A3A
TIENTSIN
mum qualification for any voter, irrespective of nationality, is the payment of Tls. 200 per annum in respect of land-tax or rental assessment tax or the occupation of premises of an assessed annual rental value of Tls. 600.
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A feature of Tientsin which arrests the attention of visitors is the open-air storage of cargo on the British and French Bunds, which have thus become in: effect a general godown." A great deal of confusion and congestion formerly existed from this practice, but the British Municipality has since elaborated an excellent scheme whereby the Bund is divided into numbered steamer-sec- tions and storage-spaces, and the roadway is now kept clear of cargo. The result has more than justified expectations, and the orderly storage of goods in marked-off spaces not only allows a proper control to be kept over all such cargo but has facilitated communications by keeping the carriage-way clear of obstructions.
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The Racecourse is situated about 3 miles to the west of the Gordon Hall and comprises a very valuable property of about 1,227 mow of land. New betting buildings of reinforced concrete, which surpass anything of the description in the Far East, were constructed in 1921.
In spite of the general trade depression, the Chinese Government Tele- phone Administration registered an increase both in activity and in revenue for the year 1930. An extension of lines was made in the west end of the na- tive city in May, and another was made in the Hopei district in December. There was a partial change to automatic machines, which are greatly appre- ciated by the subscribers. At present there are 11 long-distance lines operat- ing between Tientsin and places as far afield as Peiping and Shenyang, while a relay service was established between Tientsin and Antung, Dairen, Port Arthur, and Japan,
TRADE IN 1936.
Though not without incident, the year at Tientsin was comparatively quiet. The value statistics for the port so far as they are recorded by the Customs were as follows: direct foreign imports, $72.6 million as compared with $85.2 million in 1935; coastwise importations of Chinese merchandise $116.2 million as against $114.2 million; direct exportations to foreign countries, $117.8 million; as
as compared with $91.2 million; and coastwise exportations of Chinese produce, $58.2 million as against $46.4 million. In so far as smuggling was concerned the year under review proved to be the most disastrous on record. As already pointed out in the paragraph dealing with smuggling and preventive work, sugar, artificial yarn, piece goods, kerosene oil, and other high-duty- paying articles were smuggled in increasing quantities, disrupting legitimate trade and saturating the market with ilicit goods. In regard to exports, egg products, furs, seeds, raw cotton, etc., contributed largely to the increase shown, while the exceptionally good harvests of cotton gave a record crop. Improved conditions abroad and stable exchange contributed in no small degree towards a revival in the export trade, and the feeling was general that, smuggling apart, the depression was passing. As shown above, the value of imports declined by $12.6 million. Imports of cotton piece goods amounted to 16 per cent only of the previous years figures. Conditions in North China regarding piece goods in general have brought down retail prices to such low levels that competition has been percluded, the greatest sufferer in this respect being Great Britain. In fact, legal imports constitute but a fraction of the enormous, quantities of piece goods smuggled, which are estimated to have been 10 million gold unit in value. In view of the satisfactory harvests no raw cotton was imported during the year. In regard to wool and manufactures thereof there was some improvement, though the figures are still below those for 1934. Considering the enormous quantities of silk (including artificial silk and manufactures thereof) which found heir way into the country through illegal channels, it is not surprising that importations during the year were half those of the preceding year Of artificial yarn, it is estimated that over 4 million gold units worth entered the district. Sugar was another commodity smuggled
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