July 24, 1909.
OPIUM SMOKING.
HOW IT IS BEING SUPPRESSED IN CHINA.
A further report by Sir Alexander Hosie respecting the opium question in China was published in London last month as a White Paper.
Two years have elapsed, the report says, since the issue of the anti-opium decree and thre promulgation of the anti-opium regulations, and, although advices recently received from the provinces are somewhat conflicting in regard to the execution of the measures devised for suppression, there can be no doubt that, in spite of the absence of any well-organised uniform scheme for accomplishing the task, much is being done, and, in some cases, perhaps too much is being attempted in too short a time with the machinery available for the purpose.
As regards anti-opium medicines, their num. ber is legion. They are of native and foreign manufacture, and many of them contain opium or morphia in varying quantities. The husk of the foreign opium ball made up into pills is also sold as a cure, and most of the reports from the provinces draw attention to the serious evil which these so-called remedies are creating- an evil far worse than the disease they are advertised to cure.
Opium smokers are in many cases becoming opium or morphia eaters, and developing & craving which is still more difficult to eradicate Anti-opium societies are also much in evidence, and, although some doubt is thrown on their efficacy, they are said to be of assistance to the police authorities in unearthing breaches of the regulations.
One of these societies in the Canton province offers small monetary prizes to smokers who break off the habit through the use of the medicines which it supplies, but it is careful to add that proof must be forthcoming that claimants for the prizes were actually smokers.
Complaints have been made regarding the high rents in the French Concession at Shang- hai and a number of Chinese firms recently petitioned the Viceroy showing that in these times of trade depression they find it impossible to bear the high rents in the Settlements and that the property owners in the French Con- cession have absolutely refused to make any redaction, and praying that the Shanghai Tao- tai may be instructed to again request the French Consul to persuade the house owners to reduce the rents. Viceroy Tuan Fang has made the following rescript:-"Considering that exchange is so low and trade so bad in Shanghai at present, what is set forth in your petition is undoubtedly true. You have already petitioned the Shanghai Taotai to request the French Consul to advise the house owners to reduce the rents and the Shanghai Taotai is hereby instructed to consider the best method of again approaching the French Consul and the Courts with the request that the circumstances be put clearly to the house owners, both foreign and Chinese, and a reduction of the rents be effected in the interests of trade.”
IMPORTS:
COMMERCIAL
COAL.
HONGKONG,July 23rd.-The arrivals f coal since the 10th inst. amounted to 46,361 tons of Japanese, 3,00 tors Hongay and 2,200 Haiphong The coal expected is 42,900 tons Japanese, 8,900 tons Hongay, 4000 tons Borneo, 10,000 Wales #nd7,700 tons North China. Quotations accordin gto Messas Hughes and Hough's circular are as follows:-
誓
Cardiff......$21.0 to 22,50 ex-godown, nominal. Australian...$10.50 to 12.50 ex-godown, nominal. Yubari Lump...$12.00 Nominal.
Miiki Lump ...$10.50 to 11.00 ex-ship,nominal. Moji Lump £7.75 to $9.50 ex-ship, steady. Moji Unscreened$6.00 to $8.00 ex-ship, steady. Akaike Lamp ...$8.75 to $9.00 ex-ship, steady, Labuan Lump...$9.00 ex-ship sellers,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
RICE.
85
the continued fall in Exchange. The upward movement of Cotton has received a check at the last moment, but may be only a temporary
HONGKONG, 23rd July:- There is not much reaction, as it was fully expected to reach seven change in the quotation of the market. Saigon, Ordinary
**
$4.80 to
4.85 to ..... 4.95
ما
Round, Good quality Long... Siam, Field mill cleaned, No. 2... 5,5 to
Garden,
"
19
White,
21
Fine Cargo
"
No. 1... 4.00
to
5.10
5.20
to
to
OPIUM.
5.00
5.10 4.96
5.15
5.20
HONGKONG, July 22nd-Since the 8th inst, the movements in the various Opium markets have
been as follows
Malwa, Patua. Benares, Persian
2,492
stocks on the 8th July, 1009-2,895 July 15th Imports per . Apear
E. Simons- C. Apea Delhi
11
19th 20th Zist
++
11
1030
467
205
50
150
50
125
175
17
2,395
3,147 1,130
4.93
Less Exports to Shangbai
Less Exports to East and West Coast Ports including Local Consumption for the fortnight..
24
200
100
09
501 232
80
Estimated Stocks this day. 2,272
2,246 793 447
Bengal.-Low prices, an improvement in the consumption and moderate stock in the hand of the dealers have kept this market fairly active during the period under review, Clowing quota- tions are Patna $245. New Benares $970.-
MalwaThe market is. quiet. Only a swall sales of soft new $1,125.- 2/3 years at $1,140.- and 3/4 years at $1,130, are reported,
Persian. Superior square cakes owing to their scarcity have fetched $1,100. We quote superior long cakes at $1,50/70.-
Quotations are:- Malwa New
Malwa Old Malwa Older Malwa Very Old Persian Fine Quality Persian Extra Fine Patna New
Patna Old
Benares New
Benares Old
pence. Without any very definite information on the subject it seems to be pretty freely ad- $4.85mitted now that the crop has had a serious set 4.90 back, and that the yield will probably be less than consumptive requirements, though that can easily be considerably curtailed by the rise in price. For months and months past the market here has not permitted of business being done on the basis of replacing cost, and now the divergent attitudes of the two most important factors, Exchange and the cost of the raw mate- rial, have widened the margin to a prohibitive extent. With the stocks here and supplies afloat, however, there is ample to meet the restricted trade, and it is just as well until the Chinese Government take the outstanding questions of Financial reform, and abolition of Trade taxation beyond what is legally leviable according to treaty, in an honest and straight- forward manner, with more show of sincere determination to cry out conditions that have been promised, than so far has been the case. The loss of Revenue through curtailed importa. tions would soon make itself felt, and at the samo time obviate the necessity of Importers continuing to clothe China's millions at a dead loss to themselves. It was hoped that on the return of the special Commissioner, who was sent abroad to study the Financial systems of Foreign Countries, to China Boue energetio measures would be adopted towards reform in that direction, but the reports he has made seem to have been shelved, while the same hag. gling continues amongst the old, conservative Officials in eking as to whether the basis of the now coinage shall be a dollar or seven mace two condareen which is as far as they have got! Opposition is being pushed all over the Country to any enterprizes for which concessions have been granted t Foreigners, and thus the open- ing up and development of the Country is being hampered and delayed. It is most discouraging to those who have sunk their Capital in Com- mercial pursuits here to find things constantly getting worse and no prospect whatsoever of their ever getting better. To turn to another of our ers while dependencies, Corea, events are taking place there in a stealthy manner which bid fair to completely denationalize that Empire in the neurer future, and put all the restrictions trade with it that now portain to Japan. This will be a serious blow to Manchester if Treaty rights are not strictly safe guarded. The advance in Cotton has quite stopped all business in staple goods with Manchester, but we unde stand indent orders are going through in Fancy males. In Liverpool the spot price, of id-American Cotton went up to 6.92d. "futures" being quoted 6.65d. for October/Novem- ber option. To-day the spot quotation comes 6.85d., but Egyptian advances to 98d. Although Cotton bas gone up to 12.58 cents. for August in New York quotations for goods have not advanced in proportion, for instance 3 yard are quoted 108. lid. "and 3.25 yard 103. Gd. though there is some irrgula ity. The export during April from New York to China of Cotton goods Amounted to 16,788,348 yards valued at G. $970,822, and appears to have been shipped in one bottom. That makes a total of 60,545,160 yards for the five months ending April. The exports from Manchester are keeping moderate, Plain Cottons figuring as 17,000,000 yards in the laat fortnightly telegram. The high prices are greatly restricting the sales of Yarn, but there seams no inclination to lower prices Clearances are falling off, which is only natural at the time of the year. Stocks. We learn that the Returns of the Chamber of Commerce are nearly com- pleted and will be published in time for our Dext. It will greatly assist the Secretary if those to whom lists have been sent and who do not hold stocks will notify him to that effect. Private business in English makes continues on a retail scale, though we did hear of one sale of 40 bales 8.4-lbs. hirtings, which the Im- porter said was the firet he had made of that make for montha, The Auctions have, during the interval, shown almest an all round improve- ment, though scarcely commensurate with the fall in Exchange. The only weaknesses notice- able were in the prices for the better White The Woollen Shirtings, and Grey T-Cloths. goods have realised stronger prices. Turkey Reds are realising firmer prices at Auction, and we understand a fair line of old chops have been bought priva ely at a fair price under the chreat that they were to be Auctioned. Fast Black Cotton Italians and Venetians have shown considerable Strengh, only here and there a Crop showing any weakness,
HONGKONG, July, 23rd.
$1,125/1,150 per picul. $1,160/1,200 do. .$1,210/1,240 do. $1,250/1,300 do. $1,080/1,100 do. .$950/1,000 do. .$947) .$-.
$972] (972)
PIECE GOODS.
per chest.
do.
do
do
Messrs. Noël, Murray & Co. in their Piece Goods Report, dated Shanghai 16th July, 1909, atate:- The rain has ceased and is succeeded by fine hot weather, which should be beneficial to the crops that have been saved. Unfortunately it is feared that the Rice Crop in many districts will be ruined by floods, as it has to be planted on low lying land, in which case it will be very bad for trade, as a return to abno mal prices will be permanently made again, Hankow is threatened with an overflow of the Yangtare, the water being within a few feet of the previous bighest level although this is fully a month earlier than usual. This natural y causes much anxiety and gives little encuoragement to any one to a ticipate requirements, Business, therefore, continues on the hand to month basis, the activity of last week being followed by a distinct lull, this being especially noticeable in American makes. Free shipments have gone up to the Northern markets recently and it is the desire na urally before op-rating further to see how these former purches have fard. In the meantime, however, the resales although not of very great extent show a decided advance in prices, albeit this is somewhat counteracted by
on
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.