Stocks in Shanghai Said To Be Ample The rice situation in Shanghai was again yesterday viewed with alarm by the Chinese press and populace here and hope was freely expressed that the authorities in foreign areas will do something before it is too late, as the present prices of various grades of rice are far beyond the reach of the poor. The price of the native grain has passed the $60 mark. A relief organization on for adjusting the price for' the entire population is advocated.
Quoting rice merchants, Chinese reports attribute recent price increase to the activities of manipulators who, it is claimed, have been active despite official warnings. Godown owners have publicly asked rice merchants to clear ready stocks, but alleged secret negotiations between godown managers and profiteering merchants have resulted in the latter being allowed to hoard their stocks for higher prices, it is alleged.
Authorities here should immediately ce-operate with public bodies in forming a relief organization to investigate the number of piculs of rice stored in godowns and fix reasonable prices, while at the same time starting a cheap sale for the benefit of the poor, it is urged. It is asserted that there is ample supply in the city and that the increased prices are not the result of any local shortage.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.