Owing, however, to the higher gold unit/dollar exchange rates which ruled throughout the year as a direct result of the Government's currency reform measures of November 1938, and the lower exchange value of the Standard dollar since that time, the dollar out-ium ofthe gold unit collection has been proportionately greater at $254,538.970. representing an increase of $4373.614, or 1.75 per cent, over the 1035 dollar gutta The low exchange value of the standard dollar in terms of foreign currencies has naturally tended 10 restrict the foreign import trade. The following table, however, giving com= parative. Mgures for the Years 1935 And. 1936 of the amount of import duty collected in gold units at the various Customs districts, shows that although the decline in actual cash collections was greatest in Shanghai, the largest proportionate aeolines were registered at' Tientsin and Northern Ports where unpreceden smuggling was rampant.
Shanghai Duty Collection Th import duty collection of Shanghai in terms of gold units declined by G.U. 13,836,170, but in this connection it may be pointed out that the principal decrease in Shanghai's Import revenue, amounting to no less than G.U. 7601;472, is attributable to the decline in the' import of cereals principally rice and. wheat—which fell in value from GU, 41,900,142 in 1636, abunc largely independent of the foreign cereals. The lower dollar gave an impetus to the export trade, the export duty collec tion for the year amounting to $24 474126, an. increase. of 3.742.002 compared with 1935. The demand for many of China's staple export commodities was, as will be seen from the tables appearing tater: this report under the heading of "Ex-paris"" generally satisfactory, exe reducts, hides and skins, wood oil, being s large quantities. The export duty on silver fell from $228,005 to $9,731, and the equalisation charge from $103,602 to $4.668. Under the heading of interport duty and interport surtax there was an Increase of $477,205. "While the cumulative revenue collection clusive of tonnage dues, flood relief Surlax, and revenue surtax) for the first half of the year. ie. for the period January 1936, disclosed a de-felt to the extent of some $39 million when compared with the figure for the frst half of 1935.-the collection for the July-December period. 1 corded. an advance of some $48 million over the figure for the eor~ responding period of 1935.
This may be attributed in part to the liquidation of the political situation in the South, to the general progress" made in the suppression" of Smugsling in the North, and to the growing revival of trade during the losing months of the year. Of the larger collecting ports, Shanghai, with a collection of $148,000,197, con= tributed 4586 per cent of the' total revenue for all China, as against $149, 127499, or 4726 per' cent. for 103% The total collection at Tientsin, $35, 518,116 (including $10,058 collected ai stations along the Great Wall passes), showed a decline of $5,870,800 from 1995, while further decreases were recorded at Chinwangiao, of $192,340: at Chefoo (including Lungkow and Weihaiwely, of $790,322; at Tsingtao. of $2,007,318; and at' Amoy, of $550.- 740. "Increases were recorded Hankow, of $1,479,131; at Swatow, of $2,067,988; at Kowloon, of $1,774,197: und at Canton, of $1,309,207. The {otal losses incurred at the Northern Ports, Shanghai, and Amoy, amount~ ing to, $9378.024, were partially duced by a gain of $6,620,553 at Hankow, Swatow, Kowloon, and Canton, while minor individual increases ai the majority of the remaining ports resulted ina. total net increase of $9,113,579 Inthe revenue collection for all China for 1936, as pointed out above.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.