NANNING
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running within city limits, which are owned by the government. All highway traffic and bus companies are under the control of the Bureau of Highway Traffic Administration.
As for Communication on water Nanning is connected with the outside world also by way of Yukiang (or Yuk River) which leads down-stream to Wuchow in the east, up stream to Lungchow in the southwest, or up stream to Pe-Se in the northwest. Motor boats sailing daily from Nanning to these three cities. Concerning Communication by telephone, the dial system is adopted in the city of Nanning. The excellent tele- phone system recently completed enables the provincial government's orders to be sent through telephones (sometimes through the broadcast station) even to the most distant districts in the province. Besides, air transportation has been lately made possible by establishment of the Nanning-Canton and Nanning-Lungchow air lines which, carrying both passengers and mail, are run by the South Western Aviation Co. In order to meet the rapid-growing demand of industry and trade the Kwangsi Province Bank has issued notes for circulation in the province against which the cash reserve is always so carefully kept that serious runs or depreciation of the notes seldom occur. The Bank with its head office and a board of Directors in Nanning has three main branches, (one in Hongkong, one in Canton, one in Kweichow) and a num- ber of smaller branches and exchange stores situated in different districts. Since its establishment the Bank has been yielding steady interests and attractive profits.
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As for commerce and trade, Nanning being the capital of the province and hay- ing the good communication facilities both by land and by water, is only next to Wu chow. Public utility and small industrial enterprises in Nanning are being develop- ed very rapidly. During the past few years there have been established, in addition to those mentioned above, a leather manufacturing factory, a dyeing and textile mill, a bonegraining and a button-making factory. With their continual effort of mark- ing progress, they are all assured with a promising future and brilliant success.
TRADE IN 1939.
As pointed out in the report for 1938, following the fall of Canton and the closing of the West River in October of that year, trade conditions underwent considerable change. Imports and exports via the neighbouring port of Wuchow were eventually cut off. On the other hand, Nanning became a more important centre of commuica- tion with South west China, foreign goods such as kerosene, gasolene, liquid fuel, vehicles, aniline dyes, cigarettes, etc., being conveyed to Nanning for local consump- tion in the province of Kwangsi or for further transportation inland.
The value statistics of the trade of the port as recorded by the Customs were as follows: direct foreign imports, chiefly by parcel post, $31,269 as compared with $28,- 000 during 1938; coastwise imports, $4.1 million as against $5.5 million; and coastwise exports, $238,488 as compared with $4.4 million. It was but natural that imports should fall away, the import of domestic cotton yarn, for instance, delining from 26,700 to 407 quintals only, with the import of cotton piece goods also declining from 7,804 to 664 quintals. Such imports as cigarettes, cement, and matches also fell to minor figures. Under coastwise exports, as against an export of 24,915 quintals of wood oil during 1938, the export during 1939 was nil. Similarly, no shipments were recorded of aniseed oil and aniseed star during the year; while hides, duck feathers, etc., found their way out through devious routes without passing Nanning.
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The total tonnage of vessels under General Regulations on the Wuchow-Nanning. run amounted to 17,052 tons as against 40,863 tons in 1938.. ⠀