Shanghai, Mar, 30.
OTWITHSTANDING abnormal conditions prevailing in the Far East and in Europe, the adverse rate of exchange affecting the prices of imported building materials, and the activities of specula~ tors who bought up nearly all available constructional materials in July of last year when the value of the Chinese dollar commenced its downward trend, the number of applications for building permits submitted to the Public Works Department of the Shanghai Municipal Council is not below normal, Mr. C. H. Duff, Building Surveyor of the P.W.D. told the "North-China Daily News" in an exclusive interview yesterday.
Prices of building materials have]! in the Seltlement alone, Mr. Dulf "The larger' number gone up G00 per cent. as compared these structures were erected in the With the "pre-war" period, Mr. Dull northern part of the Western district. added. and if an adequate' supply Although industrial structures were materials would be available, build matty iesponaible for the Fecovery Ing activity In Shanghai would be of Shanghai's building trade, "Mr.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.