CO129-285 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [9-10] — Page 237

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5.

The clothing worn by your Petitioners from earliest

infancy, has, for the reasons stated in the foregoing paragraph

of this Petition, to a large extent, been manufactured in Eu-

rope or America, and out of European material, and although the

outward clothing of your Petitioners is made upon the Chinese

fashion, yet your Petitioners have ever been accustomed to wear

precisely similar under-clothing to that which is worn by

Europeans.

During the last few years silver has continued to

depreciate in value, and the purchasing power of a dollar as

regards European articles of manufacture and produce is, at the

present time, at least half that which it was 8 or even 5 years

ago.

6.

Apart from the question of exchange which affects

your Petitioners almost as much as their European brother

officers in the service, there is another more unfavourable

circumstances with which your Petitioners have had to con-

tend during the last few years, and this is the increase of

the cost of native produce and manufactures. This has been

going on steadily for the last 8 years. There has been during

the last few years a remarkable increase in the price of local

produce and manufactures throughout the whole of China. Judging

from the facts set forth below, there will be no probability

of a change for the better. As far as your Petitioners are

able to ascertain this increase in the value of goods is due

to