Rice-—The rice situation in Shanghai was normal during the first six ths of the year but towards the end of June, supplies of grain from the interior declined and in consequence prices soared. With the a of the S.M.C. the Bean and Rice Dealers' Guild placed a limit on the wholesale prices of rice, viz: $21 per zar for Kan Mee and $17 per zar for Bee Mee, but this relief was only temporary as in August stocks Were so reduced as to cause a rise to $42 per zar and a number of shops were without supplies while others limited their sales to small quantities. A slight improvement was noticeable in September and October, but towards the end of the year the situation again deteriorated and in order to augment local stocks rice dealers began to import foreign rice. On December 10, in consequence of the continuous increase in the price, a new limit of $45 and $38 per zar for Kan Mee and See Mee respectively was enforced. These rates were later reduced to $40 and $33.
Eight eases of attacks on rice shops were recorded in August and 75 in December when 147 persons were arrested, 18 being charged and brought before the Shanghai Special District Court. In December, six Chinese connected with the' rice trade were warned by the Police for Suspected unscrupulous manipulation of rice while another Chinese was subsequently charged before the Shanghai First Special District Court with an offence of a similar nature and was sentenced to 15 di prisonment. The average prices of rice for 1939 are as follows During 1939, 101 persons were $21.74 to $24.42 per "zar"
17.62 to $1940 per "zar'
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.