Rumours That Grain is Being Sent Up-Country Prices of the various kinds of rice reached another record high yesterday when even the first grade Saigon rice was sold for more than $100 per picul. The price of the native rice was quoted at $125 but one could hardly buy it from retail hongs at that price. Secret payments of "allowances," besides the price money were indulged in by merchants in the Shanghai Rice Market yesterday. They were anxious to obtain as much rice as possible. The "allowances" were considerably increased yesterday, it was learned.
The main differences contributing to the increase for the Finance Office expenditures are due to increased pay and allowances, passages amounting to $41,410. The increase in pay and allowances amounted to $380,430 of which $266,190 is due to provision made for high cost of living and rice allowances at the higher levels recently authorized. The balance includes an increase of $24,650 in the repatriation exchange adjustment appropriation and covers long leave benefits for which no provision was necessary last year.
In addition to normal pay increments in accordance with the grading scales, provisions has been included for promotions and replacement appointments following the resignation of two foreign employees.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.