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VOL. II NO, 372
The
Por; the Připetetorat HONGKONG TELEGRAPU, for and on behalf of SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, LIIL
thanh
Printer and Avillaber,
Dino
At the
hongkong Telegraph. G
BRITAIN IS
BEATING
BACK POVERTY
Striking Production Figures RECOVERY CORNER TURNED SAYS MORRISON
London, Dec. 15.-Increasing evidence that Britain is beating back poverty has brought a new surge of optimism to these islands. Deputy Prime Minister Herbert Morrison broadcast on Saturday night that Britain has rounded the "recovery corner,'
"Let's look at the facts and figures and be proud of ourselves as a people," he said. "I am a last to start cheering before the game is won," but "it's not going too badly."A
Hand-To-Hand Fighting In Kashmir
Over 320 raiders were killed by Indian army troops in the Uri ea of Northwest Kashmir alone in the last three days.
A spokesman for the office of Sir Stafford Cripps, boss of Dritain's economics and Anance, said: "Things are on the up and up." Headlines which once told only of now ration cula. and new crisca, now hail good
news.
were
were
MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1947.
slowly creeping upward. So is mine mechanisation. Employment in steel and heavy metal trades is consider- ably above prewar levels, and still; going up..
a
The Late Earl Baldwin
Lord Baldwin
[
Dies In His Sleep
The same story can be told for others-automoblies, gas and elec- The most spectacular bright spot trielly, public transport Is In coal production. It has risen Production is climbing too. Iron steadily to the point where experts and steel output is bowling along at
Arthur renewed.
Horner,
rate of about 14,000,000 tons Communist general secretary of the year, edging above its wartime re- National Mineworkers. Union,
.cord. the country can export 14,- Employment and production are New Delhi, Dec. 14.-Hand-000,000 tons next year and regain down from prewar levels In БОТО Others to-hand fighting and night at her prewar volume of 50,000,000 industries-chielly textile tacks on hilltop positions, tons in two years. Britain promis include tailoring, paper making, manufacture, reminiscent of the past Indian ed to export 10,000,000 tons next publishing, furniture
shoemaking, and the commercial, troops played in the mountain Fear under the Marshall Pina.
Even the black spots in the in- Anancial and distributive businesses. warfare in Italy, have marked dustrial picture are brightening a LONG TERM SIGNS a weekend of fighting in Kash-Ittle. The shortage of rail cars is
On long-term plans, electricity so bad It may produce another crisis
and Increased
farm generation mir,
before spring. But volunteers are production are major items. In the of this year, helping to make up for the decline "first" seven "inonflis in rolling stock
Britain produced enough electricity oul RESURGENT SPIRIT
generating equipthent to turn
than This resurgence
Kilowatts — more of the wartime 830,000 Tonight's Indian Defence Ministry spirit to work batter is dimcult to twice last year's total production of
Worcestershire, communipuc. which
coat such equipment. Agure in statistics.
Stourport, figures, added that indian forces also board spokesman said
Mechanisation of this factor
agriculture, Dec. 11-Lord Baldwin died in suffered casualties.
up during the war, 1s Indian troops cleared a hill posi- was largely responsible for coal pro- speeded. tion of raiders south of Poonth, induction exceeding 4,000,000 tons in proceeding. The output of tractors his sleep last night at his home
and ploughing. planting and here. He was 88 years old. Southwestern Kashmir, and two four successive weeks.
economic harvesting machinery is at record! Better known to the public as greatest Britain's
de levels. Fertiliser is produced parties of raiders were shelled in
nt plain Mr Stanley Baldwin, he was foreign trade headache-her
created Earl Baldwin of Bewdley Jhongar-Kaochera arent
Indian army and Kashmir State felt would be greatly eased if the twice the prewar rate.
There is a Marshall Pinn
effect.
self-sufficiency, links with public life.. Government spokesman. He was a leading guro 1948 levels. But sald boosted well over 19 vastly higher prices abroad curtall Manpower is a key problem on the abdication crisis of 1936 when the 'RAIDER'S LOSSES
farms. German prise nets-of-war, newly crowned King Edward the 'Force
planes the purchasing power from this in-
used Royal Indian Air
as standby help, will
be Eighth left the British Throne to Marshall Plan would .carried out reconnaissance Blights come. The
virtually all gone by summer. Ahis brother, the present King.
of recruiting volunteer over the Chakothli-Domei Road (in help carry the dedcit burden until
the Programme
The Prime Minister held urgent reaches production
the worker to spend their vacations at ond the Akhnur-export
ctions
with the Northwest)
the heads of of the 1938 farm work is under way.-Associated
had Elmbar-Poonch area (in the South goal of 175
the Dominion Governments, is the official level Press. west), the communique added.
audiences with the King himself and Anally went to the House of Com- mens with King Edward's message- of abdication.
force patrols cilled.
Kavu
11 rakiers
these
Kocs
But
inte
Soviet Currency Reform
SURRENDER OF ROUBLES FOR CERTAIN DEPOSITS
Fixed Retail Prices
For Commodities
́London, Dec. 14.-Soviet currency is to be reformed on Tuesday, December 16, under a decree broadcast by the Moscow Radio today, which said bank deposits of "overwhelming majority of the de- positors" would retain their previous value.
The decree was issued in the name of the Coun- cil of Ministers of the Soviet Union and the Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party, which declared that the reform necessitated by wartime developments would leave unchanged the Soviet obligations under agreements with other countries.
The Soviet State faces the tasks of carrying out a currency reform for the purpose of strengthening the exchange rate of the rouble as well as the abolition of the rationing system for supplies and of proceeding to expand trade at unified State prices," the decree stated.
It recorded that during the war the circulation of money increased while the production of consumption goods fell, adding that the monetary circulation had been swelled "false money" issued by the invaders during World War II.
by
The State prices for rationed goods had been maintained constant, but freo market prices had at mes rise to to 15 times the prowar level-situation exploited - by speculative elements" to accumulate great quantities.
EXCHANGE RATES
two encounters in Jammu Province. Britain's export production has been gramme of incre step in a pro-1 in 1937 when he severed' most of his 1'3,000 roubles at par value.
percent
volume,
This
A band of raiders,, 1,000 strong, for self-support.
in a two-wave attack four miles Britain is mending her foreign on the main West trade fences with new agreements.
south of Uri,
Read from Srinagar, the Kasimii: Last week, an agreement "in prin- CLARA And
capital, to the Pakistan frontier, ciple" was reached with Russia to bring England 500,000 tons of vitally 200
needed grain.
lost
killed and 100 wounded,
n Reuter despatch from Jamma re- ported today.
There was hand-ic-haht fighting before the tribesmen were driven back-Router.
EDITORIAL
EXPORT PRODUCTION Steadily Increasing industrial employment is helping production
export. Mine
for
manpower
Accommodation Problem
EY Money" for vacant liv-
Kine quarters has been de
clared illegal under the Landlords aut Tenants Ordinance, but the racket
variants continues. Its perlips
being somewhat
more
JIOW
subile and aurreptitious.
A
One' result is that a considerable `amount of habitable property on both sides of the harbour remains Here empty--or apparently so. arain the frustrated searcher for accommodation is thwarted. Any Landlord Is secusation that keeping his
Premista vacant until
is produced can.. and is, casily countered by the Owner
putting in a couple of "stores" to represent tenants, and the property is to all intents and purposes no longer empty. There should be some method of officially putting a stop to theso tactles. The demand for accom- modation is as great today an i was a year ago, and there is no excuse for properly being unin habited. One
has suggestion been advanced before, and it in.
Government should
гореве
***
fully
bestell: comple a register of all property owners and nalisty #iself that all houses and flats in
habitable condition
occupied. Simultaneously Government
of re a register should compile a sidents seeking accommodation, and where it is discovered a landlord has falled fully to let hts: property, or wholly decupy It for himself, the Authorities should have the power to pat la tenants drawn from: iis verlater. It is not denied that such a pro-
greatly
UNRRA Hitch
delicate
connec-
Tientsin, Dec. 15-A situation has developed in
on with the exchange of CLARA
on the
For
Reservationa
Tel: 27880
Price 20 Cents
Unified prices of other foodstuffs would be maintained in general at existing levels. Wine and vodka would remain unchanged in price.. Unified prices for industrial goods would be at a rather higher level as compared with low ratlon prices| although reduced by an average of one-third as compared with. com mercial' prices.
UNCHANGED PRICES
fish, fats, sugar,
Prices of meat, tobacco, confectionery, potatoes and other vegetables, would be the same as previous ration prices.
fixed for New prices would be milk and eggs.
Details of the proposed, exchange Tates for the new money were given
The decree was signed by Marshal s follows: Bank deposits up
to Stalin and M. Andrei Zhdanov, the Bank secretary of the Communist Party deposits between 3,000 and
10,000 central eommittee. Toubles; 3,000 roubles ut par, the The exchange of the money would remainder at three old roubles...le beeffected generally in the week beginning December 16, but in re- mote districts a fortnight would be allowed.
two new roubles.
new
Romance Of A King
Lausanne, Dec. 14. The Rumanian Government's view on the possibility of a marriago between 26-year-old King Milchael of Humania and Frin- cess Anne of Bourbon-Parma, wero brought to Switzerland today by Count Daniel Negel, Mamahal of the. Rumanian Court.
Count Negel, who will convey these views lo, King Michael, travelled by, train from Bucharest.
He was expected to arrive te- morrow morning in Lausanne, where King Michael is staying with his mother, Queen Helen, and Princess Anne,
King Michael will spend to- morrow In conference with Count Negel and an announce- ment may be made afterwards. --Kenter.
►
DATENCENTRU PRIKLOTZ
World Rice Harvest Prospects
Washington, Dec. 14, The world's rice crop for the harvest yrar of 1947-1948 Is expected to be 150,000,000 bushels greater than last year's, but will still be 350,000,000 bushels below. the prewar average, the United States Office of Foreign Agricultural Re-
tatlons said to-day.
The 1947-1948 crop, it was es- timoled, will be 7,050,000,000 bushels compared with 0,000,000,000 bushels for the previous year, with most of the production increase coming fram Asiatic areas affected by the war.
planted A record acreage has been in Europe, where production will
exceed
prewar. North alightly American and African crops are above the high level of the previous .is year, but a production decline. possible in South America.
Asta's production was estimated 1946- at 6,580,000,000 bushels in 1947, and 7,100,000,000 bushels pre- war..
Excluding India, the acreage of the Asiatic countries has increased by two million to three million bushels.
*BURMA'S PROGRESS
of some TC- Primarily becauso duction in India's acreage and pro- duction, Asia's total harvest shows relatively small rise. In the pre- war surplus areas of Burma, Slam and French-Indo-China, the total production might be 60,000,000 or 100,000,000 bushels
laat year, During the exchange period, old all money would be accepted for payments at the rate of one-tenth of its face value.
Old money not changed would be cancelled on a fixed date.-Reuter,
Deposits over 10,000 roubles; 3,000 roubles at par, 7,000 roubles at the rate of three old roubles for two roubles and the remainder at two olil roubles to one new rouble.
Money in co-operative under- takings and organisations and col- lective farms: Five old roubles to four now our issued before LONG POLITICAL LIFE
State loans Another event in his long ad To be consolidated into a "unified distinguished carcer
a public loan' the basis of three servant, was his leadership of his
roubles in previous loans for one Government through the dark days!
new rouble in the unified loan. The of the 1028 general sirike.
decree pointed out that this was a Lord Baldwin was In his youth,
rate than was his family's from more advantageous associated with
of lold down for the conversions accush. foundry. He
as
11 was
before
on
1047:
old
Canada's Cost Of
Living Soars
the
course chosen
government held
Frenter
than
The greatest progress, in Increas- was in Burma,, where ing acreage nearly 900.000 more acrca were planted. Siam's production is about but there is 25 percent greater, some decrease in French Indo- China's production.
China's production is only slightly higher with an acreage still 1,400,- 000 acres less than the prewar average.
The South Korean crop is 15 per cent higher. Japan's acreage is wenther Ottawa, Dec. 14-A steady up- higher, but unfavourable
cost of has reduced the production below ward march in Canada's and UNBRA personnel following entered political life as the Con-
living brought increased pressure last year's. The Philippines' pro- the arrival from Shanghal of three servative Member for the Bewdley While the currency reformi 19 CLARA members and two
groups for duetion exceeds the prewar average today from consumer em-division which he represented Im being effected the wages of workers Parliamentary intervention. How- and 80,000 more neres have been ployees to join up with Tientsin.
ever, Parliament for 20 years, during 12 and employees as well as the in-
to its planted in Malaya.-Reuter. "The CLARA
group are reluctant of which he was Prime Minister. come of peasants from State de- to submit to a baggage examination
of avoiding any Lord Baldwin had been suffering liveries and other labour incomes of and decline to hand over documents from a slight cold for a few days all sections of the population, wil general imposition of price controls. delegation of more than 75 demanding an apology from local
SENT BACK. HOME and was found dead by a servant not be affected by the reform but housewives from eastern Canadian Harrison authorities for restricting who went
call him early this will be paid in the new money at cities called on Finance It was learned later today declared.
day the previous rates," the statement Dougins Abbott on Saturday. morning
London, Dec. 14.-Clement A family meeting was held tonight
told him they wanted prices rolled Michaliand, 20-year-old Frenchman, at Lord Baldwin's home at Astley Bank deposit transactions would
that be suspended on December 15, 161 back to the pre-1945 level, general described as the owner of a Swiss Hall and It was understood
restoration of price controls, and hotel, was sent back to Switzerland reinstitution of subsidies on flour, today soon after he arrived at a cremation would take place in Bir- and 17. mingham. The actual day and
milk and fuel. They asked relin London airport from Zurich, will be decided by the new
officers time
position of the excess profits tax Earl-Reuter.
and establishment of a price control board-Associated Press.
And
Piracy Report
ecdure would involve a consider- abtc amount of patient work.
their freedom of movement. but if it succeeds. In helping to
Consequently UNRRA's Interna- foxial group
at Huitsalyu comprising stop the "key money" racket,
two Americans including one wo- the and at
same time puis
man, one Briton, one Australian and needy tenants Into possession of
three Soviets, are viriually hostages accommodation, it will be well worl attempting.
pending the satisfaction of CLARA There i
terras in Tientsin. another problem connected with accommodation-the high hotel and boarding houses charges. They are much too severe for the average European and middle- A man will bls. class Chinese. wife and child has to pay up to $700 a month for the use of one room-probably equal to 65 per- cent of the family income-and then he faces other
in. creased living costs which absorb every cent ho earns. The experts have computed that if man has to pay more than 33 percent out of his wages for rent and taxes, he ле ferced to live on on un economic level When, there- fore, a a family man in Hongkong has to surrender angiling up 70 percent of his income on food and lodgings his economie blight in obvious. It is not suggested that hotels and boarding houses
become charitable should
In- stitutions, but where they are Accommodating families whose Incomes are in the middle level class, and who can Qud no alter- native place of abode, they could, offer somewhat more berhaps, reasonable terms. We suggest that Government re-approaches the proprietorn to` discuss a TEŠ vised Gentlemen's · Axrcément › for accommodation charges;
STATE RETAIL PRICE The confused situation is being
The decree announced that in kandied by Tientsin's (UNRRA re-
future the difference between the presentative, Mr Hannan, but ne-
"commercial" (freemarket) price gotiations appear to be deadlocked
and the "rationed" price would be may ultimately require setile- Reparts were current in Hong abolished, making way for a single
that the JCJL State retail ment of a
lovel higher
kong this morning.
It instructed the which Meanwhile an American, Mr Jack ship, Van Heuist,
left the Flintstry of Commerco to fix in ac- Dodds of the Friends Ambulance harbour yesterday for Swatow and cordance with the reform, now Unit, who is supposed to return Amey, had been pirated,
prices for food products and indus- from Communist territory with the.
The Telegraph was informed this trial products. The new schedule, bodies of
however, would not apply to colles- tive farm markets.
of Captain Harley Moore and moralus, both by the Manager of crew, is unable to leave the Red ICIL and the Water Police that no area without UNRRA personici. buch report had been received by
Captain Harley Moore was co- them. ported killed with his two Chinese Subsequent information is that crew members when the plane he the ship is returning to port this piloted crashed in Communist held afternoon. A message is reported to lerritory. Reuter.
have been received from the master of the vessel stating that the piracy [altempt was unsuccessful.
Cultural Convention
Joku, Dec. 14-The
Government delegation headed by
South China No Albanian Longer Restless
the cultural convention with Bulgarian Government.
Hedin,wearing a uniform
The decreo. promised that the lessee incurred by ปล over-
Minister They
Emigration
questioned film and found his papers were not in order-Reuter.
British Sub's Remarkable Submerging Achievement
London, Dec. 14.A British schnorkel apparatus and with other The schnorkle put
In
The new uniform prices for in-submarine remained submerged secret devices.
into service on board U-bonts dustrial
an for several weeks then sur 1943 both purifies the air in sub- goods would be on
eliminates engine average less than one-third of the faced under her own power math pur present commercial prices.
with her full crew of seven odours, but even with it installed on men in good submarines, 48 to 72 hours of sub- officers and 60 whelming majority of working health, the Admiralty said to mersion was the previous limit.
The only anxious time camo when the people through
conybrsion day.
ona sailor complained of pain. Ap- would be "short-term and in-Two to three days was the pre-pendicitis was suspected and it was significant,"
while
would hit, first
fcared the test would have to be of all, the
privileged elements."
Admirally suspended. But the man's condition The
working
vious limit of submersion.
British A succinct
Shanghai, Dec. 15-South China would be fully dogsea announcement reported that HM improved and two days later he was by the Submarine Alliance, of 1,250 tons at fards the end of the longest General Enver Hadja, Premier of ports bave lost that restless feeling abolition of high commercial prices had returned to its base at Ports Albania, arrived here today to sign witnessed during the war, Admiral and the reduction of existing rallen-mouth after a cruise in the tropical underwater cruise on record excite-
cercals. bread and the Charles M. Cooke, Commander of cd prices on bre
off the US Western Pacific Fleet, said However, "the"
test living conditions on board a the submarine broko surface sacrifece re- submarine during prolonged dives Treetown, officers and man seram-
bled up uired, "especially, as this will be in tropical waters."
up the conning tower to greet of a Chinese reports. Colonel General, and his wife, were Admiral Cooke has just returned the last
An Admiralty. grented by M. Georg Dimitrov, the to his bana
At Sofia rallway station, General In. Thingtao yesterday, according to some of the "must hearwaters of Sierra Leone, Africa "to ment mounted among, the crow. A
་
in Tsingtao following The rationed prices for bread to disclose. Roty spokesman declined the sun,
long the submarine "We were appalled by the stench
would be reduced by the averago was submerged.
..
of marine growth with which, our Bulgarian Prime Minister members a prolonged tour of Southern Asia, of the Bulgarian Cabinet,and during which he called at Hongkong, of 12 percent and for cereals by ten It was Icarned; however, that the ship had become embalmed beneath diplomatic representatives in Sofia Singapore. Manila and Formosa percent, Beer. would be about ten Alliance had been fitted with an im- the sea," one officer said-Associat-
Router. ➡utcutor.
percent chenper...
proved voralon of the German ed Press.