Embargo and Exchange Held To Be Reasons The embargo placed on rice in Quinsan has caused the prices of rice here to go up again like a barometer Some weeks ago, prices of various: grades of rice went up on an unprecedented scale since the hostilities, but thanks to the efforts made by the authorities prices have been reduced a little, although they are still higher than usual, The recent changes in the foreign exchange market and the embargo laid on rice in Quinsan have considerably affected the rice market here.
The foreign exchange restrictions have caused the price of foreign rice to increase and therefore those merchants who have bought or ordered Saigon or other foreign rice have been unable to profit by selling their cargo at prices lower than those of the native rice which they originally intended to do. Merchants selling native rice have seized the opportunity to increase prices. The embargo has aggravated the situation in the native rice market because the scanty supply means an increase in prices, First grade rice was sold at $18 a picul yesterday showing a difference of almost $5 as compared with prices quoted some months ago when the rice shortage panic had not started. Second and third grade rice was quoted at $17 or a little less to the disappointment of the Chinese. The rice situation, has, therefore again become. tense enough to warrant official attention. Although Chinese repens indicate that there is ample ready stock here, the fact that prices have gone up to such a level has caused complaints to be made in almost every Chinese household Japanese Gifts Made to Faithful Servants Interesting Ceremony Held In Hongkew A gift presentation ceremony in honour of Chinese boys and amah who have been employed by Japanese for a long time was held by the Shanghai Japanese Emergency Women's Society at the Women's Hall at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon, the "Shanghai Mainichi" said yesterday morning.
Confections and money were distributed to 313 Chinese employes.
182 of whom have been in the service of Japanese households not less than seven years; 137 not less than 10 years; 23 not less than 20 years, and one servant, the oldest, who has a record of 38 years.
Those in service seven years received Y.2, 10-year employes received Y.3, and 20-year employes received One of the servants, Chiang A-fu. 40, employed by Mr. Michinori Ikeda grocer, visited the "Shanghai Mainichi" office after the meeting and donated his reward for 23 years of service to the "comfort fund" for Japanese soldiers.
The ceremony was opened with an address by Mrs. Chieno Matsumoto. head of the Scott Road branch of the society. Prayers were offered for war dead, after which the gifts were distributed.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.