Directory_and_Chronicle_1939 — Page 847

NANNING

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running within city limits, which are owned by the government. All highway traffic and bus companies are under the control of the Bureau of Highway Traffic Administration.

As for Communication on water Nanning is connected with the outside world also by way of Yukiang (or Yuk River) which leads down-stream to Wuchow in the east, up stream to Lungchow in the southwest, or up stream to Pe-Se in the northwest. Motor boats sailing daily from Nanning to these three cities. Concerning Communication by telephone, the dial system is adopted in the city of Nanning. The excellent tele- phone system recently completed enables the provincial government's orders to be sent through telephones (sometimes through the broadcast station) even to the mos- distant districts in the province. Besides, air transportation has been lately madt possible by establishment of the Nanning-Canton and Nanning-Lungchow air linee which, carrying both passengers and mail, are run by the South Western Aviation Cos In order to meet the rapid growing demand of industry and trade the Kwangsi Province Bank has issued notes for circulation in the province against which the cash reserve is always so carefully kept that serious runs or depreciation of the notess seldom occur. The Bank with its head office and a board of Directors in Nanning hac three main branches, (one in Hongkong, one in Canton, one in Kweichow) and a num- ber of smaller branches and exchange stores situated in different districts. Since its establishment the Bank has been yielding steady interests and attractive profits.

As for commerce and trade, Nanning being the capital of the province and hav- ing the good communication facilities both by land and by water, is only next to Wu- chow. Public utility and small industrial enterprises in Nanning are being develop- ed very rapidly. During the past few years there have been established, in addition to those mentioned above, a leather manufacturing factory, a dyeing and textile mill, a bonegraining and a button-making factory. With their continual effort of mark- ing progress, they are all assured with a promising future and brilliant success.

TRADE IN 1937

Peace conditions existed in the Nanning district throughout the year, and, though there was some shortage of supplies from Shanghai owing to the hostilities, the trade of the port on the whole was satisfactory. The value statistics as recorded were as follows: direct imports, chiefly by parcel post, $22,152 as against $20,848 in 1936; domestic imports, $5.8 million as compared with $4.5 million; and coastwise exports, $2.8 million as against $1.6 million. General increases were shown in all the staple imports--cotton yarn, cotton piece goods as a whole, cigarettes, cement, and matches. Among the principal exports, wood oil advanced from 2,276 quintals during 1936 to 7,256 quintals, while aniseed oil declined from 57,569 to 54,186 kilogrammes. Having lost its market, partly or wholly, in certain North imports owing to the Sino- Japanese hostilities, aniseed star fell from 13,858 to 8,269 quintals. Hides and doe skins continued to find a favourable market in Hongkong. The decline of the export of leather was due to growing local consumption by the Kwangsi Tannery and other leather works. Demand for duck feathers from Hongkong was less, the price of this article having incessantly fallen. Large quantities of sugar and yellow beans found their way to Canton, and black fungus had a good market in Swatow. Melon seeds increased considerably due to an excellent harvest.

A devastating flood, the worst since August 1913. befell Nanning towards the end of August, with the result that hundreds of people were rendered homeless, rather serious damage was done to property, and the rice and other crops were destroyed. Fortunately, the flood waters receded early in September and normal conditions rapidly resumed. Following the flood, an epidemic of cholera prevailed during September and October with some 300 fatal cases. The air service between Canton and Hanoi via Wuchow, Kweilin, Liuchow, Nanning, and Lungchow, operated by the South-western Aviation Corporation, was suspended in December.