Batavia, June 15.
'The Netherlands East Indies Volksraad (Peoples' Council) conver ed for a brief, dramatic session today End unanimously empowered - the Governor General, Mr. Aw! Tjards van Starkenborgh' Stachouwer, to carry out measures to preserve the Netherlands Empire's status quo in this part of the world.
Thousands of persons, including many colour fully saronged Javanese, thronged the streets surrounding the building during the session, The leries were filled with spectators, among whom were the consuls of powers friendly to the Netherlands, "We are doing everything possible to keep the status quo of the East Indies," the Governor-General said, "tu the meantime, we are giving all material aid to the Alles without in any way damaging or infringing on the interests of the United States and Japan in this part of the world.
"We confidently expect that the Democracies will win this war against aggression and totalitarianism, natives to carry on at their normal urged the Bast Indes' 60000000 tasks. All native leaders, he said, had voluntarily assured him of their eagerness to ce-operate in preserving the status quo of the Indies.
The session ended with the assem-Balti 18—United plage singing the Netherlands and British national" anthems be stopped. It was stopped for a few" day, and impediments to hip. Ping Snereased, but ships have Deyn fain to call' "Probably the om, Uinuance' of trea between this port and Shanghai benefits both cites i'n is) the river will never be completely blockades.
Power Plant Accident Wenchow was plunged in darkness for several weeks after a careless workman at the electricity works allowed the dynamo to spin at too high a revolution so that it broke from its bearings and spun out through the roof, killing one man on ils course. The local_government ordered the ight company to find Some meang of continuing their services, and this has been partially done by the employment of auxiliary engines. Electricity is to be had by hight, but not by day; moreover there are parts of the city not yet connected up on the new wiring, Tt appears that those streets are' excluded where it is known that there 's an institution where clectrilty The theft of electricity is one of the common practices sanctioned by local custom. When asked why the company did not prosecute there "juice"thieves, it was said that even the police-station is an offender, Also, there are so. many ways of stealing electricity that it is dimeult to obtain evidence, even when the fact is well and widely known. Because of this iMegat leakage the honest customers have to pay much more for their light—this is the off cial explanation for the high cost of electricity. One other reason given the company, and one with more justifeation, is the tremendous cost of oil fuel' which has. cut away all Profits, To prevent the losses being too great, customers are asked {0 make over a gift bonus to the com-any from time to time, In the old divs no two clocks m the city showed the same time. Now giving Chungking time. the alt siren sounds every evening
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.