Manawatu Daily Times Shanghai and Nanking

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6774, 4 February 1932, Page 6

Manawatu Daily Times Shanghai and Nanking

Shanghai, on which the eyes of the world are focussed to-day, is the commercial metropolis of China and one of the world’s greatest seaports. It gains importance because of the fact that to a degree unparalleled in any other great country the foreign trade of China is concentrated into a single sea-gate. The vast hinterland has a population estimated at 180,000,000, about half China, and that the most important economically, is served by Shanghai and the city’s contribution to the maritime Customs revenue is more than four times as great as that of any other port. It is also the nearest port to Japan proper. ' The native city of Shanghai is the nucleus of a vast urban agglomeration which now bears its name. It stands on the left or west bank of the ‘Whangpoo branch of the Yaugtse. By means of a series of costly works extending over twenty years, the Whangpoo has been converted from an irregular creek to a stream with a minimum depth of from 21 to 26ft. in the lowest tides and a high-water depth of from 30 to 42 feet. Continuous dredging is necessary to maintain these depths. The Shanghai urban agglomeration consists of she main areas, the Old City, dating from the eleventh century A.D., the International Settlement, the French Concession, the northern outer suburb Chapei, an eastern suburb Pootung, and a southern suburb Nantou. The International Settlement lies between the French Concession and the scene of the trouble, and is four times more important, conomically than the French Government’s interest in the city. The International Settlement is 5584 acres in extent and contains 30,000 foreigners and 802,000 Chinese. The French Concession is 2525 acres in extent and holds 7000 foreigners and 289,000 Chinese. Tire settlements, and particularly the original British Concession (the International Settlement is composed of the British and American Concessions, the boundaries of which were •extended in 1893) form the central districts comprising the principal commercial quarter and the famous riverfront or Bund. The hinterlands are mainly residential in character. The industrialisation of Shanghai has resulted in the creation of a city proletariat of a type new to China, and estimated to total 300,000. The city is much the greatest turing centre in the country, and lies in a region with traditional skill in handicrafts. The cotton industry is one of the most important in the city and 30 Japanese mills employ 58,000 operatives, 24 Chinese mills employ 49,000 operatives, and four British mills arc staffed by 16,500 operatives.

Nanking is about 170 miles to the north-west of Shanghai. It is the chief city of the province of Iviangsu, ;;ncl has a population of about 390,000. It dates only from 560 years ago, but is built upon the site of a city which, under various names, lias figured in Chinese history for over two thousand years) Three hundred years ago it was created the southern capital (Nan-king), 1 but was the scat of the Imperial Court only during the reigns of the first two Emperors of the Ming dynasty, and was abandoned for Pekin by the third sovereign of the line who usurped the crown.

Formerly one of the chief literary centres of the Empire, Nanking was taken by the British in 1842, and made a treaty port by the French Treaty of 1858. In 1899 it was voluntarily thrown open to foreign trade by the Chinese Government, and in 1909 was connected by railway to Shanghai. Satin, crepe, nankeen cloth, paper, pottery, and artificial flowers were among its chief manufactures. The Nationalist Government decided to remove the capital from Pekin as a mark of dissociation from the old regime, and Nanking was chosen as the republican capital. In 1928 and 1929 it was the scene of Nationalist disorders, but the city offers too many advantages as the head-

quarters of the republican authorities lightly to be given up

A good story is told by a financier (says the Inglewood correspondent of the Taranaki Herald), illustrating the queer ideas of some pooplo regarding tho borrowing of money. A man approached him at his office for a loan, and was askod to produce some security. Forthwith he laid on tho table a blue paper. “But,” said tho financier, “this is a summons for debt.” “That’s right,” was tho reply, “that’s what I want the money for; you can hold that as security. I owo a good bit besides that, too,” ho added.

After over 35 years service tho bridge at Pahiatua is to be replaced with a reinforced concrete structure. The present wooden bridge which spans the Mangatainoka river is of heart totara timber and the piers arc reported to bo in an unsafe condition, as tho bridge shakes dangerously with even tho lightest traffic. It is estimated that the construction of tho new bridge will take nine months to complete, and at present the preliminary work is being proceeded with. There arc 20 men engaged on the work. Seven groins are also being erected for the protection of tho banks and to keep the course of the river as straight as possible. Willows arc also being planted.

The butter-fat advances made by Gisborne dairy companies for December supplies have come down to tho lowest point since pre-war times (states the Poverty Bay Herald). The figure decided upon by tho Ivia Ora and Okitu Companies is on a basis of 9d per lb. but it is pointed out that tho low point fixed is more the result of tho comparatively high payments made in previous months. The butter made at tho higher payments is now coming on to a poor market with an uncertain outlook, and, while tho present market values might justify a slightly higher rate than 9d per 1b.,, the dairy companies are following a cautious plan in adopting tho 9d advance for the past month’s supplies.

For the ordinary person correspondence with tho King can hardly bo considered a matter of hearty cordiality (says the Christchurch Times). In fact, it is very impersonal indeed, according to a letter received in Christchurch last week. The envelope at first glance might have been a trade circular until closer inspection showed it to be most distinctive. Made of the best cartridge paper, it had a neat, red crown embossed on tho flap, and on the front iliero was tho mark of an oval rubber stamp: “The Privy Purse —Buckingham Palace.” Inside, the single sheet of paper was embossed with the crown and “Buckingham Palace,” and there followed less than half a dozen lines of typewriting: “Tho Private Secretary acknowledges. . . . The Private Secretary is desired to convey an expression of his Majesty’s thanks for. . . . That was all.

“People should make it their business to spend wisely, buying sufficient for their general needs and for the day,” said a Christchurch merchant, in commenting on the present tendency of people to husband ail their resources. He admitted that there was a great section of the community in which economy was of paramount Importance: for instance, the struggling farmer, the basic-wage earner, and the relief worker who had to watch every penny. There were, however, men with liquid assets who were afraid to use their means in any direction. Manufacturers in other countries had been compelled to cut down their output for lack of a sufficient demand: and there was already evidence that prices were hardening from 10 to 15 per cent. It appeared certain that, when people began to spend again, the market would bo found short of merchartdise