FO371-24687 — Page 21

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Abolition of Exorbitant Taxes. Local levies imposed

since the outbreak of hostilities will be investigated,

with a view to elimination.

Utilisation of Idle Capital, Large amounts of idle

capital have been concentrated in Shanghai and are being

used for speculative and mon-productive purposes to the

detriment of the population. Measures will be devised

to direct such idle capital to proper uses,

Readjustment of Trade. Because the country is industrially

undeveloped, much capital has flowed out and there has

been a constant unfavourable balance of trade, In

cooperation with other Givernment organs concerned, the

Ministry (of Finance) will adopt measures to regulate

supply and demand, and stabilise foreign exchange, in

order to arrest the flight of capital and improve the

national finances.

Regulation of People's Livelihood. As a result of the

hostilities and the disruption of communications, commodity

prices have become unbalanced. In order to relieve

the hardships of a war-torn population, the Ministry

will take steps to regulate the situation so as to

enable the free movement of goods and to prevent hoarding

by merchants.

Assistance to Production. Many productive enterprises draw

the bulk of their raw material from agriculture. Relief

should therefore be particularly made available to farmers,

Loans to Farmers and improvement of rural economy will

be undertaken,

These are but eight of the more important tasks confronting

the authorities. Other measures for the benefit of the country

and its people will also be undertaken by the Ministry despite

the difficulties inherant in such a task.

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