Sept. 8.
In_ another column appears an article' on the possibility of the restriction of gasoline supplies in Shanghai, and the various means by which it could conveniently be met by Tocal motorists... At'the beginning of last week it was. stated that the supplies of gasoline in Shanghai were sufficient to. meet the local demand for some time to come, but the facts that two oil companies only sell for cash, while the third is exercising some control over the amount which its customers purchase on credit are sufficient indication that the time may come when rationing will have to be introduced. Shanghai been particularly fortunate, local conditions which United "States is: tating. "action, to control the tage, of gasoline it fe, hardly swith Unrestricted supply of the fuel. this pari can hope to. ese There Is a number of factors contributing to the present situation and the manner Which e'may be expected to develop inthe Tulure. "Shortage "of shipping ie one, the necessity for diverting gasoline supplies else Where, another; for the winning of this war of far more Importance than. the conven Tepes of local motorisis;-and'the question of exchange a third." Ae is remotkeed. in the Particle under notice, (f China's new Stabilization "board is prepared "to release any afe exchange for geasine for Shang hal itis reasonable to conclude that il wil be only enough for war-time motoring, "In the circumstances the all Companies have one' well to take time by the forelock they. have, But much responsibilliy Tests, with the Yocal motorist: to cooperate to the FRullest extent, thus helping to eke out exist Ing suppltes,'and to the day Swen arioning, which wil mean' substantial 1e~ notion tu the supply of gasoline to the Inz fivideat, has to be introduced, 1 is clear that with the reduction in the amount of the alist available a great change ay come over the business and social habits of the city. "Wil business resort to one-shift fee: hours? "It has been done inthe Tar amices of the Years ago, though whether the practice is em, oilway fu, arm some adhered to there is not Yenown, Again workers may be obliged. to reduce the fifth time from we: hours fo one, forcing, more of them to. make use of downtown restate fants, or carry. the packet "of sandwiches Which many a clerk Inthe city of London has to do." That mean resort to the idea of substantial breakfast before gol work, a snack at midday and a substantial high-ted after. office hours, That might, be good for the average foreigner for the imion Is still that most. people In Shan} feat too much. This, however, is alter being influenced by the high increases the cost of supplies which tend. to" brin about an economy in foods not to be noric in the more spacious days of the past.
Those days are disappearing. It they ever return they will not, be the same in the past. During the last quarter of a century, there has been a gradual change In the life' of this city, and present conditions serve to accelerate the process. The. good citizen will be he who recognizes that "fact and seeks to adapt his life to it, This matter of gasoline restriction, and possibly eventual rationing, calls for cooperation, as suggested in the article, and the exercise of Ingenully in mali may prove to be sparse stipu plies. do every bit of work imaginable: The Sharing of cars should not be Impossible of arrangement, and eventually the owner of a car seen driving without every.seat in his vehicle being occupied may come under some stigma of reproach. The man. who travels to Hungjao for his golf and falls to take other players with him will cease to be a sportsman. He who uses his own car when ho can obtain a lift from a friend will similarly regarded, All this may be looking far ahead, but it all arises out of the fact that Shanghai cannot expect an in=, definite continuance of the supplies of gasoline it has been receiving.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.