in China is a new Feature of the Association's labours here. It accords wilh suggestions made in these columns long ago when the organization was, feeling its way. The work which the Association docs Is not limited to Shanghai. tu London it' fs helping to keep public opinion there in touch with current events in China and in that respect too is doing a service which deserves recognition by in-croused "membership" returns. Mr. Hawkings urges the importance of developing the family membership for it is not always Understood. that women can join together with their husbands og full members, This alves the Association a notable source of numerical strength which far too little use has been made' hitherto,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.