Directory_and_Chronicle_1932 — Page 915

SWATOW

839

Swatow has an electric light plant and a new water works was completed early in 1914, the reservoir being at Ampou, about eight miles inland. In the middle of 1919 a telephone service was introduced.

Swatow is by no means slow in the race with other China ports for im- provement. Road making and road widening are being carried out rapidly, and the public park at the back of Swatow is being gradually improved. Three Fire Brigades-well equipped with modern apparatus-protect the town, two of these being financed by different charitable guilds. An Orphanage, organised after the Typhoon of 1922, a Poor Peoples Workshop and a Leper Station, besides the Mission Hospitals, are among the charitable institutions of the Town.

TRADE IN 1930

Although a certain amount of unrest prevailed in various country districts, the hinterland for which Swatow is the distributing centre enjoyed, on the whole, an era of greater peace than has been the case for some years. The consequence was an enhanced demand for foreign imports, while exports also showed improvement, and it is indeed difficult to imagine to what dimensions the trade of this port would have expanded had the spectacular decline in silver not stepped in to impede progress. This slump, which commenced in the early summer, caused something akin to panic amongst local importers, and predictions were rife that a complete stoppage of the import of certain goods, especially piece goods, would be inevitable. Happily, these prophecies were unfulfilled, and, although the low silver exchange continued to exercise a sinister influence over the market during the remainder of the year, trade managed to survive and even to expand. Of imports from abroad, few showed notable decreases; practically all classes of cotton piece goods registered gains, while linen showed an increase of nearly 100 per cent. and is sufficient indica- tion of the prosperity of the drawn-thread work trade, the exports of which increased in value from Hk. Tls. 1,596,841 to Hk. Tls. 3,255,160. Importations of sulphate of ammonia increased approximately by 65 per cent., but it is interesting to note that, although the figures demonstrate the hold which this fertiliser is establishing on the market, native beancake is still in great demand, and importations rose from 1,607,775 to 2,399,180 piculs. It is pro- bable that increased cultivation, due to the more peaceful conditions obtaining, is responsible for the increase shown in both these competitive commodities. Paper-one of the staple products of this district-also showed substantial ad- vances, while wolfram ore, which has received a set-back during recent years, experienced an appreciable revival. Once again the British flag easily claimed priority of place in the carrying trade, accounting for 60 per cent. of the tonnage entered and cleared, with Japan as her nearest rival, with some 17 per cent. A steady trade with Singapore, Bangkok, and Saigon was main- tained throughout the year despite the restrictions placed upon the number of coolie emigrants allowed to enter Singapore. The Hongkong and coastwise trade was not interrupted, and direct trade with Japan via Amoy was main- tained monthly. The improvements previously noted in the appearance of the town, and the provision of further amenities, such as public parks, enlarged streets, etc., have been successfully carried on under the present mayor, who moved into new offices-a handsome building on the waterfront-at the end of the year. Climatic conditions were generally satisfactory, and very good crops were reported from the various adjacent country districts. No epidemic outbreaks occurred, though enteric fever caused many deaths in the city during part of the summer, and there were a few fatal cases of cholera. Labour con- ditions were, on the whole, satisfactory, but the unions, though not so powerful as in former years, still showed signs of activity, while the Seamen's Union. was responsible for a boycott of French goods, which was engineered as a result of a fracas between hotel runners and the crew of a French vessel in which a runner lost his life. This boycott, which started at the beginning of October. was still observed at the end of the year, but had little effect on the general trade of the port.

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