Hongkong, According to information reaching the Thai Govern-
Price of Rice at Root of S.M.C. Difficulties Reports appearing in several leading Chinese dailies here express anxiety over the rumoured impending increase of the various taxes being considered by the Shanghai Muni-the prices of rice will mean reduction of prices of other) commodities, If the price of rice is reduced the Council can save $1,000,000, as the tire allowance given to its employees Quoting sources closely connected with the Council, the reports state consequent upon he increase of prices of commodities, the Council is unable to make both ends meet. It is paying $1,000,000 for rice allowance alone during the year, to say nothing of exchange the a tax-increasing plan has not yet been discussed at any official conference, it is admitted, for the question will fo, be studied by the dismissal. of in unnecessary members of the foreign staff are; advocaled in the reports. It fs said, however, that if it' is imperative to increase taxes, such an increase should not affect Њe general public. The reports then assert that the fundamental question a Council should try its best to reduce is the of rice which the Fear of Recruitment by Warring Lands Expressed The Chinese government should train between 40,000,000 and 60,- 000,000 able-bodied young Chinese wine at war for doing wartime work in those countries. This is the editorial which, while refraining from mentioning the names of foreign coun: tries specifically, asserts that. "egal and "illegal" recruiting of Chinese labour by foreign countries at war NJBW si the present time.
it is pointed out that there is advantage in employing Chinese workers for carrying out dangerous duties in the countries at war. Besides their unquestionable efficiency, Chinese workers are said {o be much more economical A or American labourer firaws a wage which is 50 times that or a-k ts asserted. and offered protection in respect to their livelihood so as to
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.