Thus, at the end of the year, the prospect for the possible re-employment of many skilled wokers was far from bright.
Since the outbreak of hostilities a number of small enterprises have moved from war zon into the Central and Western eas of the Settlement. The small portion of the Northern district inside the British defence lines has also had some additions. Some of these newcomers The Indystrial Section devoted its efforts to discussing with owners of smaller factories the difficul: ies in the way of their re-opening. In the majority of cases the reason given was lack of transportation facilities. and owners were introduced to the shipping companies carrying on a modified trade with the Yangtsze ports. In other instances lack of raw or partly manufactured materials was averred, it being stated that these were not Available in Shanghai. It was frequently possible, because of knowledge of the factory situation generally, fto assist in obtaining substitutes Jocally produced. Skilled workers were found for some other enterprises, and in yet other cases where more than one factory was took over premises previously occupied by factories which had moved their plants to the interior.
266 factories employing 4286 workers moved into the Western, 138 with 2,085 workers into the Central, while 18 with 213 workers came to the Northern district—a total of 422 establishments with 6,584 workers.
Referring to the International Labour Organization and Factory Inspection in China, the report states that an invitation to the Director of the office, Mr. Harold Butler, to visit Japan was issued through Japanese delegates, and Chinese delegates renewed an invitation previously given. The outbreak of hostilities precluded the proposed visit, which had been set for November 1937.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.