Aug. 21.
When it was, announced that it was] necessary to restrict the use of electric cur-Tent owing to the difficulty of obtaining adequate coal supplies, many consumers their utmost to meet the new requirements, demonstrating a loyalty to the common caus¢ of Shanghai which is altogether praiseworthy. But it is a regrettable fact that on the other hand there were people who not only failed to fall. in with the desires of the Municipal Council and the Power Company, but actually used more current than before, apparently with the idea of manufacturing fas much as possible against sucha time when further restrictions might become necessary. Profiteers and other types of hog are to be found in every community, and in this Shanghai has proved to be no exception. 'The announcement on Tuesday that the Council had agreed to a now proposal by the Power: Company whereby those who will not fall' in with the general scheme shall be heavily penalized is in the circumstances most heartily welcomed.
In view of the conditions prevailing at the time the restriction scheme was Introduced, fan allotment of 70 per cent. of established usage was by no means unreasonable. That it Involved a certain amount of inconvenience and possibly reduction of output in industrial concerns was from the first apparent, though many users by domestic adjustments' did not
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.