Rumoured Depression Said to Be Unfounded The rumour that Chinese cotton mills in the western area may be sold to Japanese interests was denied in responsible Chinese circles yesterday.
The rumour, emanating from Japanese sources, was to the ẹffect that the Chinese mills had been hard hit by the absence of demand for their products and also Jack of means to transport their goods to the interior.
In refuting the rumour, Chinese circles pointed out yesterday that Chinese manufactured cotton is in great demand in the interior, notably in Kwangtung Kwangsi, Fukien, and Szechuen. As a result of the demands, prices of Chinese cotton has been pushed up, according to the report. The rumoured sale of Chinese mills to Japanese interests is strongly denied, The good business enjoyed by Chinese cotton mills is due to lack 9f competition after the outbreak of hostilities. Patriotic Chinese in the interior are not using "foreign" zeeds, it is reported.
Loading at Nantungchow Investigated The Inspector made a v of investigation to Nantungchow to note methods of loading at that point and treatment of pigs en route. We have reason to believe that some of the dead animals seen unloaded at Shanghai are the result of ill-treatment to which they may be subjected prior to loading on the vessels. The. journey from Nantungchow to Shanghai should take 8 to 12 hours which is pot an unduly protracted period for the pigs to be kept unfed, or without water at this time of year. On occasion the vessels have been delayed by bad weather or lack of berthing space and the pigs have then obviously suffered as the mortality figures have shown. On occasion too the Society considers the shipping space has been inadequate.
On arrival at Shanghai, discharge being on the Settlement or French Bund, unloading from the vessel, load. ing into trucks and transport over Municipal Roads is under the supervision of Municipal Departments. The Inspector has watched discharge and loading operations over a period of two months. His notes show a steady decrease in the mortality rate. At times he noted great over-crowding which led to interviews and his subsequent visit to Tungchow.
As pigs with broken legs or other injuries which made it inhumane for them to be further transported were sometimes discharged from the vessels the Society considered these should
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