17.
The effort to suppress brigandage ( is not limited to the walkways but is reflected in the much
I'm proved conditions throughout the breath the neighboring parences.
the Budget for 1928 was introduced and when the figure for expenditure was $22,183,045, involving en anticipated drain of $2,079,655 on our surpluscs, and a liquid reservo balance of only some $500,000.
This is no time for extravagance and every item of expenditure has been carefully reviewed, but neither is it the time for possimistic cconomy. Trade as a whole is far from good but the horizon is
not as dark as it was a year ago. The tide of Civil
Ter has rolled northward and it may be that the Tar Fever will wear itself out without again showing South of the Yangtsze. It is earnestly to be hoped that that will be the case and signs are not wanting in Kwangtung of a feeling that some other occupation than War must be taken up if the prosperity of the country is not to be entirely destroyed. A serious and effective effort is being made to deal with the pirates in Bias Bay and in the West River. In this connection reference to Hoad 34 sub head 5 will show
a reduction in the cost of armed launches for the West River Patrol: and it is hoped that conditions
have so for improved as to make it unnecessary to extend the charter of those launches beyond the Spring of 1929. Kwangsi is going ahead fast with road construction: and perhaps more than all it would app ar that the Southern Government has at last realised the necessity of asking advice from the Merchants, whose voice has for so long been quite unheard. Whether the advice will or vill not be taken remains to be seen? I put the point as a promising sign of the better times to which wo
A are justified in looking forward.
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