Directory_and_Chronicle_1941 — Page 605

JHANGSHA

A367

merchandise, $1.7 million as against $19.7 million; direct exports abroad, nil as against $5,000; and coastwise exports of Chinese produce $5 million as compared with $11.7 million.

Being inaccessible to ocean-going steamers, the port of Changsha has never, even in normal peaceful times handled any considerable volume of direct foreign trade. During the year under review there were no importations of kerosene oil, the small trade done being from stocks imported during 1938 from Hongkong and Canton. Selling prices on the market ranged from $26 to $30 per unit at the beginning of the year, but had risen to $70-80 by the end of this period. Gasolene was subject to strict control, the oil companies importing none during the year. The normal trade route for sugar being closed by hostilities, no consignments of Taikoo sugar were imported during the year either by Messrs. Butterfield & Swire or their agents, Native sugar of Szechwan and Kwangtung origin was imported to meet the usual requirements. No direct importation of artificial indigo was recorded, while only a few consignments of other dyestuffs entered the province. The import of tinned plates came to a standstill, as the oil companies ceased to make new tins for kerosene and gasolene in their local installations. Of coastwise imports, there was a decline in the recorded import of sugar, but there were arrivals by junk and other means of conveyance from Szechwan and Kwangtung, of which no figures are available. Cotton yarn, cotton piece goods, and cigarettes all declined. The Changsha office of the Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Company was closed and removed ot Kweiyang as a result of the evacuation of Changslia in November 1938, and naturally no cigarettes of this company were imported in 1939, large quantities of hand-rolled cigarettes appearing on the market. The importation of raw cotton declined.

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In the absence of direct shipments of cargo for abroad, the value recorded under this heading has usually been that for international export parcels only. The introduction of rules governing the export of cargo and the sale of foreign currencies, applicable to parcels, has brought the export parcel traffic with foreign countries to a complete standstill. The total value of Chinese produce shipped coastwise showed a noticeable decline, which may be explained by the stoppage of trade between Changsha and ports in the occupied areas and also the changed trade routes followed by many articles produced in the province. In the case of bristles, for which Siangtan is the largest collecting centre in Hunan, these were no longer forwarded via Changsha, but were shipped direct from Siangtan to Hengyang. There were no shipments under General Regulations of human hair, while there was a decrease under tea oil. In the case of antimony and wolfram ore (tungsten), the controlling offices were moved from Changsha to Linling after Changsha was destroyed by fire. There was a striking decrease in the export of fire-crackers, while native paper, although falling off, remained the only outstanding item.

Large quantities of rice and other cereals have been bottled up; with the exception of shipments to the provinces of Kwangtung and Kwangsi, no transactions worthy of note were made. With more than sufficient to feed the population, the need for importations from abroad was not felt, while the export abroad was prohibited by the Government.

Under shipping, entrances and clearances under General Regulations amounted to 705 vessels aggregating 25,917 tons as compared with 1,536 vessels aggregating 277,191 tons in 1938.