Completing an inspection tour of the recent zones of hostilities near Hangchow, and of military hospitals in that city to encourage wounded soldiers. a group of prominent Japanese journalists of Shanghai returned to Shanghai yesterday, The party included Mr. Ikai Shirakawa, manager of the Shanghai branch of the "Osaka Asahi," Mr. Shigeharu Matsumoto, manager of the Domei News Agency; Mr. Kazumoto Tachibana, manager of the local branch of the "Osaka Mainichi"; Mr. Yukitoshi Tanaka, manager the branch of the "Tokyo Yomiuri' and Mr, Sakuji Fukamachi, of the "Shanghai United News" Japanese HE first of a series of three articles summarizing the annual report of the Shanghai Municipal Council, Industrial Section's activities during the past year. The year opened under most favourable condit and for the first half industry showed a considérdble degree of recovery from the depression of the past few years. But with the outbreak of Sino-Japanese hostile ies in the North confidence was dissipated and when it spread to this area all factories ceased operation in the affected areas, the difficulties el countered through this are fully covered in the appended report.
Dealing-with the economic situation in~ industrial enterprises, the effect of hostilities, and efforts towards reopening of factories, the report states that up til the middle of July, industry in Shanghai had shown a considerable degree of recovery from the depression of the past few years. From October, 1936, when the harvest in the provinces was garnered, there was an increased spending power in the country. The results were felt first in Shanghai in the cotton mills, which began to work a full time day and night schedule: four mills which had been closed for almost two years re-opened. Strikes aimed at the restoration of former wage levels occurred in the cotton industry: demands of workers were met, indicating a*returning confidence on the part of the mill companies Since the cotton mills employ a larger number of operatives than any other industry in Shanghai, money derived from wages earned in these influenced the greater activity of many smaller factories making—consumer-goods. Proposals for several new industrial undertakings and expansion of ex ing plants were forthcoming.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.