To the Editor of the "Nonmi-Cinxa Dany News"
Sm—May I suggest that, in view of serious shortage of vital food at. present whether secret stored by manipulators of rice dealers, the council authorities concerned' both International Settlement and. French' Concession will jointly purchase big lot of foreign rice in order to' cope with the present needs and will make every effort to lower the price of rice which is now quoted ranged {from $28.50 to $20 per zar, The price of rice, however, Is still higher than the stipulated level $22 -for the superior quality.
In spite of the dificult periods, whether caused by uneasy situation of hostile operation, the purchase of foreign rice is essential in order to relief numerous destitutes in. the city, 1 hope that the Watch Com= mittee of the Shanghai Municipal Council and even French Municipal Council are not devoted entirely to) trate matters only but spend a lot' of time in devoting the rice situation also, The problem of staple food is) affecting the Shanghai's - millions more seriously than traflle matters within the foreign administered safety areas, so that the drastic action might be taken, such as to fine the manipulators or rice merchants, Twish to demand that, whether my suggestion is righ, the authori~ les of the councils concerned to intervene in dealing with the situation, So far as I know the imitation "of rice price resulting hopeless in curbing the unprecedented price of rice, Sometimes 1 am. Wondering whether the authorities concerned pay more attention than T hope that the S.M.C. and-F.M.C authorities concerned "to take dual fection to buy more foreign rice in order to relief serious shortage of Vital food for local citizens, who will express their deep appreciation if the bona fide generosity is to be obtained the city.
Shanghai, Aug. 20, Chungking Should Help To the Editor of the "Nonnit-Cinta Dany New!
Though supplies are reported 16 ample, the price of Rice has reached famine levels. This will mean semi-starvation, or at least considerable suffering, to the millions fof workers in Shanghai. Already your columns have recorded one rice Hot and others will inevitably follow if vellef does not come soon. The speculators, who expect to get rich on the miseries of the people, doubtless also expect police protection in case their godowns are attacked by hungry mobs: and on the other hand they are protected against competition from" abroad by the prohibitive rate of Exchange.
T suggest that the ramp could be. broken Instantly if the Municipal Council were to apply to the Ministry of Finance at Chungking for Exchange fat 172k to enable the Council to. impart Rice from Saigon or Burma, the past, The Chinese Govern~ ment have always professed to be ready furnish Exchange for to "essential imports." 1 cannot Imagine anything more essential for the welfare of the Chinese people than Rice a price they can pay. For less than the cost of an aeroplane wing they can bring immediate relief. Let the Council formally—apply and if their application is refused let them "publish the fact to all the world. 1 Fannot believe that Chungking will refuse, for it would "expose thet fcurreniey policy as a hollow mockery and stamp them as unfit to rule the country.
Shanghai; Aug. 21.
Another Suggestion 'To the Editor of the "Nowri-Cinxa Dany News'
Sin,—Shortly following the outbreak of the hostilities in the autumn of 037, the p joe in the Shang-hinese populace. suffering the reasonable price, thereby' putting 3 end to the itis therefore not trange that some
the nasi ud "some are under SMC. to again, some forth 10 the ents expect the
the: impression that there is'@ supply Ntvtee om hand available for" allot ihnent to those applying. In order unnecessary correspondence on the prof bot the S. BE. and the ental public. say" 1 seat thal ets and informa whether ead in your esteemed EDITOR (continued)
Jounal and in your contemporaries that everything possible is being done by the S. M. C. fo cut down price of rice, but 1 am inclined to think that in' view of depreciation of local currency in terms of foreign monies, it is now impossible for the S. Bf. to bring foreign rice to Shanghai at competitive prices. As an alternative, T wonder if it"is not possible for the S. M. C. to apply to the United Slates oF some other country to contribute Such part of their bumper crop as they could spare to relieve Shang-hal, "because the prosperity the' Settlement and Concession is dependent upon the ability myriads of workers in its mills and shops to subsist therein.
these cannot maintain themselves, they and their dependents must either migrate from the Settlement and Concession or become destitute, and the integration of Shanghai will have begun, and once the deteriorating process has started, its progress will be steady and rapid, 'At least a part of the shortage is brought about artificially, the avallable supply of rice being absorbed by buying' for fulure requirements by some of the residents, many of whom fre stocked up for several weeks oF even months ahead. It is no wonder that the price shot up to $40. per picul and beyond in a brief period. 'The greater the increase in price, the more frantic the public become to buy. But the shortage is neverthe-ess' real and acute among the majority of the people who lead a hand-o-mouth existence and donot have the wherewithal to buy ahead. T am sure an assurance from abroad that ease of need, some adequate food supply, flour, corn or any other thing will be made available to Shanghai residents at 9 reasonable price will do much to relieve anxiety and pressure on the little supply of rice that now available, " Perhaps such an surance Is all that is required and is fulfilment may not be necessary. Will it be sought and given Kao Kwox.
Shonghel, Aug. 23
Swift Action Wanted the Editor of the "Nowru-Cuma Dany News"
Suj—The rice problem which con. fronts this community is serious a its seriousness may be far-reaching. In normal time local government cannot remain. indifferent. In this abnormal time its responsibility must become so much greater. But what proposed for either or both of the Municipal Councils to do?
The Shanghai Municipal and the French Municipal Councils, methinks, can join hands and heads together for whatever should be done. An emergency advisory committee, for example, may be appointed jointly and in Accordance with one of the advices which must be forthcoming, fan international relief committee on food may be organized. The latter committee ought to do one of the possible things very soon and that fs to sell rice and, if necessary, other commodities supplementary to or substitute for rice at cost or at a price which will break the psychology of panic on one hand fand on the other the practice of profiteering either by speculative merchants" of unusual" speculators. Appeal for grant of ald as well as of standard rate of foreign exchange may sticceed, depending on the honesty, standing, ability and experi-fence of these who will constitute the Committee.
Members of both Councils must look ahead find labour for the welfare of all who come to live and trade and work under their control.
Security and order in a community can be maintained so much better from every point of view only when there is no danger of starvation—no pretext for riot—no incentive for violence. It pays for the Councils to act without Shanghai, Aug. 24.
A Correspondent's Anxiety the Editor of the "Nonmi-Ciaxa Dany News"
Su,—The recent rise in price of rice has badly hit the already wretch ed Chinese residents of this city, especially these of middle and lower classes. "A picul of rice costing $26 'oF s0 is unprecedented and is certainly beyond the average buying power of the man in the street.
'AS we generally know, a great portion of the present Shanghat re-' Sidents are refugees from the interior. "These people have been living either on their previous savings or by the support of their relatives or friends. That their conditions are pitiful is too well-known to need" mentioning. Ever since the beginning of this year, a number of these people have been returning to their native towns on account of the igh cost of living prevailing in this city, This exodus Is observed to
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.