SHANGHAI’S IMPORTANCE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5134, 2 June 1927, Page 4

SHANGHAI’S IMPORTANCE

FRUIT OF BRITISH ENTERPRISE. “ BACKBONE OF THE PLACE.” Shanghai is the chief port of. China, one of the eight largest ports in the world, and the centre of large British interests. A description of the city and what it represents may help to explain its importance (says a correspondent in the London Times). On approaching Shanghai from the sea the traveller first observes a wide stretch of yellow water and a green, flat coastline. Soon the water narrows and many junks, clumsy, yet graceful, are to be seen. As the ship swings round at the entrance to the Whangpoo River there lies to starboard Woosun, connected with Shanghai by the first railway built in China. At Tunkow Creek the harbour limits are reached. To the right a huge industrial area spreads out, mill upon mill, factory upon factory, engineering works, power stations, shipbuilding yards, timber, yards, cold storage plants waterworks, and crowded wharves, docks, and every variety of shipping.

On landing the traveller views a line of buildings which, collectively, form at once the most imposing and the most European waterfront east of Suez. Nanking Road is an epitome of modern China and its problems. Here side by side are East and West, old and now; traditions with centuries behind them, immaturities grotesque. There is an amazing variety of traffic, from the most ancient of wheelbarrows to the most up-to-date of motor-cars, while shops range from stuffy examples of domestic industry to enormous department stores brilliantly lighted at night by electric advertisements.

Presently the traveller finds himself passing an essentially AngloSaxon racecourse and recreation ground, and entering a super-suburbia where there are big villas and jolly gardens, riding reads, country and golf clubs. Beyond lies open country, flat as a pancake. Concession and Settlement have separate municipalities. In view of the Cantonese demand for treaty revision, their history and constitution are important. The Treaty of Nanking, 1842, gives us our right to live and trade at Shanghai. The Treaty of Hoorn unchae of the following year provided that grounds and. 1 houses, the rent of which w.as to be fairly arranged for according to the rates prevailing among the people should be set apart by the local officials in communication with the,' Consul. It was further provided by (the same treaty that China should gtant to all foreigners whose subjects had hitherto landed at Canton the same rights as were granted to us. Ijito the area sei aside for us, about 180 acres, other foreigners were from 'the first admitted. In 18'49 an area was set aside by the Chinese for the French, and shortly afterwards one for Americans, foreigners of all nationalities being allowed to acquire land in them also. In 1554 the three settlements were for a.short time united (under a set of land regulations issued on July 5 by the British. French, and American Consuls, but at the erud of the year the French'Plenipotentiary, M. de BoiU - houlon, informed his British colleague, Sir John Bowing, that his signature to the regulations would have to be 'withdrawn, the separation of the French area being announced officially in 1862, since when it has been administered separately by a municipal council answerable only to the French authorities.

The British and American, areas, however, continued life together, and in 1869 were giveiii by the diplomatic body a new set of land regulations which form, the /charter whereby the International Settlement governs itself to-day. The Consuls of the Treaty Powers exercise scrutiny over the actions of the Council, the Senior Consul being the channel of communication between the council and the Chinese authorities, and between it and the diplomatic body in Pekin. All judicial power over foreigners is vested in the various Consular Courts —in the

case of British subjects in the Supreme Court, in that of Americans in the United States Court for China, the municipal police furnishing an executive common to all tho courts. In regard to jurisdiction over Chinese, another of Shanghai’s problems, a hew agreement has just been reached. The preponderating foreign interests in the settlements are British, the amount of British capital invested in land, buildings, plants and manufactured stocks, municipal debentures and mortgages on Chinese property being not less than £63.250,000. Including residents outside the settlement, the British population is

in the neighbourhood of 7000. The

personnel of the municipal administration is largely, if not mainly, British, and British trade and enterprise have been, and still are, the backbone of the place, which, be it remembered, was in origin about as unpromising a piece of land as Britons overseas 'have.ever been given to develop. To-day Shanghai does nearly half the foreign trade of China, yields China nearly half its customs revenue, and is the chief centre from which toe economic influences which are shaping modern China radiate.