CO129-520-1 Chinese situations 20-12-1929 - 27-1-1931 — Page 31

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apparently without difficulty by the local police.

On the approach of Government forces the communists

retreated via Hui Ling back into Kiangsi, where they

are still at large.

3. Canton in view of its very heavy military

expenditure has been busy enforcing old taxes and devising

new ones. In February it was a charge of one month's

rent on the grounds of military necessity. In March it

was a nightsoil tax, which after feverish agitation was

abolished in April with the approval of the Provincial

Government Council. In April too, the tax committee

brought forward proposals for the introduction of taxes

on timber, cattle, paper, minerals, yellow beans, cotton,

leather and tinfoil. Yet despite these steps Fan Ki-mo

the Financial Commissioner has sent in his resignation

(which has been refused) ostensibly because of the

difficulty of raising adequate revenue.

4. The Canton Press has throughout the month been

full of the Native Goods Promotion Association's Campaign.

A petition was telegraphed to the Central Government

reporting resolutions adopted at a meeting in the city on

the 1st of April requiring all members of the Government

Departments, schools, civic organizations, throughout

the country to wear native cloth and to encourage native

productions in every way. Later all took part in a

procession wearing native spun clothes and carrying posters.

Different varieties of goods were submitted to the

conference to be certified as native products and the

procession