US. Consul-Generat in Shanghai who has been appointed the first American Minister to Australia, Rice Hawkers Appear Concession Rates On Streets Increased Shanghai, Jan. 10. appearance the news Is welcomed by many peot people who may obtain their daily quota of rice from. these hawkers at prices cheaper by few dollars as compared with those prevailing in the Shanghai Rice Market. though in a small way, these hawkers do help to remedy the serious rice situation here, it will be interesting to welch as to whether or not their Dusiness will be so prosperous as to. enable them to rival with rice shops.
Unlike other hawkers, these retail rice dealers have no definite places to sell their grain usually contained In small bags. They wander in streets waiting for customers to approach. They buy their rice from neighbouring districts at cheaper prices and in small quantities and carry them to foreign are: bleyeles oF on foot. that they seldom receive the alton tion of the authorities in, occupied areas using the pretext that they are carrying the rice to their own homes for consumption.
The Rice Distribution Committee, a subsidiary of the Shanghai Food-ull Readjustment Association, has now definitely decided to district about 20,000 bags of "ground" Saigon rice and Saigon rie commencing January 18. One hun-red shops have been appointed te distribute the cheap rice but each pericu is allowed to purchas only $1 worth of the grain. Six and a halt cattles will be sold for $1.
The Shanghai Union of Philanthro. ple Bodies is sponsoring the dis-{ributlon of Chinese puddings in the evening near Race Course Rond commencing. Inst night. About. 5.000 such puddings made of Fice will be flven free to the poor, but each Person it to receive two or four each weighing about four ounces. 'The same phitanthropie body was recently responsible for establishing begars' camp at 330 North Fokien Rend." It is reported that the second bermers' camp will soon be estab-
Straw Huts and Chinese Faetories in Ruins Shanghol, Jan. 11, The French Concession Budget for the Miseal year of 1940 having been Increased "to $16,800,000" from '$11,988,000 for" 1939, Important changes in taxation,—Heensing fan other means of revenue had to bbe made to cope with this increase which was caused mainly by the depreciation of the Chinese currency. the increased cost of imported ma: terials and last but not Toast, the In crease in freight and insurance rates fon such' imports, the ""North-china Daily News" learns.
Far-reaching changes have thus become effective as from January 1 particularly in the method of iond taxation and licensing of certain buslness and other establishments, In order to facilitate the collection of the land-tax, the Concession has been divided into' three sectors:
Sector 1: Which extends from the Bund to Boulevard de. Montigny, where the existing land-tox of eight per thousand will continue to prevail; Sector I: From Boulevard de Montigy to Route Pere Robert and Route des Soeurs, where the new tax will be nine per thousand; and Sector TH: all areas west of Route Pore Robert and Route des Soeurs, where the new tax will be ten per thousand, To these taxes, must be added the surtax of ne per thousand which has already been effective for some time.
Rates on rentals have been in-corcassed fron: 13 por cent, to 15 per ent, to which must be added the already existing surtax of 2 per oont. making 17 por cent.
Adjustments have also been made licence fees of most commercial establishments in Keeping with the Drevalling cost of living while, in order to distribute the need for' In-cone which the Concession. requires for its functioning more evenly amaz the residents, an ordinary protession= al ieenee thas also been created and is required as from January 1.
Motor car and other vehicle licence fees have not been increased though may be expected that this will be dare in ce-operation with the Shanghai Municipal Council. soon as. the budget for the new fiscal year will have been approved by that body.
The defence surtax which was stituted two years ago, will remain in force.
Shanghai, Jan. 12.
Approximately sixty straw huts end twelve wooden structures used os weaving factories were reduced to ruins yesterday morning by fire in 8 village situated off Jessfeld Road, ast of St. John's University. No-one Was injured but many of the hut-dwellers were forced to flee for their lives.
The fire started at about 8 o'clock and burned out of control for nearly hour. Settlement firemen from the Bubbling Well, Tehang Road and Sinza Stations, as well as Zaukadoo fire-fighters, went to the scene and extinguished the flames, Some 400 persons were made homeless, but this time there were neither deaths nor Injuries as a result of the conflagration.
'Two men were being treated for extensive burns yesterday after a fire which almost destroyed a gate-house [8t.the Intersection of Edinburgh and Vu Yuen Roads, between 11 o'clock and midnight oe' January 10.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.