NCREASED living costs and rice allowances to the personnel and the upward trend of the cost of commodities and services with restitution of long leave on a modified basis, account largely for substantial increases shown in the estimates of the Municipal Police Force, Fire Brigade and S.V.C. for 1941 which have been approved by the Shanghai Municipal Council for submission fo the Finance Committee following scrutiny by the Council's Watch Committee on February 20. The preliminary estimates of ordinary expenditure submitted by the Police Commissioner shows an increase over 1940 of only 40.4 per cent. while the amended estimates submitted to the Watch Committee total $36,997,640 being an increase of 114.06 per cent. over the corresponding provision for last year. The estimates briefly follow Due to the transfer of the Russian Detachment to the Police, provision has been made for the replacement of a Foreign Assistant by a First Grade Chinese Clerk and the engagement of one foreign Clerical Assistant, one foreign Office Assistant four chauffeurs and two coolies for the performance of duties previously carried out-by members of the Russian Detachment.
Approval was given to appropriation for a. temporary hut costing $3,000; reconstruction of hutts, Rifle Range, $4000; minor works' $990; mobilisation equipment $2,000; and emergency equipment $21,500. ted by the Chief Officer of the Fire Brigade showed an increase over 1940 in respect of ordinary expenditure of 45.09 per cent, whereas the amended estimates submitted to the Watch Committee totalling $3,035,550 show an increase of 10027 per cent. In connection with the estimates for the Shanghai Volunteer Corps, it must be borne in mind that the Russian Detachment has been trahsfer-
Ted to the Police Force. The amended estimates for 1940 in respect of Volunteer units and Stock and Stores show an increase over 1940 of 133.34 per cent. In regard to the Police Force the Treasurer reminded the "Watch Committee that further substantial amendments may be necessary to take care of the proposed Special Police Force for the Western Outside Roads Area and to provide for pending revisions in the pay and aliowünces of the Russian Auxiliary Detachment, The preliminary estimates submitted by the Commissioner of Police, including provision for the recently transferred Russian Auxiliary Detachment, amounted to $24,267.020. Amended estimates as presented to the Watch Committee showed a total S.V.C. in "B" Sector "N.CD.N." Photos.
These pictures illustrate the good work the S, V.C. have been doing im "Br Sector since the departure of the British troops from Shanghai, The upper picture shows a patrol on the Bund, Below is a sentry at "B" post in the sector,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.