March The announcement that Municipal Council has given consider a scheme of price control for the Interr tional Settlement along lines that ha ready been announced by the authi the French Concession, and that committee has been appointed to practicability of any such scheme is indeed welcome news. It is to be hoped that the deliberations of the committee will not be unduly prolonged, and that when they have concluded their deliberations their finding will be in favour of instituting some sort of control. It is a regrettable fact that since the suggestion was frst mooted there has been no improvement in the price situation which has if anything worsened. There is the evidence necessary in existence to how that speedy action is essential, for with the outbreak of Jabour troubles which has been noticed this week it has become apparent that the dinger point is rapidly coming nearer, and that the possibility of disorder is daily-increasing. There are signs and portents to be seen on the streets by the most casual observer. The theft of coal and tige from lorries passing through the streets, and that singularly enough by women is highly significant. Thefts of this sort by hoys and young men is, and has been common enough, but it is rarely that gangs of women have been seen indulging "in this form of petty peculation, and the fact that they are doing this sort of thing is in itself but another indication of the growing serious: ness of the situation. Similar significance to be attached to the various strikes which have been reported and which are likely to become more frequent unless something can be done to bring the cost of living down to levels which the masses can afford to pay. The reported demands of strikers include requests not only for increases in wages but allowances for rice to cover the difference between normal prices and the large sums which are now being demanded for that staple, Unless something can be done and that speedily the position which is already bad may be confidently expected to teriorate.
The excellent ead which the French authorities have given the rest of Shanghai, and the endorsement which has been given to such a scheme by Mr. Fu Siso-en shout serve fo set at rest any doubts concerning the legality of any such scheme being applied the Shanghai Municipal Council, The Jurisdiction of the Council, it is true, was originally very narrowly defined. Since that was done there has been an ever-widening conception of what the Council could or should do, and there is plenty of support For the view that to be bound by such narrow Ideas at a time like this would be to defeat the whole object of the Council's existence. It is sufficient to enunciate the doctrine that it is the duty of the Municipal Council to maintain good order in the Settlement. 'That responsibility is twofold. It not only' means hat it is the duty of the Council to suppress. disorder with force, should that become necessary, but also {o take such action as may forestall and prevent disorder. Consequently if it is shown that the residents of the International Settlement are being flecced by a number of ruthless profiteers, and food hoarders, and that their manipulations are likely to' bring about a state of desperation im which the peace of the plice may be dis turbed, it is by no means illogical to contend that it is not the duty of the Coy to await until disorders have broken out and put them down by force, but to take such preventive measures as would obviate the necessity of having to use stern suppression. Realizing that there is " very great difference between the powers of the authorities in the French Concession and those of the Municipal Council, it has to be remembered wholly brought about, not the necessary powers they should vote for the time being assume them. Indeed the doctrine of comity demands that the International Settlement shall move shoulder shoulder with the French Concession in this. matter, and vith the blessing of Special Municipality of Greater Shang: achich has been given, there should be no real obstacle to the perfection of some scheme of control which would bring relict to the masses in Shanghai who are indeed badly hit by the spectacular increase in the cost of living, Conditions in Shanghai not to be judged by" the apparent prosperity. of places of tumusement. Phe people frequenting such places form a very minute proportion of the total popttlation of the city. There are on the other hand millions of residents whose margin between income, and bare living is always small, and to whom the present rise in prices represents not only an increase in outlay, but in so very many eases an actual deprivation of the necessary quantity of food. A position is being created where the n ire to Keep themselves in moderate health. This observation is thoroughly borne out by social workers in Shanghai whose activities bring them into contact with classes which the aver we tion is, therefor also the fact that only too apparent as is at ever can now be done
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.