It was learned from a shipping man yesterday that attractive freight rates ranging from $200 to $250 per ton were earned on the Ping Yang to Shanghai run, compared to the mere twenty dollars of former days. The informant pointed out, however, that sight must not be lost of the fact that $20 per ton was the freight charged in former days from Ping Yang to a large port on the Fukien coast or Wenchow, from where consignees have to pay additional freight for transhipment to Shanghai.
Like other coast ports the shipping business with Ping Yang is confined almost exclusively to exports, as there is very little doing in imports io Ping Yang owing to the multiterious restrictions imposed on imports by the Chinese authorities, and even goods made in Shanghai have been reported to have been placed under the ban of war-time luxuries.
All Shanghai-manufactured goods almost have fallen under this category, it was learned. A Consignees have been willing to pay high freight rates to export their cargo to Shanghai, as currency cannot be exported from coast ports and the sale of the goods here would result in the payments made in Shanghai being deposited safely in one of the big banks. Another reason for the suspension of the/import business is the scarcity of ready cash in coast ports.
Passenger Business Flourished While little cargo is destined for cozst ports from here, passenger business has been flourishing and reports have filtered in of Chinese passengers paying $60, $50 and $40 for first, second and third class passages respectively to some ports nearby. In some instances as much as $200 heve been paid by intending passengers who were privileged to leave Shanghai for a certain coast port, although the accommodation offered has not been on any grandiose scale. Passengers and consignees of cargo have unhesitatingly paid all charges demanded by shipping agents without haggling over levies.
It has also been reported that owners of coastal "tubs" who now have ewe to lament have made quite good profits and that it was not uncommon for a boat to net as much as $15,000 clean after a few days absence with all expenses deducted. that visitors be allowed in. The officer of the guard told them that he could not disobey the instructions issued, and considered the matter settled.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.