May 15.
With the arrival of supplies of rice from Hongkong in Shanghai the attempts of the Municipal Authorities to prevent undue profiteering in the staple food of the Chinese enters what may prove to be a decisive Phase. It is necessary to point out, however, that it is by no means a sudden improvisation, but the result of careful investigations which have been proceeding for some time and planning based on the result of those inquiries. The Hongkong Government, through its appointment of the Shanghai Municipal Council as its sole exporting agent for the Shanghai market of the class of rice most Suitable for the consumption of the majority, has virtually created a monopoly of that particular grade, but no intention has been expressed of controlling the others. Dealers can import other grades and in. principle they should be encouraged to do so, for the greater the amount of rice laid down in
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.