Representatives of retail rice shops in both foreign areas, who have been Keeping the Shanghai population supplied with its dally quota of rice by buying rice from the Shanghai Rice Market in Foochow Road, refused to go into the Market yesterday. Instead they awaited action against Profiteers, who have been demanding "allowances" in addition to the price money which action, in a large measure, has been responsible for the record prices quoted by the shops. was learned that they had de-elded to boycott the Market for three days commencing yesterday as It was stated it would be difficult to continue business unless the authorities put a stop to the "allowance" system In which profiteers follow prices of-tidally allowed in name only. Midtlemen did not show up either.
Profiteers, who have been hoarding rice still refused to sell their grain according to the prices officially Kmlted by the authorities. As a result there were only a few transac tions in the Market, which was closed earlier than usual There are about 1,000 retail rice shops in Shanghai and managers of these shops also have been complaining against the manipulation in the Market by "rice worms." as rice proteers are called. On Wednesday. managers of these shops held a meet ing at which they decided to petition the authorities to do away with the "allowance" system so. that they could obtain rice at smaller prices.
Rice merchants here have been discussing the question of buying rice collectively from Hongkong for some time. It Is Tearned that authorities of Hongkong recently sent a representative to see authorities in Shang-hal and that they offered to sell between 200,000 and. 250,000 begs of Rangoon rice monthly to this city under official supervision.. There would be no profiteering in this transaction, but it Is stressed here that the rice situation will remain very serious unless the exorbitant demand for allowances is done away with by the authorities. the desperadoes had left, the CPC. jsearehed the entrance to the lane and found two hand grenades.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.