It was authoritatively learned that Mayor Chen Kung-po of the Greater Shanghai Specia) Municipal Government had officially forwarded a letter to the Senior Consul of the Consular Body in Shanghai requ ing him to notify all foreign Consuls-
General concerned that the new Chinese city regime would collect "house tax" and "busin tax" foreigners having godown tories in Pootung, Authoritative quarters interviewed however, could not give the exact amount of tax money the Chinese city authorities wanted to collect. it being explained that it all depended on the value of the buildings and their contents, It was said that Poc tung is within Chinese jurisdiction and that foreign property there is entitled to Chinese police protection, Fore owners of godowns and factories there were said to have therefore been asked to pay taxes to Chinese authorities, It was pointed out that the tax money had not been paid by foreign ers since the outbreak of hostilities: and that requiring them to pay taxes was simply to follow the routine of the pre-war days, It could not be ascertained exactly how many foreign factories and godowns are in Pootung, as some of thew were damaged by fire during the Shanghai hostilities, It'may be recalled in this connection that some M. d'Auxion de Ruffé for plaintiffs sprang a surprise when he also brought another action for Mr. A. Bordes, another shareholder, against M. F. Bouvier. Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Auditorium. The case was adjourned for two weeks.
Addressing the court on the first action. counsel replied at some length to the arguments of M. Premet at the previous hearing. The action not being a social case as contended by his opponent, counsel submitted that his clients could sue individually. He contended that the court was empowered in the circumstances to order an accounting by an expert accountant under the supervision of a judicial official M. de Ruffé then levelled a scathing criticism of the action of some of the directors of the Auditorium, vigorously contesting their right to receive additional remuneration. He stated that not all the shareholders had been allowed to scrutinize all the documents of a vital nature relating to the company's affairs, which they were entitled by law to see, and declared that for these reasons they were perfectly justified in bringing the action. He concluded by asking the court to order the Auditorium io give an accounting under the supervision of a judicial officer.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.