The newly reduced prices of $40 and $33 for the first and second grades respectively prevailed in the market yesterday but these prices still were far too high for the majority of the Chinese population, who are daily becoming more desperate as {they} cannot purchase their staple diet. Rice merchants in the market, in view of this, have asked the authorities to offer them adequate protection.
It has been reported that the aged rice merchant, who was shot by gunmen in Chekiang Road on Saturday, is one of the six rice merchants who have been warned by the authorities against profiteering. This could not be confirmed, however. Other Chinese reports stated that a secret organization which will resort to violent methods against profiteers, instead of rice shop employees who only obey orders, has been formed. One of the men, who took part in the riot on Saturday at the San Mow Rice Shop in Chengtu Road has died of his injuries.
It is the general opinion in local Chinese circles that the situation can only be relieved by two measures—the collective purchase of Saigon rice and the starting of negotiations between all authorities concerned, to aim at increasing the supply. 'The first method is being used by Chinese civic leaders here but, so far, there have' been no negotiations between any of the local authorities.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.