The American Chamber of Commerce Journal

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Part of The American Chamber of Commerce Journal

Title: The American Chamber of Commerce Journal
Issue Date: Volume XXIX (Issue No. 11) November 1953
Year: 1953
Language: English
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extracted text: A. V. H. Hartendorp Editor and Manager Entered as second class matter at the Manila Post Office on May 25, 1921, and on December 10. 1945 Subscription rate: P5.00 the year; $5.00 in the United States and foreign countries Officers and Members of the Board of Directors of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines W. C. Palmer, Vice-President and Acting President; R. J. Baker, Treasurer; F. C. Bennett, A. H. Henderson, Paul R. Parrette, E. E. Selph, W. M. Simmons, F. H, Spengler, and Paul H. Wood. Mrs. Virginia Gonder, Executive Vice-President; I. T. Salmo, Secretary Vol. XXIX November, 1953 No. 11 Editorials — Contents Note on the Elections........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ The Promotion of Philippine-American Trade Relations...........‘..................................................................................................................................... Inauguration of the Maria Cristina Falls Development........................................................................................................................................................ The General Electric Company...................................................................................................................................................................................................... J. H. Carpenter.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Thanksgiving........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Thomas Harrington..................... ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... Bureau of Mines Publications........................................................................................................................................................................................................ Do Free Gold Prices Reflect True Value of Peso?............................................................................... Philippine Gold Producers Association, Inc..................................................................... The Secret Radios in the Santo Tomas Internment Camp......................................... A.V.H. Hartendorp....................................... The S.S. Corregidor’s Gallant Past................................................................................................................ U. S. Naval Institute Proceedings......... Philippine Foreign Trade Statistics, First Half, 1953, compared with First Half, 1952. Bureau of the Census and Statistics........... I. Twenty Principal Imports......................................................................................................................................................................................... II. Twenty Principal Exports..................................................................................................... ..................................................... III. Foreign Trade by Countries...................................................................................................................................................................................... IV. Foreign Trade by Nationality of Traders........................................................................................................................... .............................. V. Foreign Trade by Ports of Entry............................................................................................................................................................................ The “Un-Planning Expert” and German Prosperity............................................................................................................................................................... 423 423 424 424 426 427 427 427 427 428 428 430 430 431 433 434 434 435 The Business View - The Government.............................................................................. ... Banking and Finance................................................................................................................................... Manila Stock Market................................................................................................................................... Credit.............................................................................................................................................................. Electric Power Production.................................................................................................................... Real Estate..................................................................................................................................................... Building Construction........................................................................................................ Ogean Shipping and Exports............................................................................................. Port of Manila....................... .................................................................................................................... Freight Car Loadings................................................................................................................................... Lumber............................................................................................................................................................. Mining............................................................................................. .................................................... Copra and Coconut Oil............................................................................................................................... Desiccated Coconut..................................................................................................................................... Sugar.................................................................................................................................................................. Manila Hemp................................................................................................................................................. Tobacco............................................................................................................................................................ Imports............................................................................................................................................................. Food Products................................................................................................................................................ Textiles......................................................................................................................................................... Legislation, Executive Orders, Court Decisions.................................................................................. Philippine Safety Council........................................................................................................................... Cost of Living Price Index (1948-1953)............................... .......................................................................... The “Let Your Hair Down” Column.............................................................................................................. Official Sources ................................................ 434 W. M. Simmons................................................ 436 J. J. Orticas..................................................... 437 R. A. Callahan............................................... 437 J. F. Cotton . .................................................... 438 A. Varias............................................................ 438 J. J. Carlos....................................................... 439 B. B. Tunold..................................................... 439 W. S. Hurst..................................................... 439 J. B. Libunao................................................... 439 P. de Ocampo.................................. 440 H. A. Brimo...................................................... 442 R. J. McCombe................................................ 443 H. R. Hick......................................................... 444 S. Jamieson....................................................... 444 J. D. Conrad.................................................... 446 L. A. Pujalte................................................... 447 S. ScHMELKES.................................................... 447 W. E. M. Saul................................................. 448 W. V. Saussotte ............................................ 449 R. Janda............................................................. 451 F. S. Tenny.............................. 453 Bureau of the Census and Statistics........... 454 .................................................................................. 455 50 CENTAVOS THE COPY WORLD’S LARGEST-SELLING MOTOR OILWhy Accept Less For Your Cor? See Your Friendly Mobil gas Dealer! Editorials “ to promote the general welfare” AS strictly a business publication, this Journal has always avoided partisan political comment and as to the results of the national elections, held on November 10, the publication date of this issue per mits of no extended analysis. The Journal, however, praises the people and government of the Philippines on the conduct of one of the most critical elections in the history of democracy: and it extends its regrets to His Excellency, President Elpidio Quirino, who failed of re-election, and its congratulations to the Honorable Ramon Magsaysay, the President-elect. On invitation of Secretary of Commerce and Industry Comelio Balmaceda, the following statement was sent by Mr. J. H. Carpenter, PresOn the Promotion of ident of the American Chamber Philippine-American of Commerce, as a contribution Trade Relations to the Yearbopk published in connection with the sixth an niversary of the establishment of the Department under its present name: TTAViNG been invited by our most able Secretary of ■n Commerce and Industry, Mr. Comelio Balmaceda, to contribute to this Yearbook a short statement on the promotion of Philippine-American trade relations, I should like to say, first, that I am pleased that he is thinking along those lines. During the past three years, so much emphasis has been placed on the promotion of industrialization, that many businessmen feel that the promotion of trade has become a secondary objective. In order to promote indus trialization, trade has been deliberately checked, by means of various controls, and in some cases where the benefit to be derived from the establishment of a new local in dustry is questionable. As Colonel Andres Soriano, one of our most successful industrialists (and also a trader), pointed out recently: “In the Philippines, rich in primary products, the natural ap proach to industrialization is by way of processing local raw materials to a point where cost of transportation is reduced sufficiently to permit shipment and sale to as many domestic and foreign markets as possible at competitive prices.” In any case, he declared,— “careful selection should always be made of those industries which, on the basis of the probable volume of sales, can produce at a unit-cost which will permit selling at prices which are competitive with those of imported products.” The establishment of a local industry, through meas ures of protection, which merely results in the consumers being compelled to pay higher prices for anything than they otherwise would need to pay, is a national loss and not a gain. A true autarky (a state of economic self-sufficiency) is a virtual impossibility in the modern world. The largest and most highly developed nations, both agriculturally and industrially, still must necessarily import and export. There must always be trade, and the more trade, in coming and outgoing, the higher the prosperity. Inter national trade has always been considered as the blood in the circulatory system of the world. Governments of all countries, therefore, should adopt every possible measure to encourage both industry and trade, because the one depends on the other, and as to the latter, they should promote both the incoming and out going flow. The flow from one direction can not long be arbitrarily checked without also checking the flow in the other direction. Trade is to be promoted in various ways, but perhaps principally through negotiating treaties of friendship, commerce, and navigation and adhering to the usual pro visions of such treaties; basically, they provide a code of reciprocally fair treatment for the businessmen of the one country in the other. Trade must be promoted through encouraging traders, both native and foreign; not one or the other, but both, for trade is always a two-way street, made up of commerce both ‘‘in and out” of a country. There never was a prosperous nation in the world, even in ancient times, which did not have its colonies of foreign traders. Today, the business directories of the great ports everywhere, read like rosters- of the names of all the peoples of the world from Aabaat to Zyzneski. Inauguration of the Maria Cristina Falls Development Trade was the first broadener of the human mind and of human ways, even back in primitive times. Traders, and industrialists, are today the real in ternationalists and cosmopolitans. Hourly they speak around the world by cable and through the air. Their trains and ships and planes cross national boundaries everywhere. They think in terms of vast volumes and great distances, and in terms of pounds and ounces and the neighborhood, as well. They think at once in terms of millions of dollars and in fractions of cents. Their minds are on coordination and cooperation, as well as on competi tion; on purely local adaptations, as well as on established trade standards; on service, world-wide and local, as well as on profit. Such men ask for nothing except scope for the spirit of enterprise which imbues them, for nothing but freedom to carry on the commerce which is so basic to national and world progress. , The official inauguration on October 4 of the Maria Cristina Falls development, initially consisting of a 25,000 KW hydro-electric plant and a 50,000-metric ton fertilizer (ammonium sulfate) manufac turing plant, marked the begin ning of a new era in the indus trial development of the Philippines and will stand in history as unquestionably the major achievement of the Quirino Administration, going far to offset its negative features. As recommended in the Westinghouse Electric Power Program Report of December, 1947, and as originally planned by the National Power Corpora tion (established by President Quezon in 1936), an 80,000kilowatt hydro-electric plant and a 126,000-ton fertilizer factory were projected, but due to various difficulties which were encountered, a reduced initial program was decided upon. Work began in August, 1950, financed by a P16,000,000 loan from the Central Bank, later increased to P 19,000,000. ’ It is of special interest to Americans to note that, in 1937, what now are two famous U. S. Army Generals, the then Captains Hugh J. Casey and Lucius D. Clay, both of the Corps of Engineers, assisted the present General Manager of the National Power Corporation, Filemon C. Rodriguez, in the investigation of a number of rivers and lakes with power possibilities. The Caliraya River hydro-electric development, in Laguna, was the first major undertaking, three units of 10,000 KVA being projected, with a fourth to be powered by Lumot River water. Construction was begun in 1940 and one unit was ready at the outbreak of the war. It suffered some damage during the war but was completed after the war, and the Lumot project, on which work began in April, 1949, financed by a P5,000,000 loan from the Central Bank, was also carried out, the total capacity from Caliraya now being 40,000 KVA. The two major projects, one to harness the Agno River, first at Ambuklao, in Benguet, and the other to harness the Agus River outlet of Lake Lanao, were begun at about the same time (August, 1950), but the initial step of the Lanao project requiring less engineering effort at less cost, was adequately financed and carried through to completion, while work on 75,000-kilowatt Ambuklao project, which involves the construction of lengthy tunnels and the build ing of one of the highest earthen dams in the world, had to proceed at a more measured pace. It is now being financed by a P61,000,000 advance from the Central Bank and a credit up to $20,000,000 from the U.S. Export-Import Bank. It is due for completion about the middle of 1955 and will furnish power to Baguio, various points in Central Luzon, and the City of Manila. Both these projects involve only what are called the initial steps in the two areas. It is planned to tap the two rivers again and again at power stations to be con structed one below the other along their courses. Mr. Rodriguez has stated that— “It is expected that in the short span of six years, a total additional capacity of 291,000 KW, with additional energy-generation of 1,558,000,000 KWH, will be available, increasing the available per-capita energy from around 29 KWH annually to 98 KWH.” He points out that this is little as compared to the 1,190 KWH of the United States and the 476 KWH of Japan, but the full program covers a period of around 20 years, ending in 1960, by which time the installed capacity will, according to plan, reach nearly 1,200,000 KW, as compared to 48,000 KW in 1947. This, indeed, is a mark to shoot at, for what chiefly distinguishes a progressive economy from an unprogressive one is the fact that in the former machine-power augments the power of human and animal muscles manifold. But, as we are achieving this additional power, we must also wisely apply it, and that will require not less, but more enterprise and more capital. Under the present policies, the Government will make power available, but the people will have to learn to use it in increasing the national production if it is to do us any good. The General Electric Company The General Electric Company, largest electrical manufacturing firm in the world, founded in 1878 by Thomas A. Edison as the Edison Electric Light Company, consolidated in 1889 with other Edison enterprises to form the Edison General Electric Company, and merged in 1892 with the ThomsonHouston Electric Company to become the present General Electric Company, observed its 75th anniversary last month.1 The occasion was observed by the Company’s Philippine affiliate, too. 1 The Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company was founded four yean later by George Westinghouse, another great American inventor and in dustrialist. Industrial research in the United States, which has become of such supreme importance in modem industry, began in the Edison laboratories and the Company was founded on the results of fourteen months of testing which ended, for the time being, in the choice of cotton thread as the filament for the then marvelously new incandescent electric lamp; now tungsten is used. The main laboratory of the Company at Schenectady came to be known as “The House of Magic” and not a little of the awe with which this institution was regarded is to be attributed to the small hunch-backed genius, Charles Proteus Steinmetz, who experimented with lightning and who, among other things carried through the brilliant mathematical calcula tions which made it possible for engineers to foresee the electrical characteristics of the alternating current motors before they were actually built. His formulas are still in use today and it is for his work in the mathematics of electricity that he is principally remembered and honored. Thomas Alva Edison, himself (1847-1931), besides for his work in the invention and exploitation of methods for the generation and distribution of electric light, heat, and power, and for the transmitting of telegraphic signals, is popularly noted for his invention of the phonograph and a moving-picture camera, but he also discovered what be came known as the “Edison effect”,—the passage of elec tricity from a filament to a plate of metal inside an in candescent lamp globe (a forerunner of the radio tube). The General Electric Company, states the Encyclo pedia Britannica, “designs, manufactures, and sells almost every form of apparatus for the generation, transmis sion, distribution, control, measurement, and consump tion of electric energy,” and scientific research is an in424 November, 1953 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 425 I THE... BLAISDELL STEAM STATION...as it looks TODAY! THE SYMBOL The task of supplying the ever increasing demand for Power in the City of Manila and its environs is a tremendous one. Reddy Kilowatt proves equal to the task! In eight years since 1945, from a virtually rilined system, the Manila Electric Company has risen to its present stature. The Blaisdell Steam Station is one of the Com pany’s several sources of electric energy. Starting with a 12,500-kilowatt generator which was salvaged OF SERVICE! in 1945 from the war-torn debris, the capacity of the Station has grown to the present 36,500 kilo watts. Very recently the last of three new turbo generators aggregating 20,000 kilowatts was placed in service. THIS MEANS MORE ELECTRICITY FOR EVERY NEED! To provide an adequate supply of efficient electric service is the main aim of our Rehabilitation and Expansion Program. MANILA ELECTRIC COMPANY 134 San Marcelino, Manila Tel. 3-24-21 Creasingly important part in its activities, extending today into atomic research. Products of the General Electric Company were handled in the Philippines for many years by the Manila Hardware Company, a branch of the Pacific Commercial Company. The Company opened its own branch office here in 1931, and the present General Electric (P.I.), Inc., was established in March, 1946, a few months before the inauguration of the Philippine Republic. At the time of the invasion of the Philippines by the Japanese, C. C. Grinnell was the General Manager. He became Chairman of the internee Executive Committee in the Santo Tomas Internment Camp in which position he was able to do much to temper the hardships of internment for over 6,000 people. He was taken out of the Camp and secretly executed by the enemy in January, 1945, together with several other well-known Americans. Black-bearded T. W. (“Tom”) Poole, another General Electric man, became the camp electrician and secretly operated a radio in the Camp at the risk of his life.2 Francis (“Frank”) H. Ale, who was also in Santo Tomas, and later in the Los Banos Camp, returned to Manila after the repatriation which followed Liberation, inJanuary, 1946, and took a major part in the organization of the new Philippine Company. He was sent to- Japan in 1949 as the general manager of the General Electric Company branch there. W. J. Nichols, now Vice-President and General Manager, came to the Philippines in 1947. Seventy-five years is little more than an average life time, but during that time the world made greater pro gress, materially, than in the 75 centuries which preceded it. This tremendous advance is to be credited chiefly to the control man learned to exercise over a form of energy so little understood at the beginning that it was named after the Latin word for amber,—the fossil resin in which, on rubbing, the force was first recognized. Rubbing a piece of amber would charge it with this force and enable one to pick up small pieces of paper with it. After the passage of many centuries, only a few great and alert minds saw more in this than anyone would in a mere parlor trick. It was to these few great scientific researchers, to a relative small number of great inventors, and to a few more great industrial and business leaders that the world chiefly owes an industry which has transformed our mateiial civilization. Once more let it be emphasized that it was neither government nor labor, as such, that was basically re sponsible for this advance, though government and labor played essential parts,—the one protective and the other implemental, once the advance got under way. There had always been government and there had always been labor. What was lacking was the scientific knowledge and the entrepreneurial drive to apply it in practical life when the knowledge was obtained. Friends and business associates of Mr. J. H. Carpenter, Vice-President and General Manager of Colgate-Palmolive Philippines, Inc. and President of J. H. Carpenter the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, received something of a shock with the sudden announcement last month that the parent Colgate-Palmolive-Peet Company was transfer ring him to Havana, Cuba, as Executive Vice-President of the Company’s subsidiary there,—Crusellas y Cia, and that he would be leaving the Philippines within a few weeks. Mr. Carpenter has been a director of the Cham ber since 1949 and was elected President for this year. Although Mr. Carpenter was not a veritable “oldtimer” in the Philippines, he was among those tested and tried. He first came to the country in January, 1939, passed 2 See the article elsewhere in thia issue of the Journal, “The Secret Radios ir the Santo Tomas Internment Camp.” the three-year ordeal of internment in Santo Tomas and later Los Banos, and was among the first of the American businessmen who returned to Manila after a brief trip home upon liberation to reestablish their organizations here. The Colgate-Palmolive-IJeet Company has been op erating in the Philippines since 1926 (Leonard Wood was then the Governor-General), and Carpenter arrived here, as stated, early in 1939, during the fourth year of the Com monwealth, as office manager of the Company then under the managership of William M. Pearce. For three years before the war in the Pacific he traveled extensively through the Islands working with salesmen and visiting ColgatePalmolive outlets in every province. When, in 1941, Pearce was called into military service, Carpenter became Acting Manager and conducted the business until Manila was occupied by the Japanese in January, 1942. He was interned in Santo Tomas and was among the first 800 men, most of them volunteers, who were sent to the then still untried and highly dubious in ternment at Los Banos; healthy, unmarried men weie chosen and Carpenter was then still a bachelor. He was not married until after the war, in 1946. Born in Camden, Missouri, he spent most of his early years in Kansas City, joining his Company there in 1928. After working in various branch-office organizations, he was transferred in 1937 to the executive offices in Jersey City, and it was from there that he was sent to the Philippines. He married the former Ruby Stephens, also from Kansas Cit>, in Manila. They made their home in Pasay City and now have one son, James Stephens Carpenter. However, this still lay some years ahead when he was liberated from Los Banos. He first spent several weeks in Manila establishing a temporary office for his Company and arranging ways and means to handle the first shipment of Colgate-Palmolive products. These were among the first commercial items to reach Manila, in August, but meanwhile Carpenter had gone to the United States to confer with Company officials there. He was appointed General Manager for the over-all operations in the Philip pines and returned very shortly, in September, among the few American businessmen to get back under special permit. When it became apparent that the Philippines’ dollar resources would not permit any large-scale importing of the Company’s products, steps were taken to establish a local manufacturing plant. Colgate-Palmolive Philippines, Inc., was organized in 1949 to succeed the Manila branch of the Colgate-Palmolive-Peet Company, and Carpenter was elected Vice-President. So that manufacturing could start immediately, a temporary plant was set up in the Walled City which was completed by January, 1950. At the same time a tract of 20,000 square meters of land in Makati, Rizal, was pur chased, and on this property a new and modern soap, dental cream, and toilet-article factory was erected which opened in April, 1951. It was one of the first American industrial plants to be established here with American capital during the post-war period. While some raw ma terials must be imported, considerable quantities of local materials are utilized,—including coconut oil, alcohol, salt, caustic soda, bottles, corrugated-paper cartons, etc. The erection of the Philippine plant was the first post-war project in the entire Far East to be approved by the parent Company. Much of the credit for this constructive achievement is Mr. Carpenter’s and his assignment to the Cuba es tablishment, one of the largest of some twenty-eight plants operated under the International Division of the Company, is doubtless in recognition of his able work here. Besides serving as President of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, he was President of two other organizations,—the Manila Polo Club and the Ad 426 vertising Club of the Philippines, and he was also a member of the Board of Directors of NEPA (National Economic Protective Association). He was prominent in various other civic and social organizations. During his fifteen years in the Philippines,—a rela tively brief period of time,«but crowded with tremendous experiences, Mr. Carpenter played a notable part. His departure spells a distinct loss to the Philippine community. Thanksgiving Day is probably the most typically American holiday, for, church-goer or not, the American is a religious man, with an abiding trust Thanksgiving in God which is strengthened, no doubt, by his belief in the essential goodness of the world and life and man, as well as by his confidence in himself. The American is a happy man and is, for good reason, a thankful man. Everyone likely to read these few lines knows that the observation of Thanksgiving Day goes back to the cele bration of the first harvest,—after a very hard winter, by the Puritans who had settled in New England. It is un derstood, of course, that harvest festivals have been cele brated in all parts of the world from mankind’s earliest days. It is not so well-known, except to students of language, especially that branch of linguistics which treats of the derivation of words, that the word thank is derived .from the Anglo-Saxon and is akin to the word think. Thank was originally a thought, a thinking. It is indeed a marvelous thing that many a woid, developed from some original root through mere use, by generation after generation, embodies profoundly phil osophic thought, unconscious though it must have been. Who can doubt, for example, that to think, to pause and to take thought, is to find ourselves impelled to render thanks,—whether we consider what we are thankful for to be divine mercies or some lucky turn of fate? At bottom, to think is to thank, because to think is to be conscious of life, the matrix of all joy and the first cause of all gratitude. Thomas Harrington, A Worthy Man October 27, 1953 Mr. Peter Richards, Manila Chamber of Commerce Dear Mr. Richards: Having just read in the Manila Daily Bulletin of this morning of the death in England, on the 23rd of this month, of the Hon. Thomas Harrington, C.M.G., for many years (1920-1935) the British Consul-General here and later, both before and after the war, associated with the Manila Chamber of Commerce, I wish, on behalf of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, to express our sense of loss and to offer his relatives .and friends and the British community in general, through you, our condolences. He was a most worthy man. Very sincerely yours, Virginia Gonder Exec u tive Vice -Presiden t American Chamber of Com merce of the Philippines This is to call the attention of Journal readers to the release last month of the Annual Report of the Bureau of Mines for the Fiscal Year Bureau of 1952-1953, mimeographed, 52 Mines Publications pages, with appendices on the coal and the strategic minerals surveys; also to Chromite in the Philippines, (Informa tion Circular No. 15), mimeographed, 20 pages, with map. These are both valuable publications and it is to be regretted that they are not issued in the more permanent, printed form. Do Free Gold Prices Reflect True Value of Peso? MONTHLY AVERAGES OF PREMIUM GOLD SALES PRICES (per ounce) MONTH 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 January......................................... P 81.65 P 94.92 P108.87 P133.34 P114.43 Pl 12.44 February ...................................... — 85.37 94.03 111.86 139.30 110.46 107.78 March............................................ — 87.10 95.92 106.31 144.94 110.00 105.56 April.............................................. — 89.39 94.05 98.50 156.50 106.55 103.65 May............................................... — 92.55 95.60 95.76 150.00 104.50 103.06 June................................................ P 81.50 95.16 105.17 95.97 115.04 104.40 99.34 July............................................ 87.67 97.21 95.03 103.76 112.52 101.77 99.66 August.......................................... 94.00 102.50 92.58 108.25 115.62 100.50 99.77 September.................................... 95.70 94.24 88.98 115.78 121.02 101.00 101.98 October......................................... 96.50 92.81 88.92 126.08 114.33 104.69 106.89 November.................................... 86.50 92.64 87.60 130.25 112.79 104.40 December................................ 82.31 93.68 86.57 121.39 115.23 107.45 Annual Averages......... - P 93 90 P 94.26 Pl 08.63 P123.75 P106.37 —Figures supplied by courtesy of the Philippine Gold Producers Association, Inc. Editor’s Note—The figures given in this table are of great interest from a number of points of view, besides that of the gold mining industry. They may, for instance, be studied in connection with the imposition of import control in January, 1949, and of the 17% exchange tax near the end of March, 1951. The figures also probably reflect the ups and downs in the real value of the peso. It is an interesting fact lhat the “black market” in dollars closely follows the free gold price. The Journal would be glad to publish an analysis of these figures should anyone care, to undertake to make such an analysis. 427 The Secret Radios in the Santo Tomas Internment Camp By A.V.H. Hartendorp INTERNEES in Santo Tomas had sometimes commented in a self-congratulatory manner on the accuracy of the “rumors” of war developments which circulated in the Camp. Many thought this accuracy rather surprising and some supposed that what was taken as a rumor and later proved to be true, represented the deduction of coming from prior, events by someone of unusual keenness and foresight. The fact was that, unknown to all but a very few internees, there was a radio in the Camp, indeed, at one time, several, operated at the risk of their lives by a number of internees, the chief one being T.W. (“Tom”) Poole, of the General Electric Company, the camp electrician. Poole had had a radio in his possession from the beginning, but did not use it much during the first two years of internment because the news came in well enough through the camp buyers and occasional visitors. He kept his radio bolted inside a 5-gallon oil-can with a tight cover which, at need, could be sunk into a well. He had another one inside a pressure-cooker which could also be immersed. After the Japanese military took over the administra tion of the Camp in February, 1944, however, little news could come in from the outside, and as a consequence, be sides Poole’s radio, another receiver was put in operation which belonged to a group of which Dave Harvey, Frank Peters, and Al Wilkins were members. It was usually kept about the outdoor stage on the plaza in front of the Main Building. These men were somewhat indiscreet in passing on the news to others, in Poole’s opinion, and when their radio got out of order and was brought to him for repairs, he retained it, giving them instead such news as he received over his own instrument, but, in self-protection, keeping them about three days behind. Poole transferred his radio from shack to shack and at' various times concealed it under the floor of the “model home” apartments in the Main Building, in the moving picture projection booth on the plaza, and sometimes in plain sight on top of the cold-stores refrigerator in the rear corridor of the Main Building. In their frequent searches, the Japanese never found it. Poole, who listened to the broadcasts with ear-phones, kept both C. C. Grinnell and S. L. Lloyd (Chairman and British member of the internee Executive Committee, respectively) regularly advised of developments, especially after the American landings in Leyte. Lloyd transmitted the news to H. B. Pond, one of the Internee Agents, and the latter to D.T. (“Dave”) Sternberg, former production manager of the Far Eastern groadcasting Company, who judiciously saw to the spread of the news through the Camp by a number of newspapermen and others, but always as “more or less dependable rumor” rather than as fact. The source was never breathed of and no names were ever given. The news was often held back for several days and sometimes an erroneous report was deliberately permitted to circulate so that if the Japanese came to hear of the “rumors” in the Camp they would not be so entirely correct as to arouse or to strengthen their suspicion of there being a radio-receiver in the Camp. The men so dangerously engaged in keeping the Camp more or less informed of the progress of the war, performed a signal service to the whole intemee-body, playing an important part in keeping up the general morale. It would have been indeed intolerable had the Camp remained wholly in the dark as to what was going on in the world at large and, especially during the last few months, as to the advance of the American forces in the Philippines. Unknown to Poole was another radio-set operated by George Newman and D. E. Axe of Pan-American Airways. Newman regularly relayed the radio-news to Earl Carroll. They had also, very secretly, constructed a 75-watt trans mitter and with the cooperation of Luis de Alcuaz, Secre tary to the Father Rector of the University, got all the parts together for a much more powerful one,—1000 watts. They started the construction in May, 1943, just after the first transfer of internees to Los Banos, and tested the apparatus in August, after which they dismantled it and placed the parts with the physics material in the physics laboratory of the University, including a complete diesel plant and generator. In case of emergency, Santo Tomas would have been ready to flash out its messages. Even the fuel oil for the diesel engine was on hand. However, this transmitter was never used. Poole, as camp electrician, made a practice during the last few months of impressing it upon the Japanese in the Camp that he had some repair job to attend to as an excuse for not appearing at the 5:30 p.m. roll-call. Actually he listened to the “Voice of Freedom” broadcast from Leyte and later from Lingayen at 5 o’clock and to the KCEI at 6. The Voice of Freedom announced on the evening of Feb ruary 3: “The American forces are approaching Malolos, 18 miles north of Manila.” But there was an American force much nearer than that,—which entered the Camp a few hours later and set it free. The S.S. Corregidor’s Gallant Past 428 Headquarters on Dewey Boulevard, to borrow a copy of the February, 1952, Proceedings which contained a longer article on the Engadine written by Lt.-Com. E. George Pollak, who was on duty at the Cavite Navy Yard at the time of the outbreak of the war with Japan. Later he served with the Mariveles Naval Battalion on Bataan and after that with the Southern Philippine Naval Forces. He was a prisoner-ofwar in Japan for three-and-a-half jsears, and since then he has had duty at Renselaer Polytechnic Institute, in the Navy Department, at Long Beach Naval Shipyard, and at the Naval War College. We are taking the liberty to reprint this article herewith and as follows: From Dover Straits to Corregidor Deep By Lieutenant Commander E. George Pollak, U.S. Navy ON the 17th of December, 1941, a naval patrol vessel took the S.S. Corregidor through the minefield closing the entrance to Manila Bay. The channel through the field was a simple dog-leg affair; it was regularly swept and at that time still frequently used. The patrol boat captain took the outbound skipper to the turn in the channel, gave the skipper the new course and distance for clearing the minefield, and prepared to return to his own station. Eye-witness accounts all agree that everything appeared normal up to this point. The Corregidor made her turn and began picking up speed. Then, for some reason which shall never be known, she veered strongly off-course and headed into the field. A few moments later she struck a mine. Within a few minutes only debris floating on the swift and deep-running currents of the channel remained as indication of the short-lived tragedy. The small boats that ventured into the area managed to pick up some survivors, who scarcely knew what had happened before they found themselves in the water and who could give no further explanation of events. The Corregidor had loaded at the Manila waterfront during the previous days. In her limited hold-space was crammed most of the artillery and ammunition destined for the American and Filipino forces preparing the defense of Mindanao. Several batteries of 75 mm. field pieces were to be the artillery backbone of General Sharp’s forces. In addition, mortars, which were proving themselves invaluable in the mobile jungle war, were aboard. The passenger list of the ship was already complete when, at the last moment, panicky citizens trying to keep one jump ahead of the Japanese stormed the gangway. No one knows how many managed to get and stay aboard; the total load of the Corregidor as she departed was estimated at from 600 to 700 persons.* The old vessel had for many years held a firm seat as queen Of the inter-island fleet. Under the flag of the Compania Maritima she sailed out of Manila to the Visayas and Mindanao carrying passengers, tourists, and cargo. Occasionally she cruised to the China coast. Although some newer, foreign-built ships were challenging her crown, she still retained the affection of the Islands and at worst was on her way to becoming a dowager queen with no intention of retiring. She used to come into Cavite Navy Yard for engine overhaul, inasmuch as her direct-connected Parsons turbines were of such size that no other fa cility in the area could handle them effectively. She still could turn up 22 knots after these overhauls, and the trial trips usually developed into a gala excursion down the Bay which taxed the capacity of the trial party as much as the capability of the vessel. Famous vessels, other than those that go down in a blaze of glory, have disconcerting habits of changing names and trades during the process of sliding into obscurity. Ask anyone but those concerned about what has happened to a shij?that made the headlines a few years ago, and you will receive a very blank stare. There is many a coal barge being towed around in relative ignominy that once was an in dependent personality. There are many unrecognizable hulks in the back-waters where the ship-breakers operate which bore well-known names. And there are many plodding ships which years ago stood at the head of the list of speed and luxury. The old Corregidor was different; she neither plodded nor intended to give up. In defiance she had, instead, a bright brass plaque forward under her bridge which proclaimed that she had been H.M.S. Engadine, the first British seaplane carrier, and that she had seen the doings at Jutland. ■ A little checking developed her history. She was built in 1911 by Denny and Brothers at Dumbarton for the cross-channel service of the Southern Railway at a designed speed of 23 knots. Three steam turbines with coal-fired boilers drove her three screws. She was 316 feet overall with a 41 foot beam and a 16 foot draft, and she displaced 1881 gross tons. From available records it is not quite clear at what point she en tered the service of the Royal Navy and was converted to a seaplane carrier. It is noted that in 1915 her name appears in connection with the conduct of some tests of seaborne observation balloons. She was present at Heligoland Bight and at the Battle of Jutland. In Jane’s Fighting Ships she is listed as “Seaplane Carrier” under the heading “Aero Depot Ship” for the years 1916 and 1917. At that time the first true aircraft carriers appeared, and the Engadine disappears from the rolls of the Royal Navy, presumably to be refitted as a passenger vessel and eventually to turn up in the Philippines. At some point she was converted to oil fuel. An available sketch indicates that her after-deck had been cleared and a hangar constructed about her superstructure. A crane was fitted at both corners of the hangar, which was provided with steel doors. The appearance of the after half of the ship resembled, on a small scale, our own Currituck Class AV, less the stem crane. She carried four aircraft, two Shorts and two “Baby” Sopwiths, which were equipped with folding wings for stowage. The Engadine could get her planes rigged and in the water in a minimum of 20 minutes. The unreliability of air operations of that day is illustrated by an abortive bombing strike which was carried out on German Zep pelin installations. The Engadine, together with the other seaplane carrier Vindex, carried a total of 11 planes. All were put in the water, in fairly rough weather. Eight planes did not get off due to various damage incurred while attempting to get into the air. Smashing of propellers seems to have been the main trouble. One plane got off but flew into the wireless aerial of an accompanying destroyer and disappeared together with the pilot. Another plane developed engine trouble shortly after take-off and was forced to return. The sole plancthat continued on its mission found the target through the bad weather and proceeded to drop its two 65-pound bombs. At a later date it was discovered that the damage was negligible, but apparently the ap pearance from seaward of this single craft led the Germans to consider the possibility of larger raids and had some salutary effect. On the 2nd of May, 1916, Engadine operated with the First Light Cruiser Squadron and 16 destroyers off Hom Reef in attempting to draw out the German fleet. On the 31st she was stationed between the light cruisers Gloucester and Cordelia and appears to have acted as a linking ship. Admiral Beatty ordered her planes up to scout to the north-norteast and they were successful in spotting 4 German light cruisers on a southerly course. This seems to have been one of the few times during the battle that adequate advance intelligence of enemy units was received prior to their appearance at gun ranges. Admiral Jellicoe in The Grand Fleet, 1914-1918 specially mentions that this was the first time seaplanes were used for reconnaissance work with the Fleet. At the same time, this was the only time in the engagement that the Engadine’s planes were sent aloft and the only attempt at air cooperation with the naval forces. While the general tenor of comments in writing on these events is that it was a fine thing, a sin of omission is most evident—no one develops or recommends the possibilities of this surface-air cooperation until later. In justice, it must be reiterated that the first aircraft carriers did appear in the years immediately following. The Engadine performed one more notable feat during the battle. The cruiser Warrior had been disabled and the Engadine took her in tow despite poor conditions on the morning of the 1st of June. The Warrior finally reached sinking conditions and the captain of the Engadine skilfully brought his ship alongside and rescued all 705 officers and men of the cruiser before the latter went down. From there on the history again becomes dim and the little ship rates nc further mention. At any rate, she did quite well by herself for another 23 years and ended her career with colors flying. She now lies somewhere off the island of Corregidor, whose name she bore at the end, in the deep waters of the channel, with the brass plaque undoubtedly still fastened under her bridge, to attest to her gallant past. ♦This is another under-estimate. See article in the September Journal. See also the letter from Mr. Karl Kreutz in the "Hair-down'’ column in this ££TWOULD fcttci ret <nlj the sticrgthcr'ri el oiti’rg kic'gn ieJatiers, lit the vigorous develoj ir ent of new channels of -1- inte rcoursc—particularly with free neightciirg rations. ?.s a member of the coir mt nity of free nations, we must fulfill ou r obligation to protect foreign nationals in our land from illegal discrimination, but we must devise means of encouraging and training our own people to assume through fair competition their proper place in developing the national economy.”— President-elect Ramon Macsaysay, in if ply to a questionnaire from the Civil Liberties Union as published in the Manila Daily Bulletin of November 6. 429 Philippine Foreign Trade Statistics First Half of 1953 Compared with First Half of 1952 Bureau of the Census and Statistics Item Jan.-June, 1953 Jan.-June, 1952 Value Percent Value Percent (Pesos) distribution (Pesos) distribution Total Trade.................... Imports........................ Exports....................... Balance of Trade: Unfavorable............... 842,764,212 100.00 445,731,126 52.89 397,033,086 47.11 48,698,040 865,582,519 100.00 472,973,338 54.64 392,609,181 45.36 80,364,157 I, TWENTY PRINCIPAL IMPORTS January-June, 1953, Compared with January-June, 1952 Jan. -June, Jan. -June, I 1953 I 1952 Article and Country of Origin Value I Value ■ | (Pesos) | (Pesos) 1. Cotton and manufactures................ 60,125,822 61,172,206 Hongkong............................................... 369,308 Sweden.................................................... 218,346 Italy......................................................... 127,814 Belgium................................................... 84,962 Hawaii................................ 83,766 Netherlands........................................... 66,596 Others...................... 217,430 6. Mineral oils (petroleum products) 29,288,598 111,662 208,454 2,990,894 115,292 46,550 33,934 333,220 47,790,550 United States........................................ 54,223,032 55,617,338 Japan...................................................... 2,042,396 1,373,360 Hongkong.............................................. 1,964,086 1,610,586 China....................................................... 505,628 719,320 Great Britain........................................ 449,398 404,142 Pakistan................................. 376,594 — France..................................................... 334,766 475,606. Switzerland............................................ 97,378 332,612 Germany................................................ 62,650 33,876 Belgium.................................................. 16,516 54,802 Others..................................................... 53,378 550,564 2. Iron and steel and manufactuies. 36,385,106 30,602,584 Indonesia.. ,........................................... 17,973,534 United States........................................ 4,004,488 Arabia..................................................... 3,912,850 Bahrein Island...................................... 3,151,418 Malaya.................................................... 244,754 Great Britain........................................ 740 Others..................................................... 814 7. Dairy products...................................... 23,320,150 23,087,276 8,268,556 4,824,918 11,545,448 62,082 376 1,894 14,391,650 United States........................................ 17,265,600 13,436,608 Japan....................................................... 14,544,728 10,466,354 Belgium.................................................. 1,431,600 2,286,174 Germany................................................ 830,566 1,531,590 France..................................................... 666,048 231,558 Great Britain........................................ 519,638 1,527,814 Hongkong.............................................. 476,756 44,022 • Luxemburg............................................ 246,300 89,196 Netherlands.......................................... 149,580 418,446 China................................................ 100,528 64,104 Others..................................................... 153,762 506,718 3. Rayon and other synthetic tex tiles......................................................... 34,734,234 30,585,024 United States........................................ 20,962,582 Netherlands........................................... 1,101,240 Australia................................................. 688,836 Switzerland............................................ 449,866 Canada................................................... 50,220 China....................................................... 33,104 Denmark................................................ 11,248 Hongkong.............................................. 13,132 Great Britain........................................ 7,010 New Zealand......................................... 2,560 Others..................................................... 352 8. Grains and preparations................ 21,072,330 12,356,976 512,948 972,164 435,852 398 2,096 51,986 6,836 20,162 32,232 26,064,838 United States........................................ 34,469,166 30,311,416 Japan....................................................... 156,056 66,740 Switzerland........................................... 32,484 79,260 Hongkong..................................... 27,150 55,064 France..................................................... 16,454 40,614 Great Britain........................................ 12,368 664 Italy........................................................ 5,518 160 China....................................................... 4,366 5,822 Germany................................................ 4,268 10,478 Spain....................................................... 3,262 3,322 Others........... ......................................... 3,142 11,484 4. Automobile, parts of, and tires ... 30,686,080 38,131,910 Canada.................................................... 10,222,052 United States........................................ 10,052,074 Hongkong............................................... 296,230 Denmark................................................ 191,282 China....................................................... 179,026 Great Britain........................................ 53,608 Malaya................................................... 45,992 Uruguay................................................. 13,634 Netherlands.......................................... 10,878 Australia................................................. 7,202 Others..................................................... 352 9. Chemicals, drugs, dyes, and me dicines ................................................... 20,570,160 12,308,024 12,960,298 197,022 75,146 191,362 141,906 48,960 125,736 16,384 18,571,776 United States........................................ 30,463,222 37,696,288 Great Britain........................................ 70,056 16,536 France..................................................... 59,340 56,484 Japan....................................................... 36,508 123,832 Spain....................................................... 17,118 12,944 Hawaii.,*..................... 13,930 — Germany................. . .,......................... 10,900 13,066 Egypt............................................................... 3,290 — Switzerland............................................ 3,214 208 Denmark................................................ 3,018 — Others..................................................... 5,484 212,552 5. Machinery, except agricultural and electrical............................... 30,486,290 28,900,676 United States........................................ 18,788,914 Switzerland............................................ 531,066 Great Britain........................................ 274,092 Germany................................................. 256,898 France................ 159,168 Japan....................................................... 137,210 Netherlands.......................................... 119,352 Italy........................................................ 74,862 Canada................................... 41,944 Sweden.................................... >............ 33,936 Others..................................................... 152,718 10. Papers and manufactures............... 18,069,984 16,909,924 369,770 201,196 121,776 170,580 104,336 36,472 71,994 193,380 208,546 183,802 25,149,958 United States........................................ 26,302,182 21,070,764 Great Britain........................................ 1,381,058 1,826,618 Germany.................................?............. 1,010,420 617,988 Japan..................................................... 624,408 1,545,300 United States........................................ 15,908,926 Canada................................................... 612,618 Finland................................................... 402,736 Japan....................................................... 209,876 Norway................................................... 187,306 Sweden................................................... 176,226 Spain....................................................... 107,122 Hongkong............................................... 69,552 Hawaii.................................................... 65,762 Netherlands.......................................... 56,252 Others..................................................... 273,608 22,880,844 819,290 284,190 110 413,516 138,986 79,194 141,160 3,052 389,616 430 11. Electrical machinery and ap pliances................................................ 14,591,152 14,403,580 United States........................................ 13,959,862 13,810,542 Great Britain........................................ 136,238 148,412 Japan....................................................... 128,286 162,366 Germany................................................. 76,172 28,734 Netherlands.......................*................ 76,158 129,708 China....................................................... 66,982 2,000 Hongkong............................................... 53,100 22,558 Italy........................................................ 26,490 2,718 Spain....................................................... 20,400 21,872 Australia................................................ 16,792 906 Others..................................................... 30,672 73,764 12. Tobacco and manufactures......... 13,261,506 16,872,468 United States........................................ 13,257,858 16,834,930 China...................................................... 2,016 30 Hongkong.............................................. 1,538 36,534 Others..................................................... 94 974 13. Fish and fish products................... 11,816,502 6,184,598 United States........................................ 10,221,606 5,719,982 Netherlands.......................................... 942,442 — China............................................................. 229,834 35,768 Hongkong..................................................... 113,348 139,412 British Africa........................................ 67,376 — Portugal......................................................... 49,544 91,650 Canada.......................................................... 46,438- 7,120 Germany........................................................ 34,676 — Mexico............................................................ 29,496 7,844 Japan.............................................................. 19,066 159,180 Others.............................................. 62,676 23,642 14. Fertilizers and fertilizing ma terials..................................................... 8,397,850 16,285,926 ’ United States...................................... 4,738,220 11,018,014 Netherlands.......................................... 1,364,314 833,528 Germany................................................ 744,402 1,307,274 Belgium.................................................. 688,826 285,268 Japan....................................................... 565,542 1,270,642 Canada................................................... 153,598 1,467,980 France..................................................... 134,276 59,944 Great Britain....................................... 8,662 — Hongkong.............................................. 10 20 Others..................................................... — 43,256 15. Non-ferrous metals.............................. 7,293,206 7,612,512 United States....................................... 5,720,404 5,429,320 Germany................................................ 496,634 296,762 Japan....................................................... 328,626 1,105,358 Canada.........................\....................... 196,796 5,504 Malaya................................................... 141,684 53,030 Hongkong.............................................. 114,776 54,108 China...................................................... 74,486 16,710 Great Britain........................................ 72,252 138,568 Switzerland........................................... 63,880 51,390 Belgium.................................................. 22,292 195,486 Others..................................................... 61,376 266,276 16. Vehicles other than automobiles, and parts of...................................... 7,172,166 8,235,320 United States....................................... 6,514,892 5,924,868 Germany................................................ 171,354 165,232 Great Britain....................................... 155,620 112,636 Belgium.................................................. 145,994 99,326 Japan....................................................... 117,076 1,726,306 Netherlands ........................................ 36,940 151,216 Indonesia................................................ 11,594 — Hongkong.............................................. 6,236 32,926 Spain........................................................ 3,446 150 Svyeden................................................... 3,006 462 Others..................................................... 6,008 22,198 17. Leather and manufactures......... 4,897,268 5,052,988 United States........................................ 4,324,736 4,745,434 India....................................................... 423,226 146,034 Australia................................................. 106,178 112,136 Japan....................................................... 16,166 5,440 Spain....................................................... 11,692 508 Great Britain........................................ 5,706 28,452 Hongkong.............................................. 4,984 2,414 Malaya................................................... 1,878 36 Germany................................................ 1,082 124 China....................................................... 710 342 Others..................................................... 910 12,068 18. Paint, pigment, and varnishes . . . United States. Great Britain. Netherlands. . Germany......... Sweden............ Japan............... Italy................. China............... Hongkong.... France............. Others............. United States. Ceylon............. Great Britain Ecuador.......... Brazil............... Hongkong.... China............... Colombia........ Hawaii............. El Salvador ... Others............. United States. Great Britain. Spain................ France............. Cuba................ Switzerland... Portugal.......... Italy................. China............... Germany......... Others............. Other Imports. Total Imports. 4,521,320 4,212,836 3,799,888 4,231,486 251,932 195,034 71,476 8,358 29,100 12,504 18,414 37,824 14,852 6,914 10,704 1,530 7,350 — 4,300 15,536 1,788 2,020 3,032 10,114 4,119,384 3,767,916 1,269,008 1,199,004 911,890 1,087,238 577,470 512,784 296,760 110,806 270,820 190,782 242,476 117,750 239,866 316,702 128,334 25,028 100,162 59,476 36,674 42,526 45,924 105,820 3,734,840 3,793,028 3,363,810 3,409,272 320,222 253,202 23,576 30,934 16,168 24,782 3,680 3,840 1,720 50,750 1,198 — 1,180 3,812 1,096 9,812 886 2,750 1,304 3,874. 61,495,662 64,882,510 445,731,126 472,973,338 19. Coffee, cocoa, and tea . 20. Beverages, wines, and liquois . . . II. TWENTY PRINCIPAL EXPORTS January-June, 1953, Compared with January-June, 1952 Article and Country of Jan.-June, 1953 Jan.-June, 1952 Destination Unit Quantity Value Quantity Value (Pesos) (Pesos) 1. Sugar........ Kilos 478,284,716 116,206,980 608,461,948 133,220,438 United States... Japan................... Hawaii........ Israel .................. Great Britain . . Egypt................... 477,022,199 115,889,768 601,636,346 131,254,994 1,256,048 6,377 92 315,500 1,680 32 6,795,511 2,596 200 23 27,272 1,944,916 638 80 10 19,800 2. Copra.........Kilos 228,131,912 94,804,665 309,709,763 81,703,679 United States... 149,820,575 63,169,442 147,132,187 37,719,754 Venezuela........... 14,908,660 6,018,791 13,655,040 3,399,313 Switzerland .. . . 13,745,464 5,653,704 14,070,800 3,544,325 Netherlands .... 12,801,612 5,386,885 13,208,000 3,673,210 Colombia............ 9,028,097 3,784,347 22,511,262 6,067,299 Denmark............. 9,144,000 3,567,772 9,496,400 2,530,074 Belgium............... 7,213,600 2,724,489 22,788,880 6,266,648 Israel.................... 3,677,920 1,403,890 13,972,000 3,601,988 Italy..................... 2,665,984 1,104,558 9,804,400 2,829,105 Sweden................ 1,879,600 750,200 — — Other countries.. 3,246,400 1,240,587 30,878,785 8,814,268 3. Abaca fibers, unmanufac tured Bales 459,906 42,224,437 471,205 47,668,995 United States. .. 160,619 17,288,390 232,665 25,076,213 Japan................... 125,131 10,216,937 68,774 6,447311 Great Britain . . . 59,329 5,157,465 57,664 5,754,189 France.................. 24,950 1,852,861 21,214 1,725,335 Germany............. 17,426 1,536,194 14,309 1,316,538 Netherlands.... 18,904 1,510,223 11,031 975,444 Belgium............... 11,651 959,506 17,076 1,555,661 Norway............... 6,415 621,714 — ■— . Denmark............ 7,437 620,443 8,499 865,049 Canada................ 5,050 531,531 — — Other countries.. 22,994 1,929,173 39,973 3,953,255 431 4. Lots, lumber, and tfznber.Bd.Ft. 246,308,767 24,916,745 125,133,365 15,597,725 Japan........ 194,260,581 16,659,102 84,550,482 7,461,154 United States... 37,519,810 6,219,278 27,632,237 5,458,953 British Africa. . . 2,043,318 566,474 4,797,963 1,282,256 Taiwan................ 4,713,930 415,182 1,650,470 152,998 Hongkong........... 4,540,507 374,512 3,197,333 374,599 Hawaii................. 1,002,673 248,415 1,516,954 402,334 Ireland................ 359,164 77,446 Korea................... 1,000,000 77,000 — — Belgium............... 197,320 66,707 — — Netherlands.... 106,023 60,896 — — Other countries.. 565,441 151,733 1,787,926 465,431 Great Britain .. . United States. . . Hongkong........... Thailand............. 18,269,736 4,115,206 13. Gold and con centrates. . . . S. Base metals and concentrates...........Kilos 934,924,232 23,276,328 883,104,630 19,006,916 Japan................... 630,983,616 12,084,053 676,392,288 12,504,585 United States. .. 303,741,016 11,176,055 206,507,542 6,481,331 Spain.................... 101,600 8,850 204,800 21,000 Taiwan................. 98,000 7,370 — — 6. Desiccated cocdnut. ..Kilos 23,363,473 16,254,806 15,632,345 7,597,279 United States... 23,230,668 16,166,908 15,314,524 7,440,108 Canada................ 109,306 70,750 303,503 149,677 18,163 13,928 13,948 ■ 7,155 Hongkong........... 5'336 3,220 Japan.................... — — 370 339 7. Pineapple, canned......Kilos 47,685,041 15,355,092 30,131,921 9,550,998 United States... 47,681,291 15,353,892 30,123,746 9,546,006 Hongkong........... 3,750 1,200 8,175 4,992 8. Coconut oil.............Kilos 23,614,485 13,938,145 49,364,034 19,383,440 United States... 22,881,036 13,513,644 25,058,551 8,496,543 Colombia............ 478,240 291,073 — — British Africa. . . 254,029 132,375 3,607,291 1,460,896 Guam................... 1,100 985 — — Thailand............. 80 68 — — Belgium.............. .* — — 3,195,092 1,448,535 Italy..................... 5,428,038 2,393,910 Switzerland........ — — 5,064,065 2,316,980 Netherlands.... — — 3,595,996 1,577,084 India.................... — — 1,924,147 965,638 Other countries.. — — 1,490,854 723,854 9. Embroideries, cotton and silk................... 8,858,483 7,760,162 United States... 8,858,483 7,748,742 Guam................. — 7,783 Japan................... — 3,633 Hawaii................. — 4 10. Tobacco and manufactures 6,907,100 5,674,550 Spain.................... 4,583,136 4,114,392 United States.. . ‘ 829,827 789,822 Netherlands.... 393,517 — Belgium............... 385,449 160,275 Indo-China......... 291,758 261,700 Morocco.............. 95,050 — Hawaii................. 93,316 55,835 French Africa... . 78,400 53,507 Hongkong........... 78,199 97,774 Japan............... ... 36,042 — Other countries.. 42,406 141,245 11. Copra meal or cake........Kilos 30,532,771 4,343,016 39,438,505 5,431,261 United States.. 28,824,144 4,093,290 37,271,110 5,441,266 Hawaii................. 1,708,627 249,726 1,151,395 161,890 Denmark............. — — 1,016,000 128,000 12. Molasses..Kilos 107,403,742 2,791,628 105,238,580 6,803,665 Japan................... 69,379,800 1,909,310 54,014,810 3,691,294 Korea................... 15,639,000 469,070 7,000,400 467,917 United States. .. Great Britain .. . 14. Cotton, except embroideries United States. .. Guam................... Japan.................... Israel.................... Malaya................ Hawaii................. Spain.................... Great Britain . . Hongkong........... Other U.S. In sular Posessions................. 347,125 66,123 27,739,848 6,293,714 1,384,808 8,805,000 1,687,784 353,405 74,965 528,300 j!,302,690 6,303,439 1,412,054 3,173,743 890,636 3,129,696 2,164,991 547,681 2,157,325 528,852 5,159 16,111 2,282 96 137 — 81 — 7 348 — 60 — 1,760 400 — 54 15. Chemicals......... 2,039,720 1,107,274 United States.. . 2,026,354 825,803 Thailand............. 12,866 47,588 Guam................... 500 — Malaya.................................... — 96,132 Belgium................................... — 137,751 16. Rope.......... Kilos United States. .. Malaya................ Indonesia............. Thailand............. Porto Rico.......... Japan................... Ceylon.................. Peru...................... Hongkong........... Panama, Repub lic of................ Other countries. 17. Shells and ma nufactures... 2,192,199 2,435,993 2,033,454 1,897,569 627,426 607,360 502,782 418,327 340,133 365,027 108,018 104,538 107,470 84,577 47,581 53,481 43,229 37,591 36,462 34,945 22,803 26,390 23,801 23,163 173,749 142,170 1,357,593 United States .. 1,298,731 Japan................... 32J258 Germany............. 25,687 Mexico........... 851 Hawaii................. 58 Guam................... 8 Canada................ — Hongkong........... — 18. Beer. Pf.Lit. 1,993,206 987,046 879,384 Korea................... 1,230,747 610,449 Japan................... 358,200 180,000 Guam................... 273,308 135,630 Hawaii................. 94,332 44,800 United States. . . 36,320 16,000 Great Britain ... 272 160 Sweden................ 27 7 Hawaii................. — — Malaya................ — — 592,993 614,930 683,953 445,526 123,946 108,837 719,063 688,290 557,852 123,937 94,757 16,554 18,148 23,742 30,077 174,711 203,869 1,153,079 1,138,390 9,862 145 4,200 482 625,678 302,240 193,181 278,756 94,400 138,500 45,820 19,456 86,108 21,813 42,300 7,584 19. Abaca, other than rope... United States. . . Hawaii................. Indonesia............. British Africa... Japan................... Thailand............. Switzerland........ Italy..................... Australia............. 20. Rattan fur niture ............. 828,057 47,738 2,100 761 549,632 21,590 728 14,149 3,869 2,249 856 648 729,068 885,296 432 United States. . . 526,624 467,089 Hawaii................. 66,615 194,477 Other U.S. Ins. Possessions . .. 31,040 — Guam................... 23,838 58,492 Panama, Canal Zone................. 21,661 30,053 Venezuela........... 19,187 18,002 Porto Rico......... 17,596 49,220 Dominican Republic............... 8,979 — Japan................... 4,643 24,234 Hongkong........... 3,464 — Other countries. 5,421 43,729 Other Export (incl. re exports) ................................. . 14,797,600 27,642,240 Total Exports....................... . 397,033,086 392,609,181 III. FOREIGN TRADE OF THE PHILIPPINES, BY COUNTRIES: FIRST HALF OF 1953 Percent dis- Percent dis- Percent Country Total Trade tribution Imports tribution Country Total Export distri Domestic 2?eTotal............................ bution Exports Exports 842,764,212 100.00 445,731,126 100.00 — — Total........................ . . 397,033,086 100.00 396,137,816 895,270 United States...................... 640,961,649 76.05 347,422,984 77.94 — — Japan.................................... 63,023,221 7.48 21,042,594 4.72 United States................. . . 293,538,665 73.93 293,075,931 462,734 Indonesia............................. 18,668,185 2.22 18,120,892 4.06 Japan ............................... 41,980,627 10.57 41,968,028 12,599 Canada................................. 12,745,570 1.51 11,708,402 2.63 Indonesia......... 547,293 .14 434,305 112,988 Great Britain . 11,565,415 11,518,158 1 37 4,989,718 4,157,764 1 12 Canada........... 1,037,168 .26 1,037,168 6,549,885 Netherlands........................ 1.37 .93 Great Britain.. 6,575,697 1.66 25,812 Switzerland. . 7,327,198 .87 1,648,322 .34 Netherlands... . 7,360,394 1.85 7,355,394 5,000 Belgium......... 6,980,743 .83 2,844,592 .64 Switzerland 5,678,876 1.43 5,678,576 300 Hongkong.. . 6,264,510 .74 4,849,350 1.09 Belgium.................... 4,136,151 1.04 4,136,151 — 6,234,011 6,171,330 .74 .73 1,525,282 4,514,442 .34 1.01 Hongkong................... Spain............ 1/415,160 4,708,729 .36 1,309,011 106,149 Germany. . 1.19 4,705,793 2,936 Venezuela... Denmark. . Columbia........... 6,038,498 .72 Germany.............. 1.656,888 .42 1,654,142 2,746 292,348 128,334 .07 .03 Venezuela........................ 6,038,498 1.52 6,038,498 4,199,365 4,079,959 4,491,713 4,208,293 . 53 f50 Denmark. Columbia.................. 4,199,365 4,079,959 1.06 1.03 — Arabia.................................. 3,921,375 .47 3,920,142 .88 Arabia.............................. 1,233 1,233 __ Bahrein Islands 3,441,506 .41 3,439,334 .77 Bahrein Islands............... 2,172 __ 2,172 __ France................................... 3,431,697 .41 1,560,202 .35 France............................... 1,871,495 .47 1,871,195 300 China........... 2.598,844 .31 2,597,444 .58 China................................. 1,400 — 1,400 — India.... 2,361,607 .28 2,016,206 .45 India - 345,401 .09 345,201 200 Italy......... 1,974,335 .23 463,556 .10 Italy................................... 1,510,779 .38 1,510,579 200 Korea........... 1,789,827 .21 12,458 Korea............................... 1,777,369 .45 1,771,996 5,373 Argentina... 1,689,532 .20 1,687,032 .38 Argentina.......................... 2,500 — — 2,500 Sweden......... 1,657,300 .20 615,284 .14 Sweden............................... 1,042,016 .26 1,038,469 3,547 Israel............ 1,404,561 .17 6 Israel.................................. 1,404,555 .35 1,404,555 — Norway................. 1,249,587 .15 240,120 .05 Norway.............................. 1,009,467 .25 1,009,467 — British Africa.. . 1,221,973 .14 84,246 .02 British Africa................... 1,137,727 .29 1,137,727 — Hawaii................' . 1,192,717 .14 279,318 .06 Hawaii............................... 913,399 .23 909,799 3,600 Australia,. . . 1,050,325 .12 978,760 .22 Australia............................ 71,565 .02 71,565 — Malaya................................. 1,001,974 .12 464,978 .10 Malaya............................... 536,996 .14 533,326 3,670 Ceylon.................................. 954,257 .11 916,666 .21 Ceylon............................... 37,591 .01 37,591 — Pakistan............................... 668,142 .08 668,142 .15 Pakistan............................ — Indo-China.......................... 656,964 .08 236,306 .05 Indo-China........................ 420,658 .11 291,758 128,900 Taiwan................................. 516,772 .06 49,800 .01 Taiwan........................... 466,972 .12 464,344 2,628 Finland................................ 402,758 345,613 .05 402,758 160,160 .09 Finland.............................. Thailand.... ........... .04 .04 Thailand............ 185,453 .05 182,089 3,364 Ecuador............................... 330,566 296,374 277,536 .04 296,760 296,374 3,700 .07 Ecuador.................. 33,806 .01 33,806 — Uruguay............................... .04 .07 Uruguay................... Guam................................. __ Guam................ ... .03 273,836 .07 265,712 8,124 Brazil.................................... 270,820 .03 270,820 .06 Brazil................................. — — — — Porto Rico.......................... 269,673 .03 890 — Puerto Rico...................... 268,783 .07 268,783 — Luxemburg.......................... 246,300 .03 246,300 .06 Luxemburg........................ — — — — Ireland................................. 177,557 .02 33,114 .01 Ireland............................... 144,443 .04 144,443 — Mexico................................. 144,427 .02 143,576 .03 Mexico......... 851 851 — Morocco............................... 95,050 .01 — — Morocco............................. 95,050 .02 95,050 — Czechoslovakia. . ........... 89,486 .01 89,486 .02 Czechoslovakia............... 89,486 — — ' — New Zealand...................... 83,606 .01 18,856 — New Zealand.................... 64,750 .02 64,750 — French Africa..................... 78,400 .01 — — French Africa.................. 78,400 .02 78,400 — Portugal............... 77,973 .01 63,880 .01 Portugal............................. 14,093 — 14,093 — El Salvador............. 77,924 .01 75,044 .02 El Salvador...................... 2,880 — 2,880 — Peru........................... 69,982 .01 19,000 — Peru........................... 50,982 .01 50,982 — Australia.............................. 45,354 .01 45,354 .01 Austria............................... — Other U.S. Insular Poss.. 38,589 — — — Other US Insular Poss. . • 38,589 .01 36,989 1,600 British Borneo................... 37,515 — 27,288 .01 British Borneo................. 10,227 — 10,227 — Labrador. . . .’. 29,744 — __ __ Labrador........................... 29,744 .01 29,744 — Lebanon...................... 29,667 — — — Lebanon............................. 29,667 .01 29,667 — Poland........................... 29,138 — 29,138 .01 Poland............................... — — — — Panama, Republic of. . . . 25,802 — — — Panama, Republic of.. . 25,802 .01 25,802 — Dutch West Indies........... 23,912 — — — Dutch West Indies......... 23,912 .01 23,912 — Iceland................................. 23,579 23,206 19,137 6 Iceland . .................. 23,573 .01 23,573 Greece.. 1,408 21,798 19,137 .01 21,798 Panama Canal Zone.. Panama Canal Zone.... .01 19,137 — Chile..................................... 18,483 16,856 100 Chile .......................... 18,383 18,383 Syria.................. . . . — 56 — Syria................................... 16,800 — 16,800 — French Oceana. . 14,135 — — French Oceana................ 14,135 — 14,135 — Portuguese Africa.... 13,829 — 100 — Portuguese Africa........... 13,729 — 13,729 — Dominican Republic........ 11,389 — — — Dominican Republic.. . . 11,389 — 11,389 ■— Aden..................................... 10,868 — 10,868 — Aden................................... — — Other countries.................. 37,175 — 21,066 .01 Other countries............... 16,109 — 16,109 — 433 The Business View A monthly review of facts, trends, forecasts, by Manila businessmen The Government From Official Sources OCTOBER 1 — President Elpidio Quirino takes the presidential plane, Laong Laan, for Tagbilaran, Bohol, on the first leg of a 6-day tour of some of the Visayan and Mindanao provinces during which he will inaugurate the Government’s new hydro-electric plant at Maria Cristina in Iligan, Lanao. Oct. 2 — The President leaves Tagbilaran for Dumaguete where his party is joined by that of the Vice-Presidential candidate, Jose Yulo. He attends a Te Deum service in the city cathedral before proceeding to Silliman University to extend his congratulations to Leopoldo Ruiz, first Filipino President of the institution. Ambassador Raymond A. Spruance calls on Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs Felino Neri on a good-bye visit as he is due to leave for Washington for consultation with officials there for the first-time since he assumed his post in Manila a year and a half ago; he will leave on the 4th. Oct. 3 — The President arrives at Cagayan de Oro, on the pre sidential yacht Apo. The Department of Foreign Affairs issues a statement on the visit of Japanese Foreign Minister Okazaki saying that he had-come on a goodwill visit and to exchange views on matters of mutual interest, that he confirmed Japan’s readiness and willingness to settle the Philip pines’ reparation claims, that he confirmed the statement of an earlier mission that Japan agreed to a broad and liberal interpretation of Article 14 of the Peace Treaty by interpreting the term “services” so as to include capital goods, that he discussed the possible settlement of Japan’s reparations obligation within a period either of from 5 to 7 years or 10 years, expressing a preference for payments on a progres sive scale, and that he stated he would formally submit to the Philip pine Government whatever proposal his Government may have upon his return to Tokyo from his present trip. Oct. 4 — The President formally inaugurates the Maria Cristina hydro-electric and fertilizer plants at Iligan, Lanao. Oct. 5 — The President leaves Iligan for Ozamis City aboard the Apo. Oct. 6 — The President returns to Manila on the Laong Laan while Mr. Yulo and his party proceed to Bacolod City on a chartered commercial plane. The Department of Foreign Affairs releases a message from Secre tary of Foreign Affairs J. M. Elizalde stating that the Philippines stood for election to the United Nations Security Council at the request of the Asian-African group and received 17 votes, or almost 1/3 of the total votes cast on the first ballot and expressing the Philippines’ ap preciation of this support. Oct. 8—The President after consulting with the Cabinet decides to allow the Japanese Government to undertake the salvage of some 34 sunken vessels in Manila Bay, the scrap iron to be sold to local steel mills at 40% below the world market price. The President leaves for Vigan, Ilocos Sur, on the Laong Laan to attend the golden jubilee celebration of Archbishop Santiago Sancho. Announced at Malacanan that the President received a note from the American Embassy informing him of the composition of a United States executive interdepartmental group charged with the study of the Philippine Government’s proposals for the revision of the Trade Agreement; previously called the Executive Committee on Philippine Trade Relations, it is now called the Philippine Trade Agreement Com mittee; the membership consists not of individuals but of the Depart ments of State, Commerce, Agriculture, Interior, Labor, and Treasury and the Foreign Operations Administration and the Tariff Commission; study of the proposals has been in progress for several months through the representatives of these agencies, and many of these representa tives will continue as members of the new Committee. Oct. 9 — The President and Mr. Yulo and their parties fly to Laoag, Ilocos Norte. A Malacanan press release explains that the ban on the entry of textbooks printed abroad imposed by Executive Order No. 471 has ceased to operate as the Order was issued by virtue of the powers given the President by Republic Act No. 640, known as the Import Control Law, which expired last June 30, this nullifying the Executive Order. Following a recommendation of the Price Administration Board, Executive Order No. 626 fixes the price of a brand of Japanese sardines. Oct. 10 — The President and his party arrive at Poro Point, sche duled to motor to Baguio tomorrow. Oct. 11 — The President, visiting Bacnotan, La Union, expresses satisfaction over the progress of the work on the Pl0,000,000 cement factory being erected there which will be completed by next February. He also visits Agoo on his way to Baguio. Oct. 12 — The President returns to Manila by plane and in the evening addresses members of the Filipino-American Association, an organization of Filipinos who studied in the United States, declaring that his denunciations of efforts of the opposition to seek American intervention in the coming elections, voiced by him in all his recent campaign speeches, should not be interpreted as signifying that he is “anti-American”. The Department of Foreign Affairs issues a press release stating that the Philippine request that its adherence to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), reached at the Torquay Conference in England (1950), be indefinitely deferred, has been well received by the proper authorities; the request was based on the pending revision of Philippine tariffs and of the Trade Agreement with the United States. Executive-Secretary Marciano Roque urges more efficiency in public service in an address before government executives taking courses at the Institute of Public Administration in the University of the Philip pines; the Institute was organized under an agreement between the University of the Philippines and the University of Michigan as a join project financed by the Philippine Council for United States Aid and the U.S. Foreign Operations Administration (formerly M.S.A.). Oct. 13 — The President at a meeting of provincial treasurers in Manila on official business tells them “to keep the sanctity of the ballot at any cost.” The President receives Col. Wayne E. Richards, visiting Com mander-in-chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, now on a tour of the Far East. IV. FOREIGN TRADE OF THE PHILIPPINES, BY NATIONALITY OF TRADERS: FIRST HALF, 1953 Nationality Total Trade Import Total Export Total. 842,764,212 445,731,126 397,033,086 396,137,816 895,270 American......... Filipino............. Chinese............. Spanish........... Indian (Hindu). German............ Swedish............ Indo-Chinese. . Thai (Siamese) Syrian............... Italian............... Indonesian. . . . Dutch............... Australian........ Belgian............. Hungarian....... Argentinian.... Norwegian........ Abyssinian.... Ecuadorian.... Japanese.......... Yugoslavian. . . Irish (Free).... Panaman.......... Polish................ Br. Malayan . Mexican............ Greek................ Portuguese. . . Other nationals. V. 400 400 2,939 2,039 FOREIGN TRADE OF THE PHILIPPINES, BY PORTS: FIRST HALF OF 1953 Por Total (1st half) 5,373 2,500 Domestic Re Total Trade Import Export Export Export 842,764,212 445,731,126 397,033,086 396,137,816 895,270 1,000 50,274 5,000 ,373 2,500 C*bula................ Iloilo................... Tabaco................ Jolo..................... Zamboanga........ San Fernando . Cagayan de Oro J. Panganiban. . Tacloban............ 781,662 2,514 108,000 3,094 434 Acting Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Placido L. Mapa reports to the Cabinet that 36,000 hectares of public lands in various Luzon, Visayan, and Mindanao provinces have been made available for agricultural settlement purposes, former forest lands reclassified under a PHILCUSA-FOA joint program financed at a cost of P2,267,000 and 575,000 respectively. The Cabinet approves the recommendation of the National Shipyards and Steel Corporation for the contract appointment of Hjalmar Anderson, of Sweden, as elec trical steel plant technician at the NASSCO Iligan steel plant expected to go into operation next year. Oct. 14 — Malacanan releases copies of letters exchanged between President Quirino and President Dwight D. Eisenhower to show that the Philippine chief executive was not “snubbed” in the United States as claimed by the opposition. National Treasurer Vicente Gella announces that back-pay claims under Republic Act No. 304 may now be filed up to June 20, 1954, by authority of Republic Act No. 897. Oct. 15 — The President issues Executive Order No. 629 fixing ceiling prices on various elementary and high school textbooks and on certain antibiotics. Oct. 16 — The Department of Finance reports to Malacanan that it has circularized all provincial and city treasurers to keep in their vaults and not allow the use of ink erasers or the “Magic Ink Eradicator”; the action follows a Malacanan inquiry concerning press reports that the preparation has been shipped to the provinces incon siderable quantities possibly for unlawful use during the coming elections, the Department, however, explaining that it is one of the regularly requisitioned items in general use in government offices. Acting Secretary of Labor Aurelio Quitoriano releases a report in typewritten form (67 pages) stating that some 8,500,000 persons of employable age are unemployed or underemployed, that the develop ment program has not advanced fast enough to absorb this man-power, that the standard of living is lower than 20 years ago, and that the situation is “hastening toward an explosive stage”. (The report was withdrawn a few days later as unauthorized.) Oct. 17 — The President and Mr. Yulo fly to Cebu City accom panied by many newspapermen including four Americans. He pays a brief call on former President Sergio Osmena and delivers three speeches during the day. Oct. 18 — The President and his party proceed to Bacolod, Oc cidental Negros, on the second leg of a 4-day tour of the Visayan prov inces. The President approves the temporary promotions of 5 lieutenant colonels of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to colonels. Oct. 19 — The President and party proceed to Iloilo on the yacht Apo. Oct. 20 — Director Harry A. Brenn, FOA, in a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Placido L. Mapa, Chairman of PHILCUSA, states he is much impressed by the progress of the joint PHILCUSA-FOA pro jects: he calls the Maria Cristina hydro-electric and fertilizer plants “monuments to Philippine initiative and enterprise and congratulates General Manager Filemon Rodriguez for his steadfastness of purpose, his foresight, and his determination to carry these projects through in the face of many obstacles’”; he states the road construction projects in Mindanao, especially the Davao-Agusan road, will open up thousands of hectares of land and comments also on the evidence everywhere of the fertilizer program, the increase in pure-bred cattle, pigs, and chickens and the work of the rural health units. “It is heartening to see the first fruits of our joint economic development program.” Oct. 21 —Ambassador Spruance returns to Manila. (Continued on the next page) The "Un-planning Expert” FOR the past many years we have been surfeited with dis quisitions on the importance of government “planning” and with praise of the “planners”,—“planning” in this sense meaning arbitrary government interference with economic laws and the “planners” being those engaged in this interference. It is a relief and a joy to hear at long last of, not a “planning expert”, but an “un-planning expert”, of his rugged measures aimed at “un-planning” the “planned”, and of the national prosperity which very naturally fol lowed. The account is from Newsweek for October 5 and is about Ludwig Erhard, Minister of Economics of the (West) German Republic, printed under the head-line “Germany’s Prosperity and the Man Behind It,—Erhard: Unplanning Expert.” West Germany today is the most prosperous nation in Europe, which Newsweek terms an “economic miracle”, this being “the only phrase most observers can find to describe adequately the amazing boom that transferred a wrecked and defeated Germany into the soundest and most prosperous state of Europe.” With 1936 as the base (100), production has risen from 74 to 130; there is a monthly favorable trade balance of $60,000,000; unemploy ment has fallen from around 1,600,000 to around 1,000,000 despite the heavy influx of refugees from East Germany; real wages have increased 86% since 1949. Newsweek mentions among the factors behind this resurgence the currency reform, United States aid, willing labor, and alert management, but the chief factor in the opinion of'many, it states, “has been the application of the old-fashioned, liberal economic principles of free enterprise to Germany’s economy, and behind this has stood the bulky figure of Ludwig Erhard, Economics Minister in the Bonn Government.” Erhard, according to a German friend of the Journal editor, now in Manila, who knows him personally, was a practically unknown lecturer on economics in a Nuremberg school of commerce (of university grade), was first picked for office by the American occupation authorities as a non Nazi, and later by Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, himself, although Erhard was not then a member of his party. and Germany’s Prosperity About the first thing that Erhard did as Minister of Economics was to abolish the ration-card system, and prices promptly rose. Erhard was bitterly attacked, but he stuck to his decision. He went before the country over the radio and asked the people to suspend judgment and after three months prices came down and stayed down. “Erhard shocks the planners and doctrinaires who have dominated Europe’s post-war thinking,” says News week and then proceeds to quote him on a number of vital economic questions. On government in business: “Under no circumstances should the state act as entrepreneur. Also, it ought not to enjoy priorities in regard to the capital market. The state should establish a frame within which the economy can ex pand.” On price controls: "I reject any price controls as incompatible with the principles of the free-enterprise economy. Neither the state nor cartels should be allowed to influence the development of prices.” On tariffs: "Fundamentally, I approve of overcoming tariff protectionism. But in comparison to other methods used in foreign trade—subsidies, licenses, and quota systems, it is an affirmative instrument of trade policy. However, it must eventually be abolished if foreign trade is to develop normally.” On cartels: “Cartels, in the German sense of the word, are legal links between otherwise independent enterprises. Nonetheless I am against every kind of cartel. Within the political sphere, however, it will be impossible to prevent every type of exception. But these exceptions must not disturb the functions of the .free-market economy.” On convertibility: “The convertibility of currencies is the highest goal I am striving for. By convertibility I mean monetary as well as commercial freedom of action. Convertibility does not presume economic prosperity or economic power. Rather it presumes only the willingness to attain economic order plus the view that no people can consume more than the worth of what it produces.” Finally, Erhard is quoted as saying: “People always accuse me of being a wild optimist about our Soziale Marktwirtschaft (Social market-economyj. I am really not an optimist at all. I’m just a realist.” Our conclusion from all this is that we badly need the services of an “un-planning expert” in the Philippines. 435 Oct. 22 — The President returns to Manila on the yacht Apo from a tour during which he visited Cebu, Occidental Negros, Iloilo, Capiz, Leyte, and Masbate. The President listens to a delegation of bus drivers who protest against the current two-weeks’ experiment banning busses from the principal Manila through-streets and promises to study the matter, though, he states, it is a question for the Municipal Board and the Mayor. He also promises relatives of some 200 Huk detainees at Camp Crame a speedy disposition of their cases; after more than two years, only around 100 of the detainees have so far been charged. Oct. 23 — Thomas Harrington, for many years British ConsulGeneral in Manila (1920-1935) and later, both before and after the war, associated with the Manila Chamber of Commerce, dies in England, aged 78, following an operation; during internment in Santo Tomas, he was one of the three elected “Internee Agents” (with Messrs. C. A. DeWitt and H. B. Pond). Oct. 24 — The President makes a rapid campaign tour of Bulacan, visiting the towns of Plaridel, Baliuag, San Miguel, and San Ildefonso. Newspapers report that National Bureau of Investigation agents investigating a loss of empty rice-sacks belonging to the National Rice and Com Corporation, discovered huge stocks imported from Siam and Burma rice rotting in five NARIC bodegas; an estimated P2,000,000 worth is described as “unfit for human consumption." Oct. 25 —The youthful police character, Florentino (“Scarface”) Suarez, main suspect in the Monroy murder case, is stabbed and killed shortly after midnight by two men still unidentified, on his returning home from a Liberal meeting in Caloocan where President Quirino had spoken. Oct. 26 — The Manila Lions Club in paid notices inserted in a number of Manila newspapers protests against the announced sale at public auction by PRISCO (Price Stabilization Corporation) of around Pl,000,000 worth of medical preparations and drugs, claiming that these have deteriorated and may fall into “irresponsible hands.” Oct. 27 — The President at a Cabinet meeting directs the Secretary of Justice to speed up the screening of detainees at Camp Murphy. He also issues a directive to all law-enforcement agencies to be on the alert for any provocative acts which might disturb the peaceful and orderly conduct of the elections on November 10. The Cabinet ap proves the request of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the allo cation of Plaza Militar to the Philippine Navy for use as officers’ quar ters; the Plaza Militar, formerly the site of the residence of the Com manding General of the U.S. Army and other high American officers, was used since June, 1949, as a temporary housing area for the Amer ican Embassy and was formally turned over to the Philippine Govern ment on September 16 of this year. The President appoints Col. Pelagio Cruz commanding officer of the Philippine Air Force, vice Col. Benito Ebuen, and gives him the ad interim rank of brigadier general. General Cruz was Chief of the Air Force for 3 years but was relieved in 1951 when he was assigned .to General Headquarters and later sent to the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth; after his return he was made head of the Command and General Staff School at Fort McKinley. Oct. 28 — The President leaves Manila by special train for a whistle-stop tour of a number of Laguna and Quezon Province towns. Oct. 29 — The President addresses a rally at Malolos, Bulacan. Toru Nakagawa, Chief of the Japanese Mission in the Philippines, calls on Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Neri to say good-bye; he has served in Manila for more than a year and has been promoted to Chief of the Asian Affairs Bureau of the Japanese Foreign Office; he will be succeeded in Manila by Katsumi Ono, due here about the middle of November. A Malacanan press release, commenting on the decision of Judge Fidel Ibanez of the Manila Court of First Instance that there is no authority to stop the release by the Customs of a large shipment of imported catsup because the Import Control Law ceased to operate as of June 30, 1953, places the responsibility for the "imminent death of the’Filipino catsup industry” on the Nacionalista Party which, in control of the Senate, refused to extend the life of the law. Oct. 30 — The President in an informal talk before 52 provincial revenue agents who call at Malacanan following a convention in Manila, asks their assistance in the promotion of clean and orderly elections and stresses the importance for all officials and employees of the govern ment to cooperate in attaining this objective. The new Argentine Minister to the Philippines, Jose Manuel Moneta, who arrived in Manila recently, makes his first call on Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Neri. The Supreme Court in a decision handed down today orders the reinstatement of Jose V. Rodriguez as Mayor of Cebu, who, appointed November 9, 1952, was removed by the President on April 6 of this year and given an assignment in Malacanan as “technical adviser” which Rodriguez said he never accepted; the President ap pointed Vicente del Rosario as Mayor in his place. The Court’s decision is in line with previous rulings that an appointive or elective official can not be removed from office except for causes prescribed by law. [Oct. 31 — Ramon Magsaysay, Nacionalista presidential candidate, returns to Manila after a 12-day tour of the northern provinces, stating that his Party has “cracked the solid North.” Magsaysay since his nomination in April has visited all the provinces of the country, with the exception of Batangas, in the longest and most extensive and most strenuous campaign ever conducted by any candidate for national office. He states the Liberals "would have to fake a million votes in order to win... The people are tired of having a corrupt government. They are ashamed of such a government and of the bad name Filipinos have gotten abroad just because a few Filipinos have disgraced this country and its people.”] [Fifty-seven prominent citizens have signed an appeal sent to the Presidents and presidential candidates of both parties and to the newspapers for the holding of dean and honest elections. It was drafted by a committee composed of former Finance Secretary Antonio de las Alas, Vicente Araneta, Frandsco Dalupan, Ramon J. Fernandez, Jose Paez, Rafael Roces, and Jaime C. de Veyra. It was signed, among others, by Justice Felicisimo Feria, Justice Luis P. Torres, Justice Ramon Ozaeta, Maj. Gen. Basilio J. Valdes, former Secretary Vicente Singson Encarnacion, Dr. Leondo Lopez-Rizal, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, former Secretary Prudendo Langcauon, and Gregorio Agoncillo. Banking and Finance By W. M. Simmons Manager The National City Bank of New York COMPARATIVE statement of condition of the Central Bank. As of July 31, 1953 As of Aug. 31, 1953 As of Sept. 30, 1953 As of Dec. 31, 1949 ASSETS (In thousands of Pesos) International Reserve ... P460.689 P451.428 P470.911 P460.313 Contribution to Interna tional Monetary Fund. 30,000 30,000 30,000 30,000 Account to Secure Coin age.................................... 113,306 106,940 106,941 106,940 Loans and Advances.... 77,047 31,226 17,374 9,060 Trust-’Account- Securities Stabilization Fundi... Domestic Securities......... 92,197 229,026 224,061 228,313 Other Assets...................... 20,390 49,806 48,895 50,874 P793.629 P898.426 P898.182 P885.500 LIABILITIES Currency - Notes................ Coins................ P555.576 P540.570 P551.447 P561.434 74,384 86,434 86,106 85,661 Demand Deposits-Pesos.. 117,682 215,823 204,202 180,499 Securities Stabilization Fund................................. 2,000 18,154 18,149 18,184 Due to International Monetary Fund........... 22,498 496 496 496 Due to International Bank for Recon struction (and Devel opment ............................. 2,389 2,377 2,377 2,377 Other Liabilities............... 2,636 6,191 6,032 6,585 Deferred Credits............... — 1,221 1,822 2,402 Capital................................. 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 Undivided Profits............ 6,464 7,027 7,418 7,729 Surplus................................. — 10,133 10,133 10,133 P793.629 P898.426 P898.182 P885.500 The International Reserves as of September 30, were as follows: Central Bank International Reserves...................... 5230,156,441.96 Japan Open Account (due from)............................... 12,856,198.36 Net FX Holdings Other Banks.................................. 56,665,231.25 5299,677,871.57 This is an increase of $1,150,000 from August 31, 1953. Currency and coins issued totalled P647,095,523.11. Money remains tight as previously reported and some merchants are continuing to sell at cost or near cost to raise cash. Bank deposits as of the end of September, 1953, in accordance with the official balance sheets published by Philippine banks: (List of the first seven in the order of the volume of their deposits) In Millions of Pesos 1. Philippine National Bank............................ 430.08 2. National City Bank of New York........... 124.75 3. China Banking Corporation........................ ■ 48.84 436 4. Bank of the Philippine Islands.................. 44.14 5. Bank of America, N.T. 8b S.A......... 39.41 6. Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corp... 28.06 7. Chartered Bank of India, Australia Be China............................................................. 23.26 The Philippine National Bank deposits have increased substantially during the past year while deposits in other banks have remained somewhat static or have fallen off. It is assumed that this increase in deposits at the PNB is partly due.to the opening of a number of branches in various parts of the country in recent months. Manila Stock Market By Ji. J. Ortigas Hall, Picornell, Ortigas & Co. September 26 to October 23 WITH the exception of Lepanto Consolidated, which remained unchanged, the rest of the mining issues were fractionally lower. As in previous months, trading activity has been very limited. During the period under review, the price of gold in the free market has shown a steady advance from P103.25 to Pl 10 per fine ounce. In the commercial and industrial section of the market, San Miguel Brewery, common, showed a further advance, while Banks and Insurance ruled quiet. Fixed-interest securities continue in demand. ' 1952-53 Range High Low 131.53 82.78 MINING SHARES 'igh Low 53 82.78 0 6 315 20 16 10 0 13 06 2 0 65 1 0035 0 M.S.E. Mining Share Acoje Mining Co..... Atok Big Wedge Min ing Co....................... Baguio Gold Mining Balatoc Mining Co.. . High 86.59 .24 10 Lov 82 78 23 1 10 Close Change Total Sales 84 70 24 10 Off 2.10 4,992,737 239,700 Off .10 0 0 07 044 0 0 32 29 0 0 0 0 Over-the-Coun ter Total Sales 5,000 240 1,150 1,008 20 810 Atlas Cons. Mining 8i Dev. Corp.. . Jai Alai Corp, of the Philippines... Manila Jockey Club......................... Pampanga Bus Company................ Philippine International Fair, Inc. Victorias Milling Co., Inc............... Credit By R. A. Callahan Accountant and Office Manager Philippine Refining Company, Inc. THE directors of the Association of Credit Men, Inc. (P.I.) held a regular meeting on October 20, and the general topic of collections and the use of collectors was discussed again. The entire problem of collections and collectors is one that could well be simplified and the Association is taking steps which it is hoped will produce concrete results. The membership committee confirmed the admission of the Capital Insurance and Surety Company, Inc., as of October 1, 1953. Present active membership now totals 78 firms. A revised membership roster was sent to all members on October 15. The annual dinner meeting will be held on November 20 and the usual good attendance is expected. The Ledger Interchange Bureau, which is operated by the Association, has shown marked improvement in the handling and consolidation of ledger interchange forms. Members have shown cooperation and increased speed in returning information on accounts processed, and this has been especially helpful in preparing the consolidated report for all members. A survey is being made of the insurance companies in order to increase their participation in the credit information by including details pertinent to insurance members. It is anticipated that slight changes in the forms will result in a wider range and in more per tinent information not only for insurance members but for all Association members. The voluntary “pink sheet” notices to members have proved beneficial. Ways and means are being considered to increase the use of this voluntary notice form within the Association. Inquiries made through various credit executives during the last half of October suggest that there is an improvement in cash position. Several bankers reported increases in deposits. However, collections generally are reported as still slow. The improvement in cash is con sidered due to a combination of many circumstances. There was increased activity in the selling of rice, held for a relatively long period in anticipation of higher prices but eventually sold in spite of no increase in prices and apparently on the conviction that no increase is expected. 075 30 Off 075 30 .0025 1 1 1 20........................... ........... 0013 Batong Buhay Gold Benguet Consolidated Mining Co................ Coco Grove, Inc......... Consolidated Mines, Inc.xx........................ General Base Metals. Hixbar Gold Mining Co.............................. Itogon Mining Co. .. Lepanto Consolidated. Masbate Consolidated. Mindanao Mother Lode Mines, Inc.. . . Paracale Gumaus Consolidated............ Philippine Iron Mines, Inc.............................. San Mauricio Mining Co............................... Surigao Consolidatedx Suyoc Consolidated... United^Paracale Mint Ex-Dividend xx Ex-Stock Dividend 70 015 025 0 0 25 16 0 002 002 3 00 015 041 27 2 70 015 039 26 2 80 015 .20 66,645 90,000 041 255A Up .002 Off .005 155 95 - 0875 0 30 0 0 1275 0 1.26 0 32 0.285 0.027 0.12 06 78 0 16 175 01 0... 0 03 1962-53 Range High Low 160.00 120.00 20 90 150 00 100 110 00 00 100 00 50 00 26 325 00 00 320 00 12 00 00 12 00 0.32 00 7 00 7 00 0 05 69 065 05 05 06 96 18 185 01 1 78 16 175 01 COMMERCIAL SHARES Bank of the Philippine Islands...................... ' Bogo-Medellin Milling Central Azucarera de Bais........................... Central Azucarera de la Cariota................ Central Azucarera del Pilar........................... Central Azucarera de China Banking Cor poration .................... Cia. de Celulosa de Filipinas................... Insular Life Assurance Company.................. Industrial Textiles High 11 00 65 00 103 13B 05 69 065 Off .01 220,000 333,000 290,000 05 06 16 175 01 01B Low Close 11 — 156 00 11 OOB 00 65 00 65 00 103 100 29 00 10.50 7.50 00 00 103 00 100 00 00 29 00 — 280 10.50 Off Off Off Off Off 02 02 12 Change Off9.00 00B 10 50 6 00B 7.00 7 Up .( 25.000 62 ,425 Total Sales 739 160 10 155 20 900 437 In several lines there is a clearing of inventories and there are increased activities in anticipation of Christmas. Some importers have already put in additional Christmas orders. Christmas stocks in a few lines have been received and some are reported to have been sold at this early date. The first milling of sugar is scheduled for early No vember and other mills will shortly begin their milling which will continue until about August of next year. There is usually a seasonal up-swing during November and December. As a result, merchants are able to clear inventories and merchants generally have money. While many individuals are short of cash, the general situation is often better at the end of the year. Some credit executives are moderately hopeful if not optimistic about conditions. They believe improvement will be noticed in November and December and that this may continue through January into February. There is some hope that Central Bank officials will make arrangements which will provide relief. The lifting of certain restriction recently has not proved generally helpful to a wide segment of the business community, and it is hoped that some corrective action may result. Electric Power Production (Manila Electric Company System) By J. F. Cotton Treasurer, Manila Electric Company 1941 Average—16,316,000 KWH Kilowatt Hours January.......................................................... February........................................................ March............................................................. April................................................................ May................................................................ 1953 50,107,000 45,501,000 50,789,000 49,159,000 52,042,000 51,304,000 53,877,000 54,275,000 53,636,000* 56,050,000** 1952 45,152,000 42,450,000 45,128,000 42,798,000 45,580,000 45,223,000 47,542,000 47,988,000 47,216,000 50,073,000 47,652,000 50,656,000 Total...................................................... 557,458,000 z^ctober output was nearly 2,000,000 kwh above the previous record and nearly 3-1/2 times the 1941 average output. There was an increase of 5,977,000 kwh, or 11.9%, above October last year. A new peak of 138,800 kw was reached on October 8 and 9. Real Estate By Antonio Varias Vice-President, C. M. Hoskins &• Co., Inc., Realtors REAL ESTATE sales registered in the Greater Manila area during the month of October, 1953, number 601, with a total value of P5,241,160, as compared with 606, with a total value of ?6,314,794, registered during the preceding month of September. Of the October sales, 175, with a total value of P2,417,066, represented deals within Manila proper, and 426, with a total value of ?2,824,094, were transactions in Quezon City, Pasay City, and in the suburban towns of Caloocan, Makati, Malabon, Navotas, Mandaluyong, Paranaque, and San Juan. A number of the bigger sales registered during the month: CITY OF MANILA M 4056 ”■ ”• ”,a by u“ ~ ““by Bl“ D-”“ w - ‘-546 ”““by D- » X;SLACT?,'.Mi,b a lot of. 1,200 sq.m, sold by Magdalena Estate to "i,b •- ’■4,i ““ by c D‘"“ “ ‘ P"“' ” '°° ““ b” S1'V"” M‘b“‘ ” •p eal estate mortgages registered in the Greater Manila area during the month numbered 618, with a total value of P7,555,411, as compared with 543, with a total value of P8,668,926, registered during the preceding month of September. Of the October mortgages, 267, with a total value of P3,469.244, represented deals within Manila proper, and 351, with a total value of P4,086,167, were mortgages registered in the City of Quezon, Pasay City, and in the suburbans towns above mentioned. January.. February. March.... April......... May.......... June.......... July.......... August. . . September October... January.. . February... March........ April........... May............ June............ July............ August. . . . September. October.... REAL ESTATE SALES, 1953 Quegon Pasay iSuburban Manila City City Towns Total 1,499,139 1,477,332 213,490 4,141,742 7,331,703 3,460,932 1,286,414 341,023 1,710,106 6,798,475 3,775,675 1,643,140 680,593 1,649,801 7,759,209 3,481,727 1,322,975 213,465 1,947,750 6,965,917 2,980,713 1,657,605 200,299 1,218,360 6,056,977 3,200,302 1,066,751 277,416 1,295,511 5,389,980 3,744,881 1,456,079 434,581 1,377,080 7,012,621 1,840,321 1,186,969 113,147 1,375,728 4,516,165 2,851,451 1,273,306 217,780 1,972,257 6,314,794 2,417,066 1,403,475 229,300 1,191,319 5,241,160 REAL ESTATE MORTGAGES, 1953 3,691,913 1,377,690 245,200 2,016,917 7,331,720 5,560,707 2,196,329 718,300 2,924,480 11,399,816 7,586,190 2,419,165 553,800 1,503,942 12,063,097 5,069,966 1,973,705 184,500 1,976,673 9,204,844 4,962,183 2,026,850 1,219,800 2,645,032 10,853,865 4,465,288 2,062,071 457,000 2,096,738 9,081,097 3,602,235 1,395,078 564,709 1,641,841 7,203,863 2,578,404 961,540 190,000 1,63.6,739 5,366,683 5,707,433 1,233,274 429,000 1,299,219 8,668,926 3,469,244 1,400,650 262,270 2,423,247 7,555,411 438 In several lines there is a clearing of inventories and there are increased activities in anticipation of Christmas. Some importers have already put in additional Christmas orders. Christmas stocks in a few lines have been received and some are reported to have been sold at this early date. The first milling of sugar is scheduled for early No vember and other mills will shortly begin their milling which will continue until about August of next year. There is usually a seasonal up-swing during November and December. As a result, merchants are able to clear inventories and merchants generally have money. While many individuals are short of cash, the general situation is often better at the end of the year. Some credit executives are moderately hopeful if not optimistic about conditions. They believe improvement will be noticed in November and December and that this may continue through January into February. There is some hope that Central Bank officials will make arrangements which will provide relief. The lifting of certain restriction recently has not proved generally helpful to a wide segment of the business community, and it is hoped that some corrective action may result. Electric Power Production (Manila Electric Company System) By J. F. Cotton Treasurer, Manila Electric Company 1941 Average—16,316,000 KWH Kilowatt Hours January.......................................................... February........................................................ March............................................................. April................................................................ May................................................. 1953 50,107,000 45,501,000 50,789,000 49,159,000 52,042,000 51,304,000 53,877,000 54,275,000 53,636,000* 56,050,000** 1952 45,152,000 42,450,000 45,128,000 42,798,000 45,580,000 45,223,000 47,542,000 47,988,000 47,216,000 50,073,000 47,652,000 50,656,000 Total...................................................... 557,458,000 aactober output was nearly 2,000,000 kwh above the previous record and nearly 3-1/2 times the 1941 average output. There was an increase of 5,977,000 kwh, or 11.9%, above October last year. A new peak of 138,800 kw was reached on October 8 and 9. Real Estate By Antonio Varias Vice-President, C. M. Hoskins &• Co., Inc., Realtors REAL ESTATE sales registered in the Greater Manila area during the month of October, 1953, number 601, with a total value of F5,241,160, as compared with 606, with a total value of ?6,314,794, registered during the preceding month of September. Of the October sales, 175, with a total value of P2,417,066, represented deals within Manila proper, and 426, with a total value of ?2,824,094, were transactions in Quezon City, Pasay City, and in the suburban towns of Caloocan, Makati, Malabon, Navotas, Mandaluyong, Paranaque, and San Juan. A number of the bigger sales registered during the month: £h«rw.’.8! by G“b“ 2“b« AS5BT • 1°b "M b> c“"° T“" “ Rby D-’“ •“ ’ - ',7!a » D""“'Li" “ by D- s“"“ » a lot of. 1,200 sq.m, sold by Magdalena Estate to by A""‘c D‘"° ” ■A * •" ““bv s"v‘nb M,b“- -- a °r wa‘ ,bla by Ay- s""w“ j®sr- ,bla bv B,nk * T'“,b Cb- - ■p eal estate mortgages registered in the Greater Manila area during the month numbered 618, with a total value of P7,555,411, as compared with 543, with a total value of P8,668,926, registered during the preceding month of September. Of the October mortgages, 267, with a total value of P3,469.244, represented deals within Manila proper, and 351, with a total value of ?4,086,167, were mortgages registered in the City of Quezon, Pasay City, and in the suburbans towns above mentioned. REAL ESTATE SALES, 1953 Total Manila Queson City Pasay i City Suburban Towns January.......... 1,499,139 1,477,332 213,490 4,141,742 7,331,703 February. . . . 3,460,932 1,286,414 341,023 1,710,106 1,649,801 6,798,475 March............. 3,775,675 1,643,140 680,593 7,759,209 April................ 3,481,727 1,322,975 213,465 1,947,750 6,965,917 May................ 2,980,713 1,657,605 200,299 1,218,360 6,056,977 June................ 3,200,302 1,066,751 277,416 1,295,511 5,389,980 July................. 3,744,881 1,456,079 434,581 1,377,080 7,012,621 August............ 1,840,321 1,186,969 113,147 1,375,728 4,516,165 September. . . 2,851,451 1,273,306 217,780 1,972,257 6,314,794 October.......... 2,417,066 1,403,475 229,300 1,191,319 5,241,160 REAL ESTATE MORTGAGES, 1953 January.......... 3,691,913 1,377,690 245,200 2,016,917 7,331,720 February........ 5,560,707 2,196,329 718,300 2,924,480 11,399,816 March............ 7,586,190 2,419,165 553,800 1,503,942 12,063,097 April................ 5,069,966 1,973,705 184,500 1,976,673 9,204,844 May................ 4,962,183 2,026,850 1,219,800 2,645,032 10,853,865 June................ 4,465,288 2,062,071 457,000 2,096,738 9,081,097 July................. 3,602,235 1,395,078 564,709 1,641,841 7,203,863 August........... 2,578,404 961,540 190,000 1,63.6,739 5,366,683 September. . . 5,707,433 1,233,274 429,000 1,299,219 8,668,926 October.......... 3,469,244 1,400,650 262,270 2,423,247 7,555,411 438 Building Construction By Juan J. Carlos President, United Construction Co., Inc. DURING the month of September, the Office of the City Engineer approved building permits for con struction work amounting to P5,394,820. For the same period in 1952, the volume of work authorized amounted to P4,421,330 in comparison with ?4,465,040 in 1951 and P2,351,020 in 1950. Some of the big projects that were started during the month under review were: A 5-story office building on Reina Regente for Sy Li & Yu Tay, estimated at Pl,500,000; For Toribio Teodoro & Sons on Azcarraga Street, a 4-story office building costing P350.000; On Magallanes Drive, Walled City, a 3-story office building, es timated at P320.000, for the Philippine Lumber Merchants Association. For the Luzon Stevedoring Company on Muelle del Codo, Port Area, a 1-story steel bodega, costing P300.000; A 7-story office building on Azcarraga, corner Oroquieta streets, estimated at P250.000, for Jose V. Corpuz. yyyiTH the rainy season almost over, property owners ” have again started their projects for scheduled com pletion during the month of Februaiy or March when it is the best time to paint. Actual construction work has finally begun on the Veterans Hospital project. The contractors for the work defrayed the cost of transfering the squatters and their homes from the area in order to clear the site. As soon as the materials needed for the project, which were ordered from Japan, arrive, the work will go on full-pace. Reports state that an order for about 8,000 tons of cement and about 1,750 tons of steel bars is keeping the Japanese manufacturers busy. The project is scheduled to be finished within 400 days at a total cost of about ?14,000,000. Almost across the street from the Veterans Hospital project in Quezon City is the site of the Philippine-American Insurance Housing Project No. 3, where pilot-houses for the 600 units are now nearing completion. Prices of essential building materials remained firm during the period under review. Ocean Shipping and Exports By B. B. Tunold Secretary-Manager Associated Steamship Lines Total exports during the month of September this year showed an increase of 66,014 tons over exports during September of last year; 158 vessels lifted 445,720 tons of exports during the month, as compared with 379,706 tons lifted by 123 vessels during the same month last year. Commodities which have registered sharp increases over last year’s figures for the same month are: logs from 18,275,507 to 63,967,104 bft., and sugar from 12,280 to 33,220 tons. Exports during September, exports during September, Commodity Beer................................................ Buntal fiber................................. Charcoal....................................... Cigar and cigarettes................. Coconut, desiccated.................. Coconut oil.................................. Concentrates containing cop per, gold, silver, and lead... Concentrates, lead.................... Copra............................................ Copra cake and meal............... Embroideries............................... 1953, as compared with 1953 1952 46 tons 332 tons 37 ” — 22 ” — 15 ” 20 ” 5,209 ” 8,073 ” 7,080 ” 6,823 ” 619 ” __ 289 ” — 63,552 ” 86,804 ” 6,179 ” 5,475 ” 355 ” 222 ” Empty cylinders........................ 420 ” 570 ” Furniture, rattan....................... 590 ” 1,341 ” Glycerine...................................... 369 ” Gums, copal............................... 107 ” 10 ” Hemp............................................ 59,081 bales 67,049 bales Hemp, knotted........................... 15 tons — Household goods and personal effects....................................... 391 ” 142 tons Kapok........................................... 104 ” — Logs............................................... 63,967,104 bft. 18,275,507 bft. Lumber, sawn............................. 6,045,130 ” 6,482,693 ” Molasses....................................... 9,826 tons 18,494 tons Ores, chrome............................... 43,479 ” 53,137 ” Ores, iron...................................... 110,674 ” 118,197 ” Ores, manganese........................ 2,244 ” — Pineapple, canned..................... 5,876 ” 1,931 ” Rattan, round (palasan)......... 247 ” 440 ” Rice............................................... 394 ” — Rope.............................................. 356 ” 482 ” Shell, shell waste....................... 61 ” 41 Shell buttons............................... 12 ” — Skins, hides................................. 83 ” 34 ” Sugar.............................................. 33,220 ” 12,280 ” Tobacco........................................ 212 ” 1,227 ” Vegetable oil............................... 26 ” 55 ” Veneer............................................ 45 ” Merchandise, general............... 308 ” 740 ” Port of Manila By W. S. Hurst Administrative Officer, Luzon Brokerage Company DELIVERIES from the piers for the month of October totaled 85,000 tons of cargo, which is an amount equal to average deliveries made during 1950 and 1951. Greater efficiency in the stacking of cargo in the pier sheds, as mentioned in a previous report, has greatly in creased the efficiency in making deliveries from shed to truck. Further speeding up of the issuance of gate passes could be made to enable trucks to leave the pier premises promptly once they are loaded. As it is, too much time is wasted in this latter department. Due to Saturday being a half-day working day, the Delgado Brothers, in the past, generously offered to open the piers at 7 instead of 8 a.m., without charging overtime, for Saturday mornings only. So far only a very few brokers have taken advantage of this offer. From our own ex perience we welcome this extra hour on Saturdays. The Delgado Brothers have also advised all brokers to advise them as to what equipment is needed the following day to facilitate the loading of their cargo on trucks. Special equipment will be furnished when asked for. This coopera tion on the part of Delbros, with full cooperation on the part of all brokers, will help all parties concerned. The pilferage of cargo, while still going on, is declining. Reports state that the “syndicate” behind this pilferage will soon be in the hands of the police. To date these ap pear to be just reports, as no major arrests have yet been made. It would be a good idea, on the part of some importers, to spend a little more money and have their suppliers pack their merchandise in better cases. Not a ship arrives but what cargo is seen discharged in second-hand packing cases, unstrapped, plywood cases, and other cases which the slightest jar causes to fall apart. This is just inviting trouble and it would be well for all importers to study this matter. Freight Car Loadings By Jose B. Libunao Traffic Manager, Manila Railroad Company LOADINGS of revenue freight in the month of Sep tember, 1953, totaled 2,410 cars. This was an increase of 674 cars, or 38.82%, over the 1,736 cars in Sep 439 tember, 1952. This increase was due to the generally in creased tonnage for all group of articles except products of agriculture. Revenue Car loadings by Class Revenue freight carloadings by general classes of commodities for the month of September were as follows: September—Tonnage Commodity 1953 1952 Products of agriculture............................................... 4,808 5,599 Animal products............................................................ 1,799 555 Products of mir.es......................................................... 1,519 379 Products of forests..................................... 12,997 11,544 Products of manufacture................................... 20,359 15,361 Merchandise less than by carload........................... 9,118 7,637 Total............................................................... 50,600 41,075 There were 31 items considered in this review for the month of September, 1953, compared with 33 items for the same month in 1952. Twenty items registered increases with an aggregate of 13,113 tons, while 16 items suffered declines with an aggregate of 3,587 tons, or a net increase of 9,525 tons. Among the items which registered increases were—copra, 346 tons; desiccated coconut, 238 tons; live stock, 1,225 tons; coal and coke, 435 tons; stone, sand and gravel, 625 tons; lumber, 1,724 tons; gasoline, 1,621 tons; fuel oil, 930 tons; cement, 587 tons; miscellaneous manufactures, 3,157 tons; and merchandise in less than carload lots, 1,481 tons; or a partial total increase of 11,088 tons. On the other hand, 16 items suffered declines, in cluding—rice, 501 tons; other products of agriculture, 281 tons; other products of forests, 441 tons; petroleum, 667 tons; iron and steel products, 246 tons; and fertilizer, 751 tons, or a partial total decrease of 2,887 tons. It is worthy of mention that of the various commodity groups only products of agriculture suffered a decline of 791 tons. All other commodity groups registered a total increase of 10,316 tons. Export products such as copra, desiccated coconut, and lumber continue to increase because of better prices for the first two items and continued demand for the latter item. The increased carloadings for other items registering increases were for local consumption. Of the imports, gasoline, fuel oil, cement, miscellaneous manufactures, and merchandise in less than carload lots, showed improved carloadings because of increased operation of highway vehicles, increased industrial activity, increased construction, and general improvement in business conditions. No important import items showed declines except petroleum, fertilizer, and flour. If no unfavorable factors, such as storms, earthquakes, pest, epidemics, etc., enter the situation, the reports for the coming, months up to the end of the year will most likely be favorable. Lumber By Pacifico db Ocampo Secre tary-T teas urer Philippine Lumber Producers’ Association, Inc. DURING the month under review, September, 1953, the Philippines exported 62,333,394 bd. ft. of logs and lumber, 7,079,950 bd. ft. more than the preced ing month. This was mainly due to the increased shipment of logs to Japan from 47,427,295 bd. ft. in August to 52,903,238 bd. ft. in September, or 5,475,943 bd. ft. more. The export to the United States and Canada increased by 395,954 bd. ft. from 6,655,867 bd. ft. in August to 7,051,821 bd. ft. in September, 1953. Export to all other coun tries increased by 1,208,053 bd. ft., from 1,170,282 bd. ft. in August to 2,378,335 bd. ft. in September, 1953. The following are logs and lumber in bd. ft. inspected for export during September, 1953, as released by the Bureau of Forestry. Volume in Board Feet Shipper Destination Lumber Logs Agusan Timber Development Corp............................................. Japan 230,391 Abarro 8b Sons, Inc...................... Japan 350,982 Aguinaldo Development Corp.. Japan 1,387,557 Agusan Timber Corp.................. Japan 1,250,000 Alberto S. Llorente..................... Japan 484,650 American Rubber Co.................. Japan 208,304 Anakan U.S.A. 110,485 705,261 Lumber Co................................ Japan 3,200,000 A. Soriano y Cia.......................... Japan 300,000 Atkins Kroll 8b Co., Inc............. Japan 995,647 Basilan U. S. A. 1,037,442 392,908 Lumber Hongkong 157,881 Company............................... Japan 1,799,955 Bislig Bay Lumber Co., Inc... . Japan 4,842,269 Brigido R. Valencia.................... Japan 2,202,712 Cagayan Red Lumber Co., Inc................................................ Japan 586,414 Calapan Lumber Co., Inc......... Japan 501,028 Cantilan Lumber Co., Inc......... Japan 672,000 Cipriano Luna Lumber En terprises ...................................... Japan 758,733 Compariia Gral. de Tabacos de Filipinas...................................... Spain 34 Century Traders.......................... Japan 367,254 Davao Stevedoring Terminal - Co................................................. Japan 598,893 Dy Bun Chin................................. Japan 383,358 Dy Pac 8s Co., Inc....................... Japan 2,500,000 Edward Kincaid........................... U. S. A. 38,813 Findlay Millar U. S. A. 153,000 Timber Okinawa 455,000 Company............................... Japan 3,499,998 F. E. Zuellig, Inc.......................... U. S. A. 154,785 Francisco Nicolas........................ U. S. A. 467 General Formosa 359,810 Lumber Co., Inc...................... Japan 377,473 Gonzalo Puyat & Sons, Inc.... Japan 440,106 Hercules Lumber Hawaii 43,695 Co., Inc....................................... Japan 599,980 Iligan Lumber Co........................ Japan 799,369 Insular U. S. A. 1,046,340 Lum Africa 638,021 ber Belgium 30,765 Com- Eire 54,202 pany............................... Hawaii 54,579 Jorge J. Tirador........................... Japan 500,000 Jose G. Sanvictores..................... Japan 1,090,741 Johnston Lumber Co., Inc........ Japan 703,634 Lanao Timber Mill, Inc............. Japan 400,000 Luzon Brokerage Co................... Okinawa 101 Luzon Mfg. Enterprises, Inc... Japan 700,000 Martha Lumber U. S. A. 200,000 Mill, Inc................................. Japan 1,500,000 Matutan Lumber & Union Trading Co................................ Japan 434,194 Misamis Lumber Co., Inc......... Japan 821,757 Nasipit Lumber U. S. A. 416,133 1,614,615 Co., Inc....................................... Japan 5,600,000 North Camarines Lumber Co., Inc................................................ U. S. A. 128,038 Quirino Macapagal..................... Japan 367,435 Ralph Dampsy............................. U. S. A. 300,894 Red Wood Co................................ Japan 2,466,296 Sanchez Loggin Co...................... Japan 875,210 Serra 8b Sons Co.......................... Japan 246,804 Standard Sawmill Co.................. Japan 1,700,000 Sta. Clara U. S. A. 255,602 Lumber Co., Inc...................... Japan 1,290,191 Surigao Timber Co., Inc............ Japan 250,264 Taggat Sawmill U. S. A. 286,231 Company, Hawaii 83,377 Inc............................................ Japan 350,182 Taligaman Lumber Co............... Japan 700,866 T. H. Valderrama....................... Japan 980,009 Uno Export and Import Co.... Japan 688,568 Valeriano Bueno........................... U. S. A. 210,807 West Basilan Lumber, Inc........ Japan 600,009 Western Mindanao Lumber Co., Inc...................................... Japan 1,300,005 Woodworks, Israel 54,000 Incorporated............................. Hongkong 446,870 Totals..................................... 5,236,153 57,097,241 440 November, 1953 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 441 Resume of Exports to; Lumber Logs Total (Bd.Ft.) (Bd.Ft.) (Bd.Ft.) Japan............................................ 52,903,238 52,903,238 United States............................... 3,672,628 3,379,193 7,051,821 Other countries.......................... 1,563,525 814,810 2,378,335 Totals................................... 5,236,153 57,097,241 62,333,394 SUMMARY OF EXPORTS DURING SEPTEMBER, 1953, ARRANGED BY COUNTRIES OF DESTINATION IN THE ORDER OF VOLUME OF SHIPMENT TO EACH COUNTRY Countries of destination Lumber Logs Total Japan............................................ — 52,903,238 52,903,238 United States.............................. 3,672,628 3,379,193 7,051,821 Africa............................................ 638,021 — 638,021 Hongkong..................................... 604,751 — 604,751 Okinawa....................................... 101 455,000 455,101 Formosa........................................ — 359,810 359,810 Hawaii.......................................... 181,651 — 181,651 Erie................................................ 54,202 — 54,202 Israel............................................. 54,000 — 54,000 Belgium........................................ 30,765 — 30,765 Spain............................................. 34 — 34 Totals................................... 5,236,153 57,097,241 62,333,394 arrivals of logs and lumber in Manila during the A month under review, aggregating 12,953,378 bd. ft., decreased by 1,391,558 bd. ft. as compared to arrivals during the previous month of 14,344,936 bd. ft. Trend of Export to: This Month Lumber Logs (Bd.Ft.) (Bd.Ft.) Japan.............. — 52,903,238 United States and Canada 3,672,628 3,379,193 Other countries 1,563,525 814,810 Total. . .. 5,236,153 57,097,241 Month Ago Year Ago Lumber Logs Lumber Logs (Bd Ft.) (Bd.Ft.) (Bd.Ft.) (Bd. Ft.) — 47,427,295 — 25,240,448 3,484,992 3,170,875 5,087,342 1,740,145 832,224 338,058 2,154,170 1,854,383 4,317,216 50,936,228 7,241,512 28,834,976 Local wholesale lumber market prices slightly decreased during the month under review, September, 1953, compared with those of the previous month. Prices of white and red lauan decreased to P170-P175and P190-P200 per MBF, respectively, as compared with P175-P180 and P205-P210 the month before. Apitong remained unchanged as of the previous month at P175-P180. 't'he announcement made by the Associated Steamship A Lines that the “Overland freight rate” and the “Emer gency rates on lumber and unfinished lumber in packages” will be eliminated on December 15, 1953, has caused alarm among lumber shippers. It is believed that the cancellation of this privilege with respect to lumber while maintaining it with respect to other Philippine articles, is discriminatory and unjust. The cancellation will greatly prejudice the market in the Mid-West section of the United States and other interior points. A serious reduction in Philippine exports of sawn lumber to.the United States will ultimately result. COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF EXPORTS MADE TO DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES DURING THE MONTHS OF AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER. 1953 Lumber in Board Feet Logs in Board Feet Period Western States Eastern States Gulf States AU Others |Total| Western States Eastern sGulf AU Others Total <Totla‘l August, 1953............................. 1,907,542 1,143,161 186,012 212,374 3,449,089 '1 892,598 438,277 _ 1,840,000 3,170,875 6,619,964 September, 1953...................... 2,984,811 479,958 50,138 1157,721 3,672,628 1,857,523 255,261 — 1,266,409 3,379,193 7,051,821 Difference (Increase+; Decrease—)......... 1,077,269 + 663,203-- 135,874-- 54,653— 223,539 + 964,925 + 183,016— - 573,591 — 208,318 + 431,857 + THE PREMIUM MOTOR OIL, H.D. SEE A CALTEX DEALER TODAY -YOUR CAR'S BEST FRIEND! - For EFFICIENT operation! OOVSIFS CngiM life/ PROTECTS AS IT LUBRICATES TRANSMISSION GEARS DIFFERENTIAL GEARS 442 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL November, 1953 The Philippine Lumber Producers’ Association, Inc., in representation of the lumber producers, has requested the indefinite extension of the present rates on logs and lumber shipments to the United States. It is believed that the $5.00 reduction should at least be maintained in order to insure the stability of lumber production and export. The most potent argument for the necessity of maintaining a stable market for Philippine mahogany in the United States, are the present undesirable features of the log-trade with Japan. Stability could be attained if freight rates were low enough to encourage lumber producers to direct their shipments to the United States rather than elsewhere. Mining By Henry A. Brimo President ' Philippine Gold Producers Association, Inc. DEVELOPMENTS affecting gold producers over the past month were limited to two: A sudden and sur prising upturn in the local gold price and the current attempt of the Wage Administration Service to revalue the cash value of facilities enjoyed by laborers. The first, the unexpected increase in the premium price, will prove to be a timely and welcome relief if the ascent continues, or if the price is at least maintained. Coming, as it has, on the heels of fresh reports that the Government was favorably considering an important additional measure to increase aid to the gold mines, one is reminded of Charles Dicken’s dictum that when things are at their worst they are sure to mend. For the past several months the position of the in dustry, despite the important tax relief which became a reality last June, had been deteriorating as the gold price continued to decline. When, therefore, amid all the known difficulties, the Wage Administration Service two months ago announced a new evaluations order which would have had the effect of increasing cash wages sharply, the die appeared perilously close to being cast in favor of almost total closure of the industry. It must be remembered, when wages are discussed, that they represent the highest single cost factor in mining operations and that the effect of the new ruling would have increased costs completely above cash operating income. It is doubtful, indeed, that those not directly concerned with gold production realize to what a critical stage the industry had been driven, or to what extremes the recommendations of those hard-pressed mining officials, directly responsible for continued operations, had reached. An important factor which began to forecast a coming debacle was that the original order of the Wage Administxation Service, now fortunately under review, had the in direct effect of immediately reducing the productivity of labor. Even miners who felt loyal to management, and I know these men always represent the very great majority, could not help themselves and the result was a slight slacken ing in the pace of work which, if it did not result in lower tonnage, nevertheless yielded less favorable results due to less efficient mining. This almost imperceptible but important decline in the proficiency of labor can be very damaging. In the past, intramural squabbles between two unions have had the same costly results, notwith standing the fact that the arguments were not mainly against management. Fortunately, at this point, the fates became kinder. The Wage Administration Service was itself the first to realize that the gold producers had reached truly desperate straits, and it forthwith dispatched a new team of evaluators to Baguio to inspect each Company’s books and facilities, ENGINEERING EQUIPMENT & SUPPLY COMPANY, Inc. MACHINERY • MECHANICAL SUPPLIES • ENGINEERS • CONTRACTORS AIR CONDITIONING For Offices, Theatres, Hospitals, Stores, Restaurants, Hotels, Clubs and Homes ★ ★ ★ Suppliers of MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT and INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES For Sugar Centrals, Mines, Sawmills, Power Plants, Machine Shops and All Industrial Plants ★ ★ ★ ENGINEERING — DESIGN — APPLICATION — ESTIMATES INSTALLATION — MAINTENANCE — SERVICE — REPAIRS General & Sales Office 174 M. de Comillas Manila Tel. 3-29-21 ★ ★ ★ Operating: MACHINE SHOPS • STEEL PLATE SHOPS STRUCTURAL STEEL SHOPS • WELDING SHOPS • BLACKSMITH SHOPS • SHEET METAL SHOPS • MARINE RAILWAY Engineering Shops No. 1 Calle L. Segura & Pasig River Mandaluyong, Rizal Tel. 6-65-68 I November, 1953 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 443 thus to be able to determine, at first hand, the value of each facility available to labor. It may be mentioned here that the fact this team was sent to Baguio proves that the original evaluations announced two months previously had not been based on a late survey: The study has not as yet been finalized, but the decision of the Department of Labor to rescind its original order until an exhaustive investigation has been completed, is warmly welcomed. The foregoing, coupled with the recent increase in the gold price to its current level (at this date of writing) of P108.90 per ounce bullion, has lifted our very depressed spirits. There is at the moment no apparent trend to suggest the direction of the next price movement, but meanwhile, the aforementioned indication that Central Bank re searchers, after prolonged study of the gold industry, have agreed that the industry requires further streng thening, has brought hopes that the industry will not be allowed to be exposed to another catastrophe such as that which almost crashed down upon it a few short weeks ago. For the past two years, the gold producers have been skipping from one crisis to another, each one more threaten ing and serious. Under such circumstances, the industry cannot be expected to thrive or even to thoroughly develop its properties, let alone to spend the vast sums necessary to bring at least four properties now already well developed into actual production. Copra and Coconut Oil By Ro3ert J. McCombe Manager, Copra Buying Department, Philippine Manufacturing Company DURING October, in spite of the continued heavy arrivals, the copra market was able to chalk up further gains. Strong European buying demand as well as exporter short covering, forced prices into new high ground since last May. Copra Prices. Prices rallied steadily from the opening price of $195 per short ton net c.i.f. West Coast to reach $215 during the third week on relatively light volume. During the final week of October prices sagged to $205 but then firmed up sharply to close at $212.50, up $17.50 for the month. European demand was keen with trades made as high as $235 per long ton c.i.f. Europe, up $20 for the month. In Manila the local price for fresh copra, resecada basis, 30 day delivery, was also strong, reaching a high of P40 per hundred kilos at the month-end, up P4.50 from the September 30th price. Coconut Oil Prices. Coconut oil prices in the United States followed the advance in copra throughout the month. Sales on the West Coast were relatively light but several heavy sales were made to New York. At the end of October, prices per pound f.o.b. tank cars PacificCoast were at new highs of 16-3/4/ for prompt, 16-3/8/ for November shipment, and 16/ for December shipment, up about 1-1/4/ per pound from the September closing prices. Copra Cake and Meal Prices. Copra cake and meal prices held steady during October at about $64 to $66 per short ton c.i.f. West Coast. Increasing quantities of this by-product are moving to the European market at favorable prices. Copra Statistics (Long Tons) PHILIPPINE COPRA AND COCONUT OIL EXPORTS August September Copra United States........................ ............. 32,405 27,600 Europe................................... ............. 20,350 24,500 INSULAR LUMBER COMPANY FABRICA, OCC. NEGROS MEMBER — PHILIPPINE LUMBER PRODUCERS’ ASSOCIATION, INC. --------- ¥---------SPECIALISTS IN KILN-DRIED LUMBER and MANUFACTURERS OF BOXES OF ALL DESCRIPTIONS MANILA DISTRIBUTORS: Philippine Lumber Manufacturing Norton & Harrison Company Company Insular Saw Mill, Inc. 814 Echague 14-30 Soler St. 340 Canonigo, Paco Manila Manila Manila MANILA OFFICE: 603 FILIPINAS BUILDING 444 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL November, 1953 Other Countries.................................. Total.............................................. Coconut Oil United States...................................... Other Countries................................. Total.............................................. 9,507 11,272 62,262 63,372 5,558 6,594 255 486 5,813 7,080 January... February.. March. . .. April.......... .......... July........... September PHILIPPINE AND INDONESIAN COPRA EXPORTS Philippine Copra Exports* ’ ' " Metric Tons ”------- *■ 1953 41,025 . 38,672 50,168 . 48,745 36,536 48,144 64,359 71,010 75,987 Percentage 1953/1953 53.2% 45.6% 90.3% 88.0% 65.2% 80.4% 115.4% 109.2% 76.6% Indonesian Copra Exports Metrio Hons Percentage 1953 •«<•/««. 14,230 18,884 19,559 17,258 5,854 17,266 29,586 26,140 21,445 1953 32,657 24,931 34,518 33,771 28,364 35,696 19,773 17,316 11,483 1953/1953 43.6% 75.5% 56.7% 51.1% 20.6% 48.4% 149.6% 151.0% 186.8% Total. 474,646 608,871 78.0% 170,222 238,509 71.4% *Include coconut oil export! converted to copra. MANILA AND CEBU COPRA ARRIVALS* (In Metric Tons) Cebu Manila & Cebu Percentage 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953/1953 February. March. . . April........ May........ June........ July......... September October. . 8,448 7,741 6,897* 8,305 9,202 10,541 13,620 14,641 17,027 18,148 12,682 16,303 13,029 11,705 17,991 10,092 13,380 9,587 10,164 14,018 14,462 15,581 18,182 16,914 20,413 19,411 19,779 19,210 19,123 16,917 68.0% 31,078 — 28,275" 73.5% 24,325 21,998 29,541 30,389 35,355 35,344 36,442 29,141 102.3% 98.6% 65.6% 82.0% 90.0% 99.2% 101 0% 127.9% Total. . 114,570 152,150 159,205 149,738 90.7% * Manifested arrivals only. Unmanifested arrivals are usually estimated at 10% of manifested. ** Does not include 1,800 tons of damaged copra from the SS Anthony. Production and Future Prospects. Philippine production was unusually heavy for the month of October, approximating the very high September rate. As compared to October, 1952, the increase was 28%. However, arrivals in November are expected to be sharply lower because of the holidays, the elections, and the rice harvest. Copra and coconut oil exports in September increased to another new high for the year, but are still only 78% of the 1952 rate to date. October figures are expected to be about 80,000 metric tons. Indonesian exports were also good again. Their fourth-quarter exports are expected to continue at about 25,000 metric tons per month. Desiccated Coconut By Howard R. Hick President and General Manager Peter Paul Philippine Corporation THE following are the desiccated coconut shipping statistics for the month of September, 1953: Shippers Pounds Franklin Baker Company.......................................... 5,756,571 Blue Bar Coconut Company..................................... 958,490 Peter Paul Philippine Corporation......................... 377,000 Red V Coconut Products, Ltd.................................. 2,298,600 Sun Ripe Coconut Products, Inc............................. 512,800 Cooperative Coconut Products, Inc........................ 343,900 10,247,361 lbs. Sugar By S. Jamieson Secretary-Treasurer Philippine Sugar Association THIS review covers the period October 1 to October 31, 1953. New York Market. The longshoremen’s strike Ours is an established reputation of 141 years standing ... For complete banking Facilities, unparalleled resources and world-wide service Furnished by 57 fully-staffed branches and correspondents in every commercially important city. THE NATIONAL CITY BANK OF HEW YORK BRANCHES IN THE PHILIPPINES MANILA Main Branch: JUAN LUNA STREET Port Area Branch: 13TH STREET PAMPANGA: Clark Field CEBU: Cebu City November, 1953 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 445 to which reference was made in our report for September was temporarily halted on October 5 by a ten-day no strike injunction issued by a Federal Court, and the long shoremen returned to load and discharge cargo, including sugar. Later a Federal judge extended the injunction for the full 80 days as provide^ under the Taft-Hartley law, making the no-strike period effective until December 24, 1953. October opened with the spot quotation 6.45/ and refiners confining their buying mainly to prompt arrivals at 6.40/ to 6.45/ and showing some interest in later arrivals at a substantial discount. After the close of business on October 13 the U. S. Department of Agriculture increased the United States consumption quota by a further 100,000 short tons to 8,100,000, following which the market deve loped an easier tone, and sales of prompt Cubas were made at 6.40/. With the strike situation taken care of until late December, refiners broadened their buying interest to include November and December arrivals and several Philippine lots for December arrival were sold at 6.20/ to 6.30/. There were also a few sales of January arrivals of Cubas at 6.05/, and a cargo of Cubas for February/March shipment was sold at 5.95/. In general the market closed with buyers for prompt at 6.38/, late November 6.35/, mid-December 6.20/, and January 6.00/, and sellers for prompt at 6.40/, late November 6.38/, and January 6.05/. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a public hearing on November 16 to determine the United States sugar requirements for 1954. The initial quota is usually announced in December. Reported sales of actuals totalled approximately 86,230 long tons, of which approximately 17,000 tons were Philippines. Exchange operations for the period approx imated 202,750 tons. Deliveries of refined for the period September 21 to October 24 totalled 817,637 tons as com pared with 741,384 tons for September, 1953, and 614,069 for October, 1952. Distribution for the year to October 24 was 6,937,488 short tons (raw value), against 6,821,566 tons for the same period last year. On October 24 refiners stocks were at 159,692 long tons as compared with 171,773 tons for the same date last year. Opening and closing quotations on the No. 6 Contract were as follows: Nov. Jan. March May July Sept. Nov. October 1..................... 5.92^5.70^5.56^5.61^5.70^5.76^ — October 30..................... — 5.58 5.46 5.51 5.64 5.68 5.7<M Average spot price for October was 5.901429/. Average spot price January 1 to October 31 was 5.827583/. Local Market, (a) Domestic Sugar. The market for 1952-53 supplies continued firm, the Bureau of Commerce quotations of October 28 being P15.80 for mill run 97°, P16.80 for washed 98°, and P18.50 to P18.70 for 99°, all per picul, ex warehouse. Regarding new crop domestic sugar, it is reported that dealers are willing to contract mill run 97° on the basis of P14.80 for deliveries up to the middle of November, P14.25 for deliveries from November 16 to December 31, 1953, and P14.00 for deliveries thereafter. There were buyers of new crop washed sugar 98° to 99° at P15.70 per picul. (b) Export Sugar. In the beginning of the month there were buyers of old crop and of new crop sugar which could be shipped for arrival in the United States by mid December at P15.60 to P15J70 per picul ex mill warehouse. The few operating mills and their planters were anxious to sell and ship as much of their new crop sugar as possible for arrival before the end of the year, because not only was the price attractive but such arrivals would be applied against the 1953 Philippine quota, and thus give them more leeway for 1954 deliveries. Later, as December arrivals 446 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL November, 1953 B.F. Goodrich Tubeless Tire Tread of Now B.F. Goodrich Tubeless Tiro Has Over 10,000 "Grip-Blocks" That Wipe Water Out Of Tread Path For Bettor Traction AVAILABLE AT ALL MANILA DEALERS SEALS PUNCTURES — New “Life Saver” Tube less Tire can be run over spikes without losing an ounce of air. Beneath the thread there is a layer of special gummy rubber which seals against punc turing objects. When the object is removed the sealant is drawn into the hole, sealing the hole as you drive. PROTECTS AGAINST BLOWOUTS — Sudden blowouts in regular tires with inner tubes are usually caused by the tube being pinched bruise— break in the tire carcass. But a bruise-break in the Tubeless Tire merely causes a slow leak. Plenty of time for a safe stop. It changes Blowouts to safe s-s-s-s-slowouts. .F.Goodrich FIRST IN RUBBER in the United States came under a heavy discount on the New York market, prices declined and at the close there were buyers of spot parcels at P15.00. November deli veries were quoted at P14.75 but sellers showed little interest. Total export shipments for the month are estimated at 25,392.14 long tons, makifig a total of 764,522 long tons against the 1952-53 crop and a total of 644,522 long tons for the period January 1 to October 31. New York reports show Philippine arrivals for the period Jan uary 1 to October 1953, of 708,556 long tons as against 708,963 long tons for the same period in 1952. World Market. Opening and closing quotations were as follows: Spot Oct. March May July Sept. '54 October 1..................... 3.25j$ 3.24fS 3.33(5 3.33(5 3.33(5 3.35(5 f.a.s. October 30..................... 3.08 — 3.14 3.15 3.18 3.19 Cuba 1953-54 Crop. On October 7 the Philippine Sugar Association released an estimate of this crop, showing total production of 1,322,942 short tons, compared with 1,124,273 tons for the 1952-53 crop. If the estimate is realized it will be sufficient to fill the domestic, United States, and world quotas. Eight mills have already started milling, and the weather was favorable during the month for both harvesting and planting. Molasses. It is reported that some mills and their planters have contracted 1953-54 molasses with a local buyer at a base price of P20 per long ton, f.o.b. lighter at mill wharf. Manila Hemp By J. Deane Conrad President, Conrad & Co., Inc. DURING the period under review, there has been very little change in exporters’ prices for Davao machinecleaned fiber. Producers in the Davao area are strip ping a much better grade of hemp and, therefore, pressings in September indicate more production of E, F, I, and S2, while there has been a marked decline in production of grades JI and G. In non-Davao fiber, prices were about unchanged from earlier in the month; however, during the month there was a slight increase in exporters’ ideas and now the market has fallen off due to lack of interest abroad. The United States market for Davao machine-cleaned grades E, F, and I has fallen off considerably due to the increase in production of these grades as indicated in the foregoing paragraph. The price of machine-cleaned G in the United States is about unchanged from earlier in the month, while JI is down slightly. At the present time there seems to be no interest on the part of London buyers to enter the market and our advices indicate that there are fairly substantial quantities of Davao hemp being offered in the European market. The Japanese buyers are forcing prices down and, with the heavy offerings, they apparently have decided to hold off in the hope of depressing the market further. We detail below baling and export figures. Balings—January/September, Inclusive 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 Davao................................... 373,322 392,211 379,501 274,897 160,377 Albay, Camarines and Sorsogon.......................... 140,649 120,120 198,935 133,023 89,361 Leyte, Samar......................... 81,445 91,068 132,809 79,480 80,116 All other non-Davao. .. . 71,460 59,692 76,363 56,941 57,979 Total 666,876 663,091 787,608 544,341 387,833 Expor ts—Jan uary/Sep tember, Inclusive 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 United States and Ca nada.................................. 234,035 298,841 465,861 279,263 146,921 Continent of Europe....... 134,781 122,677 125,327 93,017 72,191 November, 1953 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 447 Total United Kingdom............... 80,804 73,098 139,965 61,834 28,704 Japan.................................... 187,002 141,654 101,299 56,487 84,869 South Africa....................... 8,080 7,010 13,465 4,600 3,499 China.................................... 1,695 4,785 4,739 10,948 10,129 India..................................... 7,610 3,820 4,932 4,080 3,100 Korea.................................... 1,580 600 — 3,100 — Australia and New Zea land ................................... 2,209 1,815 1,900 1,731 1,187 Others................................... 520 — — 75 80 658,307 654,300 857,488 515,135 350,680 Tobacco By Luis A. Pujalte Exporter, Importer and Wholesale Dealer in Leaf Tobacco IN general there is no change in the situation in the to bacco market as compared to last month. More tobacco of the new crop is arriving daily at the establishments of the different dealers, manufacturers, and exporters. Prices remain unchanged. Due to the high prices paid for this crop, farmers seen to be quite enthusiastic and have planted larger seed-beds than last year and in some regions are still planting seed beds. Weather in general has been quite favorable and seedlings are growing well. Imports By S. Schmelkes Mercantile, Inc. ALL figures are in kilos with the exception of those for foodstuffs which are given in package units: Commodities: Automotive (Total)..................................... Automobiles...................................................... Auto Accessories.............................................. Auto Parts,. ................................. Bicycles.............................................................. Trucks................................................................ Truck Chassis.................................................. Truck Parts............................................ Building Materials (Total)............................... Board, Fibre..................................................... Cement............................................................... Glass, Window................................................. Gypsum.............................................................. Chemicals (Total).............................................. Caustic Soda..................................................... Explosives (Total)............................... Firearms (Total).................................................. Ammunition....................................................... Hardware (Total)................................................ Household (Total).............................................. Machinery (Total).............................................. Metals (Total)...................................................... Petroleum Products (Total)............................. Radios (Total)....................................................... Rubber Goods (Total)....................................... Sept., 1953 Sept., 1952 Beverages, Misc. Alcoholic.............................. Foodstuffs (Total Kilos)................................... Foodstuffs, Fresh (Total)................................. Apples................................................................. Oranges..................................... ...................... Onions.................................................................. Potatoes.............................................................. Foodstuffs, Dry Packaged (Total)................. Foodstuffs, Canned (Total)............................... Sardines.............................................................. Milk, Evaporated............................................ Milk, Condensed............................................. Foodstuffs, Bulk (Total)................................... Rice..................................................................... Wheat Flour..................................................... Foodstuffs, Preserved (Total)......................... 1,436,807 268,968 8,016 377,654 2,836 128,872 434,217 24,076 4,291,078 808,374 92,334 •1,495 86,679 249 102,740 18,490 8,175,884 173,078 1,016,804 5,972,576 743,491 6,631,326 88,827 12,700 6,125,004 279,389 6,639 6,426 3,344,132 1,019,011 1,770,988 9,411,065 70,097,559 25,363 988,640 2,363 2,236 2,739,735 562,826 1,823,333 4,461,670 67,101,519 12,487 699,844 2,845 27,100,472 111,469 12,319 15,888 23,285 18,770 14,501 395,340 11,639 144,047 40,488 550,378 519,822 5,824 3,041 37,028,707 62,692 18,569 3,367 2,514 6,125 26,070 330,459 54,008 184,444 37,734 777,522 104,500 626,689 669 Bottling, Misc. (Total)..................................... 658,130 535,035 Cleansing and Laundry (Total)..................... 30,724 22,411 Entertainment Equipment (Total)............... 343 25,823 PACIFIC MUMBISIM I'IIII I1 II HIT I II I 449 Daamarinas Manila AMERICAN RADIATOR & STANDARD SANITARY CORPORATION AMERICAN VALVE COMPANY AMES BALDWIN WYOMING COMPANY BADGER METER MANUFACTURING CO. BADGER FIRE EXTINGUISHER CO. BALL BROS. MASON JARS BOMMER SPRING HINGE COMPANY CAPEWELL MANUFACTURING CO. CARBORUNDUM COMPANY COLUMBUS COATED PRODUCTS CO. COLUMBIAN VICE & MFG. CO. COLEBROOKDALE IRON COMPANY CORBIN LOCK COMPANY DICK BROTHERS MANUFACTURING CO. EKCO PRODUCTS CO. FAIRBURY WINDMILL CO. GREAT NECK SAW CO. JACOBS MANUFACTURING CO. KEENEY MANUFACTURING COMPANY MALLEABLE IRON FITTINGS CO. NORTH WAYNE TOOL COMPANY PABCO PRODUCTS, INC. “Pabco” Products RUDI SELL FOUNDRY COMPANY SLOAN VALVE COMPANY SOLARINE COMPANY TEMPLETON KENLY JACK CO. UNION CARBIDE & CARBON CORP. National Carbon Division “Eveready” flashlights & batteries Linde Air Products Division “Union” Carbide UNITED STATES STEEL EXPORT CORP. ♦ STEEL PRODUCTS HOUSE FURNISHINGS GENERAL HARDWARE PLUMBING 448 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL November, 1953 When choosing a lubricant for your high speed tractor or stationary engine, profit from the experience of others —choose the new SHELL Rotella Oil . . meets all the requirements of U.S. Government Military Specification MIL 0-2104 (ORD) . . . recommended or approved by the manufacturers of the following engines: Allis Chalmers • Atlas Imperial • Buda • Caterpillar • Climax • Fairbanks Morse • General Motors (Cleveland & Detroit) • Gray Marine • Her cule s • Hill • International Harvester • National Gas A Oil Livestock—bulbs—seeds (Total).................... Medical (Total).................................................... Musical (Total)......................................... Office Equipment (Total)................................. Office Supplies (Total)....................................... Paper (Total)....................................................... Photographic Materials (Total)........... Raw Materials (Total)....................... •............ Sporting Goods (Total)..................................... Stationery (Total)............................................... Tobacco (Total)................................................... Chucheria (Total)................................................ Clpthing and Apparel (Total).......................... Cosmetics (Total)................................................ Fabrics (Total)..................................................... Jewelry (Total)..................................................... Leather (Total)..................................................... Textiles (Total)................................................. Twine (Total)................................................. Toys (Total).......................................................... General Merchandise (Total)........................... Non-Commercial Shipments (Total)............. Advertising Materials, Etc. (Total)............... 114,320 287,886 73,924 46,629 41,009 6,864,405 58,878 628,329 20,502 170,098 931,414 55,501 600,212 30,945 971,502 21 229,863 2,908,201 80,508 22,111 994,374 106,132 13,953 5,670 283,117 32,619 34,245 32,242 3,942,269 17,745 1,566,809 22,480 205,157 1,147,764 65.154 302,732 50,465 1,036,364 276 127,476 2,753,720 7,086 11.154 776,296 112,712 23,520 Food Products By W. E. M. Saul Manager, Food Products Department Marsman St* Company, Inc. Trading Division FL.OUR. Flour arrivals during the month of October amounted to only 500,000 bags, which is a big drop from the arrivals during September. With the big carry-over from September still available, the market was for a time steady, with flour selling within ceiling prices. The situation changed, however, by the end of the month due to the fact that the expected arrivals would be around 500,000 bags only, while the consumption would be the biggest in the year. There will not be much of a reserve FOR BETTER SERVICE — Call 3-29-05 ALLIED BROKERAGE CORPORATION Marsman Building Port Area SHELL Technical Service offers you Planned Lubrication —detailed study ana complete analysts of plant and machinery^ advice on lubricants application oil change periods facilities 01 SHELL Laboratory Manila are available to all customers. For full details, telephone or call your nearest SHELL Office. Offices in Manila. Cebu Iloilo, Bacolod and Davao. Leadership in Lubrication g Individual attention and competent supervision given to your customs brokerage requirements. CUSTOMS BROKERAGE FREIGHT FORWARDING WAREHOUSING TRUCKING HEAVY HAULING November, 1953 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 449 left, as most of the carry-over from the previous months is expected to be consumed within the month of October. Milk. The situation since last month has not changed with respect to milk. There is a general over-supply of evaporated milk and aside from the most popular brands the other brands are selling slowly at less than actual cost. There are also plentiful supplies of powdered milk, but these seem to be selling quite briskly. Canned Fish. The canned-fish market remained unchanged. Thousands of cases of anchovies arrived from the United States West Coast during the month. Stocks continued to move slowly as before and prices have dropped. Squid, mackerel, and salmon were imported in quantities during October and previous months in anticipation of bad weather which did not come except for occasional storms. The sardine catch on the West Coast is still negligible. Present supplies of canned fish are more than ample. Canned Meats. There were sufficient supplies of corned beef, liver-spread, potted meat, and canned Vienna sausage, of which last three continues to be an over-supply and consequent lowering in selling price. Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. Whereas, before, fresh oranges, grapes, and apples were sold at a premium, sufficient importations of these from the United States and other fresh fruit imports from China and Japan have lowered prices considerably. Fresh locally-grown vegetables and fruits were sufficient to meet requirements. Textiles By W. V. Saussotte General Manager Neuss, Hesslein Co., Inc. THE main feature in the New York market during October is centered around the raw cotton situation which is summarized in the following quoted from the Daily News Record of October 9: “The Government cotton crop estimate of 15,596,000 bales issued yesterday, had little effect on the gray goods situation and volume of goods moved was again reported as small. “There were a number of bids, that came out at lower prices fol lowing the crop report from Washington, but in most instances these were refused by mills. In print cloth 39-inch, 80 x 80, 4.00 yard was sought at 20 cents for spot and was turned down. The 45-inch, 60 x 48, 5.35 was bid at 14%)* for nearby and refused. The 40-inch, 76 x 72, 9.00 yard, lawn, was bid at 18 without success. “Generally, commission house officials were of the opinion that raw cotton prices will not decline much. They reminded that the Gov ernment has set a ‘floor’ under those quotations. Reports indicate early movement into the loan has been exceedingly heavy and some sources feel more than 5,000,000 bales will move into Government hands.” INSURANCE FIRE- MARINE- CASUALTY FIDELITY and SURETY BONDS ATLAS ASSURANCE CO. LTD. THE EMPLOYERS* LIABILITY CONTINENTAL INSURANCE CO. ASSURANCE CORPORATION Ltd. LAW UNION & ROCK INSURANCE CO., LTD. INSURANCE COMPANY OF NORTH AMERICA PILIPINAS COMPANIA DE SECUROS E. E. ELSER, Inc. GENERAL AGENTS Tel. 3-93-58 & 3-27-72—518-520 Ayala Bldg., Manila-Cable “ELSINC” COLUMBIAN ROPE COMPANY OF PHILIPPINES, INC. HEMP AND COPRA EXPORTERS STEAMSHIP AGENTS * 206 Myers Building Port Area, Manila, P. I. ¥ BRANCHESi Davao • Tacloban • Cebu • Tabaco NEW AND... -TO SEE V _TO TOUCH —TO OPERATE Modern in design, the MARCHANT is the only American calculator with dials for checking key board entries. Its low-luster finish eliminates reflections causing eye fatigue. With key action twice as light as before, its keys and controls respond to the slightest touch. The MARCHANT is unmatched in accuracy control, simplicity, speed, and silence. MARCHANT CALCULATOR ERLANGER & GALINGER, INC. 123 T. Pinpin off Escolta Tel. 3-21-61 450 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL November, 1953 ★ LUZON STEVEDORING COMPANY, IM. Manila ★ PARED J. P. HEILBRONN CO.IW ESTABLISHED 1909 ■ W PAPER and Paper Products of All Kinds Office and School Supplies Printing and Lithographic Machinery and Supplies Surveying and Drafting Material Genuine DU PONT Cellophane, Cellulose Sponges, Cellulose Bartds (Bottle Caps), Cellulose Yarn Esterbrook Fountain Pens, Push Pencils and Desk Sets FIR-TEX Building Board and Insulating Board Bodega Equipment—Barrett Lift Trucks and Portable Elevators The colored yam work-clothing fabrics, including denims, which are so important in the Manila market, were steady, with mills being sold ahead up to 45 days. The market in New York with respect to other basic cottons is summarized in the foregoing quotation. With reference to rayon and other synthetics, the market remained firm and virtually unchanged both as regards yam and finished goods. HpHE local market remained steady during most of OcA tober and while denim prices dropped 1 or 2 centavos due to expected heavy arrivals under the Central Bank regulations wherein only denims are classified as essential textiles; this decline was largely offset by increases in other items toward the latter part of October, due to demand for the forthcoming Christmas trade. Although the Central Bank has not expanded the list of textile items in the essential import categories, simul taneously with the preparation of this article, the Central Bank has announced an additional allocation of $3,500,000 to be used for basic cottons which still remain in the nonessential listings, as well as both cotton and rayon rem nants. This additional exchange allocation, while un affecting the categorical groupings, is tantamount to ex pansion of the list of essential textile items. arrivals from the United States totalled 17,841 packages, which is approximately the same as for September. Included were 6,425 packages of cotton piece goods, 1,933 packages of rayon piece goods, 1,760 packages of cotton remnants, and 1,180 packages of rayon remnants. There were 2,617 packages of cotton yam, 1,072 packages of cotton twine, 476 packages of sewing thread and 388 packages of cotton duck. Arrivals from countries other than the United States totalled 7,022 packages. Included were 716 packages from China, consisting about equally of cotton yarn and cotton piece goods. Japanese arrivals totalled 5,176 packages and included 3,538 packages of cotton piece goods, 766 packages of rayon piece goods, and 540 packages of blankets. There were 455 packages from Europe consisting mainly of sewing thread and 675 packages from India consisting entirely of jute cloth and jute sugar-bags. The Japanese arrivals are significant. Under Republic Act No. 650, quotas could not be used for imports from Japan which at that time were limited to the items listed under the Philippines-Japan Barter Trade Agreement which, in turn, permits only limited types of textiles. Under the present Central Bank regulations, quotas may be used for any imports from Japan listed in the five basic cate gorical groupings, irrespective of whether they are enu merated or not in the Barter Trade Agreement. As a con sequence, Japanese arrivals during October have increased to slightly more than 25% of the total arrivals in com parison with an average of around 5%for the first 8 months of 1953. The allowing of these Japanese imports under the Central Bank regulations is not at all in consonance with the objectives of the local industrialization policy of the Government. HALL, PICO BELL, ORTIGAS & CO. INVESTMENT BROKERS, DEALERS & UNDERWRITERS Office and Sales Room: 575 Atlanta, Port Area, Manila 3-36-17 Te,s: 3-36-18 MEMBERS MANILA STOCK EXCHANGE 201 AYALA BLDG. MANILA November, 1953 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 451 Legislation, Executive Orders, and Court Decisions By Robert Janda Ross, Selph, Carrascoso & Janda IN the case of Mercado, et al. vs. Benito Go Bio, (G. R. No. L-1183), the Supreme Court again applied the doctrine of the Krivenko case holding that aliens could not constitutionally acquire urban land after the effective date of the Philippine Constitution. In this case, the doc trine was applied to a contract respecting the sale of lots which was made on February 21, 1938. The Court refused, however, to rescind the contract in favor of the seller on the ground that both buyer and seller were in pari delicto and that the seller could not consequently rescind the contract and recover the property. The Court stated that the conveyance was null and void as against public policy. Justice Reyes dissented on the ground that in his opinion the principle of refusing to nullify the contract on the ground that the parties were in pari delicto is not applicable to contracts contrary to public policy and for bidden by the Constitution. Justices Padilla and Pablo stated that since the parties acted in good faith, each should restore to the other what they had received. tn the case of Manila Railroad Company vs. Hon. Rodolfo A Baltazar, et al., (G. R. No. 5451), the Court considered a petition for reinstatement with backpay made with the court which had acquitted the employees of criminal charges of the theft for which they had been discharged. The Court held that the acquittal of the defendants did not necessarily mean that they were not civilly liable and that it was not within the jurisdiction and power of the court trying the criminal case to enter an order requiring the employer to indemnify the accused for their salaries lost during the suspension. In the case of Financing Corporation of the Philip pines and J. Amado Araneta vs. Hon. Jose Teodoro, Judge of the Court of First Instance of Negros Occidental, et al., (G. R. No. L-4900), the Supreme Court considered whether the Court of First Instance had jurisdiction to ap point a receiver in an action brought by minority stock holders alleging gross mis-management of the corporate affairs by J. Amado Araneta and asking that he be declared personally liable for the losses and that the corporation be dissolved. The action of the trial court in appointing a receiver was alleged to be erroneous on the ground that the primary purpose of the litigation was dissolution of the corporation to which the appointment of a receiver was merely ancillary. It was contended that only the Government could terminate corporate existence and that minority stockholders could not maintain an action to dissolve the corporation. The Supreme Court held, however, that while the general rule was that the minority MOTOR SERVICE CO., 11. AUTOMOTIVE PARTS • ACCESSORIES GARAGE & SHOP EQUIPMENT BATTERIES • TIRES • TUBES 230 13th St., Port Area — Tel. 3-36-21 THE EDWARD J. XELL CO. Anda corner Arzobispo, Intramuros, Manila P. O. Box 612 — Tel. 3-21-21 Original — Distinctive MADE-TO-ORDER Christmas Cards ORIGINAL—because they’re your very own . . . DISTINCTIVE—if printed in the best of taste—here! Experienced craftsmanship — that knack of getting things done the finest way! McSultowfk PRINTING CO. Printing Headquarters Since 1899 (A DIVISION OF PHILIPPINE EDUCATION CO.) 1104 Castillejos, Manila Telephone 3-24-70 452 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL November, 1953 THE ROUTE OF THE BEARS stockholders of a corporation cannot sue and demand its dissolution, yet there are cases where this may be possible if it can be shown that only in this manner can the rights and interests of the minority be protected. The Court reviewed the allegations of improper management and stated that under the circumstances, it would not find that the Court of First Instance had acted in excess of its jurisdiction in appointing a receiver. Serving THE PHILIPPINES JAPAN HONGKONG U S. WEST COAST PORTS FAST - REGULAR - DEPENDABLE UNITED STATES LINES, INC. GENERAL AGENTS ! 33601 33602 33603 33604 PORT AREA MANILA IEUSS, HESSLEIDI & CO., IIC. 75 WORTH ST., NEW YORK, N.Y. FOREMOST SUPPLIERS OF TEXTILE FABRICS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD for 86 years and FOREMOST SUPPLIERS OF TEXTILES TO THE PHILIPPINES FOR 51 YEARS. ♦ • FAUST SUITINGS • FLATTERY PRINTS • WALDORF PERCALES • SEINE TWINE & YARNS • AGUILA DENIMS • CARABELA CHAMBRAYS • COMMANDER BROADCLOTH • COTTON & RAYON POUND-GOODS -------------------------- MANILA OFFICE: 304 NUEVA STREET CORNER DASMARlfiAS MANILA PHONE 3-99-71 Cable Address “NEHESCO” In the case of Infante vs. Cunanan, et al., (G. R. No. L-5180), the Supreme Court awarded a broker the amount of his commission even though the sale had been made after the broker had expressly signed an agreement terminating his commission agreement. The broker had, during the period of the brokerage contract, produced a willing buyer but the seller stated she had changed her mind and did not desire to proceed with the transaction. Later and shortly after termination of the brokerage ar rangements, the seller did in fact complete the transaction with the buyer which the broker had produced and on terms within the authorization to the broker. The Court held that under the circumstances the only fair thing was to allow the broker the commission originally agreed upon. In the case of Indencia and Hugo vs. Collector of Internal Revenue, (G. R. Nos. L-6355 8b L-6356), the Supreme Court again considered the question originally determined in Perfecto vs. Meer, of whether judges were liable, in view of the constitutional provision that their salaries should not be diminished during their continuance in office, to pay the increases in the income tax rates which were imposed during their term of office. Between the date of the Perfecto decision and the present decision, Congress had enacted Republic Act No. 590 providing in Section 13 that the taxing of the salary of a judicial officer was not a decrease in his compensation. The Court held that it was a judicial and not a legislative prerogative to interpret the laws and the Constitution and to determine what con stituted such a diminution and that Congress could not by legislative enactment reverse the holding of the Perfecto case that increases in taxes in effect decreased the salary and could not be constitutionally applied to judicial officers. In the case of Salvador Araneta vs. Alva J. Hill, (G. R. No. L-3241), the Court considered a pre-war contract for the sale of land. Plaintiff had paid and defendant had ac cepted the sum of Pl,100.00, Japanese military currency, during the occupation. The actual value of this payment at the time it was made was approximately P80.00. The Court reversed the trial court’s decision holding that the payment should be only credited at the amount it was actually worth, to wit, P80.00, and gave plaintiff full credit for the Pl,000 payment made in military currency. The Court held, however, that the plaintiff’s obligation to pay defendant interest was not suspended by the occupation and that defendant was entitled to recover full interest on the entire amount due during the Japanese occupation. The Court made the following interesting comment concerning the Moratorium law: November, 1953 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 453 “True, we have in May of this year declared the Moratorium Laws ineffective; but in August, 1945, when plaintiff invoked it, and at the beginning of this case, it was in full force.” Philippine Safety Council By Frank S. Tenny Founder and Executive Director THE Philippine Safety Council observed the sixth anniversary of its founding but had no time for ce remony. Current projects are increasing and de manding. The technical staff has been increased by the addition of John E. Curtin, criminal investigator and poly graph operator. Services of this nature have been requested by several members. Although the factor of “security” is usually outside of the scope of a safety council, current conditions indicate it to be necessary. Certain local clubs and firms have adopted the term “Safety Council” to designate their safety committees, and all concerned are advisee that it is international custom to call only the national body a “council”, while smaller, specialized safety groups are termed “committees”. There has been much ado re the “bus ban experiment” in Manila. It has had one favorable result to date, that of calling more official attention to the traffic problem as a whole. The Council has been much involved, after being overlooked at first; P.S.C. Technical Consultant Maj. Frank C. Young has been very helpful in this connection. On the occasion of the anniversary, the Council wishes to acknowledge tnat there was, during 1932 and 1933, a laudable attempt by the Manila Rotary Club to form a National Safety group under the leadership of Dr. Basilio J. Valdes. Unfortunately, the body went out of existence and was not revived. It is an interesting coincidence that, when the Safety Council was formed in 1947, four of the five incorporators were also Manila Rotarians, although no mention was made of the previous effort. So it can be said with authority that the Manila Rotary Club has been involved in the National Safety movement for some time. Current safety projects include work for 7-Up Bot tling Co., Colgate Palmolive Phils., Fabar Automotive Service Center, the Fire Prevention Board, Elizalde y Cia., Manila Electric Co., Army and Navy Club and Polo Club, and others, in addition to that for regular member clients and public service organizations. Local firms are exhibiting considerable interest in fire prevention programs and se curity matlers. The Security Delivery Service, Inc., an allied opera tion, is progressing well and plans are being made to acquire additional equipment for both ground and air. The Manila Taxicab Association and the Taxicab Inspection Service are also quite active. The Council is standing by, hoping for renewed Govern ment interest in safety matters now that the elections are over. Several official safety bodies, including the National Traffic Commission, have not met for six months or more. In the meantime, Council officials joined Code Commission Chairman Dr. Jorge Bocobo in a visit to the Secretary of Justice in an effort to secure enforcement and implementa tion of the Civil Code. AGENTS TELEPHONES BROKERS 3-34-20 CHARTERERS 3-34-29 Anierkiin Steamship Agencies, Inc. Manila and Tokyo Cable Address: 212 Myers Bldg. “AMERSHIP ” Port Area Manila PASIG RIVER BODEGAS GENERAL BONDED WAREHOUSES * SOUTHWESTERN SUGAR & MOLASSES CO. (FAR EAST), INC. MOLASSES BUYER 145 Muelle de Binondo Tel. 2-63-10 Check your duplicating need# We have everything you need: HEYER Duplicator, duplicating supplies, stationery, and the finest in office supplies. —HEYER*— * HIGHER QUALITY SINCE 1903 LETTERGRAPH Model C Prints any desired quantity of clear, sharp copies at speeds of 100 or more per minute. Offers every essential feature . . . sturdily built for years of 454 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL November, 1953 A. SORIANO Y CIA. Soriano Bldg. Plaza Cervantes Manila General Managers of: SAN MIGUEL BREWERY, INC. PHILIPPINE AIR LINES INDUSTRIAL TEXTILES MANUFACTURING CO. OF THE PHILIPPINES RHEEM OF THE PHILIPPINES BISLIG BAY LUMBER CO., INC. INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERING CORPORATION PHILIPPINE ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURING CO. ATLAS CONSOLIDATED MINING AND DEVELOPMENT CO., INC. General Agents For: OCCIDENTAL LIFE INSURANCE CO. OF CALIFORNIA COMMONWEALTH INSURANCE CO. THE HOME INSURANCE CO. UNION INSURANCE SOCIETY OF CANTON, LTD. GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE CO. SULZER BROS., LTD. found wherever fine cars travel »UM OF »BOr«tTl0* VEEDOl MOTOR OIL “the film of protection” TIDE WATER ASSOCIATED OIL COMPANY COST OF LIVING PRICE INDEX FOR WAGE EARNER’S FAMILIES IN MANILA, BY MONTH, 1948-1953 (1941 = 100) Bureau of the Census and Statistics 1948 A 11 Items (100) Food (63.43) House Rent ((14.96) Cloth ing (2.04) Fuel. Light and Water (7.73) Miscel laneous (14.84) ing Power January.......... .. 390. 7 427. 6 453.9 224. 5 304.6 249.9 .2560 February......... .. 369. 8 394. 0 453. 9 223. 8 301.1 254. <1 .2708 March............. .. 349.4 361. 0 453. 9 214. 6 308.1 255.9 .2862 April:............. .. 354.6 374. 1 453. 9 209.4 289.7 254 J1 .2820 May................ .. 349.8 360. 2 453.9 214. 2 289.7 271.6 .2859 June................ .. 354. 3 370.4 453. 9 205. 2 283.2 262.1) .2823 July............... .. 356.4 374.2 453.9 201. 3 281.6 262 >1 .2806 August............... . 363. 6 385.7 453. 9 199. 8 281.6 261.7 .2751 September. . . . 370. 6 397. 2 453. 9 199. 2 279.6 260. (5 .2698 October............ . 374.9 404. 0 453.9 204.8 283.2 257.1) .2668 November........ . 368.7 394.4 453.9 202. 0 281.6 258. jr .2712 December......... . 365.9 389. 9 453.9 202. 0 282.4 258.1) .2732 1949 343 7 357 9 453. 9 198.4 272 9 251.1 .2910 January............ . 363.8 386. 8 453.'9 202. 0 279.0 258. S• .2757 February ......... 343. 8 355.5 453.'9 203. 0 277.5 258.S> .2900 March............... . 345.3 358. 2 453.'9 202. 0 276.3 258. Ji .2896 April.................. . 348. 7 362. 6 453.'9 197.6 287.5 257.1. .2868 May.................. . 348. 8 362. 8 453.'9 197.2 287.5 257.1 .2869 June................... . 349.0 362.9 453.'9 203. 9 287.5 257.2I .2865 July................... . 351. 7 374. 0 453.9 194. 2 265.8 240.5 .2844 August.............. . 337. 5 351. 2 453. 9 196.3 266.6 241.2! .2963 September. . . . . 333. 6 345. 1 453.'9 190. 3 264.8 243.1 .2998 October............ . 332. 9 343. 3 453.9 199.9 264.8 245.0 .3004 November. . . . 339.6 356. 1 453.9 191. 1 258.4 239.8 .2945 December........ . 329. 6 335. 9 453.9 202.9 259.5 256.2 .3035 1950........... . 332. 9 333. 7 453. 9 270. 7 252.0 282.1( .3004 January............ . 332. 3 336. 8 453. 9 238.0 253.1 269.1. .3009 February ......... . 335. 3 340. 2 453. 9 233. 3 257.8 273. C) .2982 March............... . 336.6 341. 4 453. 9 236. 7 257.8 276. ti .2971 April.................. . 329. 1 328. 6 453. 9 237. 7 252.9 283.1. .3039 May.................. . 317. 4 308. 6 453. 9 244.7 249.7 290.4 .3151 June.................. . 319.3 310.9 453.'9 243. 5 249.7 293.5i .3132 July................... . 326.3 322. 4 453. 9 252. 6 249.7 290.4 .3065 August.............. . 327. 3 325. 9 453. 9 258.7 251.1 280.2I .3055 September. . . . . 334.2 335. 0 453. 9 317. 4 252.5 279.4 .2992 October............ . 345. 5 351. 1 453.9 337. 3 249.7 285.4! .2894 November. . . . . 346. 7 353. 2 453.!9 322. 8 249.7 286.6• .2884 December........ . 344. 9 350. 5 453.19 325. 2 249.7 285.7 . 2899 1951........... . 352. 6 361. 5 453.!9 365. 3 248.0 285.7’ .2836 January............ . 347.9 355. 0 453.19 331. 5 249.7 285.6i .2874 February.......... . 351. 7 359. 8 453.!9 342. 8 249.7 289.0> .2843 March............... . 346.4 349.3 453.9 379. 4 248.8 293.6i .2887 April.................. . 355. 3 362. 6 453.19 398.6 247.5 294.6i .2815 May................... . 359. 2 367. 0 453.'9 410. 4 247.5 300.6i .2784 June.................. . 360. 5 372. 2 453.!9 399. 5 247.5 288.5■ .2774 July................... . 359. 0 370. 1 453.!9 382. 0 247.5 290.2 .2786 August.............. 357. 8 371. 4 453.19 354. 0 247.5 280.0i .2795 September. . . . . 356. 1 369.0 453.!9 356. 4 247.5 279.0i .2808 October............ . 351. 0 361. 1 453.19 350.4 247.5 279.0i .2849 November. . . . . 344. 1 351. 1 453.19 343. 8 247.5 275.8 . 2906 December........ . 341. 9 348. 9 453.19 335. 2 247.5 272.1 .2925 1952........... . 339 4 347. 4 453.!9 295. 9 244.1 268.4 .2946 January............ . 342. 8 350. 9 453.!9 330. 8 247.5 269.7 .2917 February.......... . 341. 2 349. 8 453.19 311. 2 243.4 268.5 .2931 March............... . 337. 9 345. 1 453.19 301. 1 243.4 268.1 .2959 April.................. . 335. 9 342. 7 453.19 300. 7 243.4 264.6 .2977 May.................. . 335. 1 341. 8 453.19 293. 2 243.4 264.4 . 2984 June.................. . 338. 1 346. 3 453.19 290. 2 243.4 265.5 . 2958 July................... . 340.4 349.5 453.9 286. 6 243.4 268.1 .2938 August............. . 340.7 349.4 453.19 289.1 243.4 269.9 .2935 September. . . . . 341. 1 350.0 453.19 287. 7 243.4 270.7 .2932 October............ . 337. 6 344. 6 453.19 289.3 243.4 269.4 .2962 November........ . 340. 5 349.3 453.19 286.2 243.4 269.8 .2937 December........ . 340.9 348.9 453.9 284.4 247.5 272.3 .2933 1953 January........... . 337.3 343.:2 453.19 283. 7 247.5 272.4 .2965 February......... . 323. 0 321 :L 453 9 281.:5 243.4 273 0 .3096 March............... . 318.6 314.3 453. <9 281. 5 243.4 272.4 .3139 April.................. . 317. 6 312. 8 453.19 281. 1 243.4 272.2 .3149 May.................. . 314.3 307. 8 453.19 280.9 243.4 271.1 .3182 June.................. . 313. 1 306. 0 453.19 277. 8 243.4 271.1 .3194 July................... . 316.0 311.10 453.9 277.:B 243.4 269.5 .3165 August............. . 316.1 311.1) 453.19 277.8 243.4 266.4 .3164 September . . . 315.15 311 6 453.9 277.1J 243.4 265.6 .3167 October............ . 315.:i 310.( 453.9 279 () 243.4 266.4 .3172 Note: Clothing revised from February, 1952, to May, 1953, and Miscellaneous from 1950, to May, 1953. November, 1953 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 455 “LET YOUR HAIR DOWN” THE Journal is primarily a busi nessman’s publication, but still we continue to get letters like this,— not that we object: From the University of San Carlos, Cebu City, signed by Fr. Joseph Baumgartner, SVD, Librarian— "We received the back numbers of the 1952 set of the American Chamber of 'Commerce Journal and the issues of January to September of 1953 in accordance with your letter of October 14. Thank you very much for the prompt filling of our order. “We inclose in this letter M.O. No. 18262550 in the amount of P 16.50 in payment of your bill No. 7597. “We are looking forward to receiving the further issues of your valuable publication.” A letter, addressed to the editor, from Mr. L. D. Lockwood, whose present address is 296 Atherton Ave nue, Menlo Park, California: “For a long time I have been intending to write you and now I am going to do it. The reason is I want to tell you that I think you have done and are doing a swell job in editing the American Chamber of Com merce Journal; and now that I have been reading your short history of industry and trade in the Philippines I particularly want to tell you that I think that it is a very va luable contribution to the history of the country. I hope that it will be preserved in book form, or some other form that will make it available for future reference. In the old days we, used to take a glance at the Journal and throw it in the wastebasket. Now I find something of interest on every page. “I wish that we over here could get the Journal a little quicker than we do, so that the information and material contained in it would be fresher, but I do not know of any way to remedy that. “A few evenings ago we were attending the monthly Philippine dinner which is held at Gladys Savary’s restaurant known as ‘Ramor Oaks* and a short distance from our home. I saw gathered at one end of the bar John McCord, Fred Berry, Jollye, Neil Crawford, and one or two others, all in deep conversation. I told the others present that we should all be quiet, as the Board of Directors of the American Chamber of Com merce was holding a meeting. “Congratulations to you on your good work, and wishing you the best of luck, yours very sincerely, etc.” 't'he editor received the following A letter from Mr. Karl Kreutz, General Agent of the Singer Sewing Machine Company in the Phil ippines, with reference to the article on the sinking of the S. S. Corregidor, which appeared in the September Journal: “With reference to your interesting article contained in the last issue of the Journal regarding the sinking of the Corregidor, it may be added, as a footnote, that Mr. F. E. Williams who was lost in the ship, was a Supervisor of Singer Sewing Machine Com pany stationed in Iloilo. He had come to Manila for a conference and was caught here by the outbreak of the war. Naturally he wanted to get back to his wife and young son as quickly as possible, and he hurriedly finished his work in Manila and then at tempted to get passage on the Corregidor. The ship was already fully booked and al though he could not obtain a ticket from the Cia. Maritima, he left our office in a great hurry on the afternoon when the ship was to sail, stating that he was determined to get on the ship and would pay his passage money after the Corregidor left Manila. “One of our employees who happened to be at the waterfront said there was a tremen How AG&P Serves Philippine Industry “Know-How” and Complete Facilities Cut Costs and Save Time— You get exactly what you want from A G & Pl No matter how special your projects may be, chances are AG&P can meet them. A G & P’s facilities in the fields of engineering and con struction, manufacturing and merchandising are second to none. A G & P’s brilliant record for almost half a century is your assurance. MANUFACTURING FACILITIES Machine Shops for Const™ Steel Fabricating Plant; Fo WOOD PRESERVING PLANT Pressure Crcosoting of Structural Timber. Poles, Piles, X'Ann, Posts, etc. MERCHANDISING FACILITIES Representing over 30 major U.S. manufacturers of In dustrial. Agricultural and Engineering Equipment and Supplies. ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION FACILITIES Executive Offices—Engineering Div. Structural & Machine Shops Barrio Punta, Santa Ana, Manila Phones: 6-75-31—6-75-32—6-75-33 dous crush of people crowding aboard the ship just before it sailed. Survivors who knew Mr. Williams said that they believed that he found a place to retire far down in the ship, and that he w^s probably asleep when she struck the mine. “Mrs. Williams and her son were interned in Iloilo and were later brought to Santo Tomas.” A letter from Mr. Henry E. Neibert, of Milbuk Harbor, Cotabato, who calls his home there “Dream’s Delight Manor,” about which we ran a note in this column in the July issue of the Journal: “Dear Friend Hartendorp—The Journal for September reached us here yesterday with the good news that your ‘Short History of Industry and Trade of the Philippines’ is off the press, the aegis-bearer being the “Know-How” Backed by Experience Since 1907 Atlantic, Gulf & Pacific Co. of Manila ENGINEERS ¥ CONTRACTORS MANUFACTURERS ¥ DISTRIBUTORS Merchandise Sales Division Robert Dollar Bldg., Port Area, Manila Phones: 3-36-61 • 3-36-62 (Connecting all Depts.) 456 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL November, 1953 American Chamber of Commerce, as the advertisement states. “Please reserve 5 copies for me but hold them until I reach Zamboanga City, perhaps early in November, there being no means here to forward the P50 in payment. Four of the copies will be sent to friends in the U.S.A, whose names and addresses will be furnished to you. Be sure to hold out 5 copies. I may, myself, visit Manila in November. “I shall later justify my ‘Dream’s De light’ location on which you twitted me some months ago. Anyway, it was a good ad. My friends all know now just where I live.” Mr. Neibert evidently thinks all his friends read the Journal’s ‘Hair down’ column. CUT COSTS OF PUMPING Save production time, manpower and money with these rugged, lowmaintenance pumps. They will last longer than ordinary pumps because their wearing parts are rubber-lined. Tests proved that impeller and casing will last 10 to 50 times longer than similar parts made of the best hard iron or steel alloys on the market. In addition, you get continuous operation. In many cases these pumps have handled abrasive materials for as long as three years without maintenance. Inspection and maintenance is easy, due to simple design. For complete facts call on us. Solids-Handling Pumps for Coal; Sand, Gravel, etc. Double Suction Pumps for wide variety of application Exclusive Distributors: Close-Coupled Package Pumps with one-piece unit-cast frame A letter from former Justice George A. Malcom (address, 4947 Mara thon Street, Hollywood 29, Califor nia), received by the editor: “Dear Friend, “I received a copy of the May issue of your Journal and noted that you have made your articles on industry and trade of the Philip pines into a book. Naturally I want to add a copy to my library. Having thus written, I turn to my Philippine bank account and find that the residue is down to ones,—that is Pl 1.11. Fortunately, my American re sources are a bit more munificent. Anyway, I inclose my check in your favor for Pl 1.11. If the amount is not enough, the difference is on you. If too much, buy yourself a Christ mas cigar on me. Advance thanks. I supfor. Sand Abrasive Slimes Slurries Mill Discharge pose I am taking a chance in mailing this epistle during the heat of your surcharged elections. My letter may get burned to a crisp! Whenever you run into our mutual friend, Dr. H. Otley Beyer, kindly pass on my cordial greetings to him. I have often thought that the Philippine community lives to* close to Beyer to properly appre ciate his achievements. Best wishes for you. If health and world conditions permit, I hope to visit my old home in Manila,—in about a year.” “The price of the book is P10,” said the eciitor, “and postage is 30/, so if the Judge’s check is any good, I ought to clear 81 centavos, which will buy me several cigars.” “What do you mean,—‘If the Judge’s check is any good?’” we asked. “Oh, nothing like that,” said the editor. “But just suppose the Judge forgot about several months’ service charges on his account?” “Yeah,” said we, “that sure would eat into your Christmas present.” “Well, anyway,” said the editor bravely, “the check is made out to me personally, see? Here’s P10.30 in cash. Mail him the book. I’ll just take a chance on the check.” What a man won’t do for a friend! AfRS. Virginia Gonder, Executive Vice-President of the Chamber, returned to Manila from her brief visit to the United States on October 26. She attended the American Chamber of Commerce Executives Convention in Oklahoma City held from September 20 to 23, and won there a “Certificate of Merit” for the American Chamber of Cojnmerce Bulletin which she edits and which is sent out weekly in mimeographed form to all Chamber members. The Bulletin was rated in its class as “Excellent” on “tech nical qualities” and “Good” on “in terpretive qualities”. The Journal extends its congratulations! Mrs. Gonder also attended the Far EastAmerican Council of Commerce and Industry conference held in New York on October 8 and 9. She met several officers and members of the Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce there and also spent some time with the officers of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce on the return leg of her journey. Among old friends, she ran into Messrs. Parrish, Leaber, Lehman, and Moore, all past officers and directors of our Chamber here. Although her trip was necessarily hurried, it was a productive one. THE EARNSHAWS DOCKS & HONOLULU IRON WORKS Main Office: Branch Offices at: Cor. Tacoma & 2nd Streets Telephone 3-35-41 Bacolod City Port Area, Manila P. 0. Box 282 Cebu City 44T_T®Re’s something amusing from •n one of my daughters-in-law in Baguio,” said the editor, with a letter in his hand. “Listen to this: “ ‘...Willie [her brother] has been tinkering around lately with a homeNovember, 1953 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 457 made phonograph. It works pretty well and we’ve been having quiet, enjoyable nights listening to records— operatic arias mostly. One night, as we were listening to Caruso singing his famous Pagliacci solo, £ric [my 7-year-old grandson] asked me what Caruso was. I told him he was a tenor,—a heavy, dramatic tenor, one who sings only heavy, dramatic songs,—not like his uncle, Dick, who sings light, lyric songs. Eric seemed satisfied with that rather poor ex planation and I thought that he understood. But later he was showing a drawing he had made of one of our Company’s enormous ‘Euclid’ trucks to a little friend of his who had not seen one yet, and I heard him say, ‘This is a Euclid,—a heavy, dramatic Euclid.’ The other little boy seemed awed by the language. Willie and I almost died laughing.’ ” “Hm!” said the editor. “And here is something about my 3-yearold granddaughter, Siena: “ ‘...Sometimes I hear Siena carry ing on a private conversation with herself over a make-believe telephone. Her talk always runs like this: ‘Hello, grandpa. This is Sienna. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Goodbye.’ That’s what she hears from her brothers and sisters when they join in on a long distance telephone call, so that is what she keeps on saying. . ” “Ha-ha!” said we, “Cute kids! Shall we put in the ‘Hair-down’ column?” “Well,” said the editor, only too pleased. “I would have no objection.” “We’ve got to fill it up, somehow,” we said. uTTave you ever heard an onion?” ** asked the editor. “I have heard them sizzle in the frying-pan,” we said, “have tasted them and smelled them. . . What do you mean. . . heard an onion?” “Last night,” said the editor im pressively, “I heard the voice of the onion. . . It woke me up in the middle of the night.” “Gowan!” we said. “The sound came from the kitchen and I thought, at first, that it could be the sound of the drill of a burglar cutting a hole in the hardwood back door to get at the bolt. I got up quietly, without turning on the light. The noise came, not from the door, but from the refrigerator,—a kind of buzzing. The cook sometimes puts the oven roasting-grid behind the refrigerator. It was there, and I removed it, thinking that it might have been vibrating with the refri gerator-motor. The bread-pan was on top of the refrigerator, and I took that down. Still the strange sound continued. I opened the refrigerator door and felt of the loose aluminum shelves set into it. Everything seemed tight, but still the sound continued. I began to worry about whether the motor was shaking itself to pieces. Finally, I pulled open the bin, at the bottom of the refrigerator, and the sound stopped. That bin, hinged at the bottom, is triangular in cross section, and the bottom is only a few inches wide. It was empty except for three small, dry onions. Two, side by side, lay against the front wall of the bin, and the third layhalf between them and was jammed Worthington s Answer To Your Toughest Pumping Problems. PUMPS lanpeller A and Shaft Seal B — the only moving part* CONSTRUCTION equipment The simplest, sturdiest, most efficient Contractor's Pump ever built! Only two moving parts in a Worthington Blue Brute Self-Priming Centrifugal. No parts, jets or valves to clog up. Materials are right — in the right places. Impeller and renewable wear plates are of special abrasive resisting alloy... the dual shaft seal is fully enclosed and self-adjusting . . . the steel alloy casing defies rust, erosion and hard knocks ... the air-cooled engine is easy starting. This Blue Brute Portable has absolutely everything you want for fast, dependable pickup, plenty of reserve power — and economical to operate. WORTHINGTON ENGINES GENERATORS THE EDWARD J. NELL COMPANY EXCLUSIVE PHILIPPINE DISTRIBUTORS Anda cor. Arzobispo & Sta. Lucia, Intramuros, Manila P. O. Box 612 Tel. 3-21-21 COMPRESSORS tight against the back wall. I pulled out that little onion and put it be side the others, closed the bin, and everything was as quiet as you please. The metal bin, widening toward the top, had acted as a resonator, in creasing the power of the voice of the onion...” “Oh,” said we. “But it must be that what you heard was the sound of the vibration of the side of the bin, with the onion jammed up against it acting like the bridge of a violin. You didn’t hear the onion, silly; you only heard the bin.” © 458 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL November, 1953 “All right, all right,” said the litor. “Wouldn’t it be much more teresting to think it the voice of te turtle,—onion, I mean?” “The turtle doesn’t have a voice ther,” said we. “Yeh,” said the editor, “but the irtle-cfove has! I don’t suppose >u would know about that!” “Coo-coo!” we said. •DUMP YOUR TRAVEL WORRIES OVERBOARD! for carefree travel at its best... consult Uy Yet Bldg., Dasmurlnas Manila Tels. 2-69-56—2-69-59—2-69-50 Index to Advertisers Page Allied Brokerage Company........................ 448 American Steamship Agencies.................. 453 Atlantic, Gulf 8s Pacific Company.......... 455 Caltex (Philippines) Inc............................. 441 Columbian Rope Co. of Philippines .... 449 Earnshaws Docks 8sHIW...................... 456 E. E. Elser, Inc............................................. 449 Engineering Equipment 8s Supply Co.. . 442 Erlanger 8s Galinger, Inc............................ 449 Everett Steamship Corporation............... 458 Getz Bros. 8s Company............................... 458 Goodrich International Rubber Co......... 446 Hall, Picornell, Ortigas 8s Company.... 450 Heilbronn Company, J. P.......................... 450 Insular Lumber Company......................... 443 International Harvester Company.......................Inside Back Cover Luzon Stevedoring Company.................... 450 Manila Electric Company.......................... 425 McCullough Printing Company............... 451 Metropolitan Investigative Agency........ 452 Motor Service Company. ........................... 451 National City Bank of New York........... 444 Nell Company, Ed. J................................... 451 Nell Company, Ed. J................................... 457 Neuss, Hesslein Company.......................... 452 Pacific Far East Lines................................. 452 Pacific Merchandising Corp....................... 447 Pasig River Bodegas.................................... 453 Philippine Education Company............... 453 Philippine Manufacturing Co.................... 445 Philippine Tobacco Corp................ Back Cover Sharp 8s Company, C. F............................. 458 Shell Co. of Philippines, Ltd...................... 448 Soriano y Compafiia, A............................... 454 Standard Vacuum Oil Company...................... Inside Front Cover Tide Water 8s Associated Oil Co................ 454 Subscribe to the JOURNAL EVERETT STEAMSHIP CORPORATION Owners-Brokers-Agents Manila 155 Juan Luna St., Tel. 2-79-31 General Agencies AMERICAN MAIL LINE Portland Vancouver Japan Straits To and From Seattle Tacoma Philippines Indonesia PACIFIC TRANSPORT LINES To and From BARBER-FERN-VILLE LINES To U.S. Atlantic \ia Strait., Suez. Mediterranean FERN-VILLE FAR EAST LINES To and From North Atlantic Purls Gulf Ports*Philippines Via Panama MESSAGERIES MARITIMES To and From Europe and Mediterranean Ports EVERETT ORIENT LINE Between K Philippines, Chinu, (Japan EVERETT STAR LINE PHILIPPINE STEAM NAVIGATION CO. Serving the Philippine Islands UNITED STATES SALVAGE ASSOCIATION UNITAS OSLO THAI AIRWAYS To and From Hongkong, Taipeh, Okinawa, and Japan SELL TO THE WORLD THROUGH GETZ! GETZ' provides facilities for classifying your quality products according to world-trade standards. Then GETZ provides maximum world market coverage—through branch offices in principal cities—for your standardized products. As so many others have found—you will discover GETZ will reach richer markets for your products! TO REACH GREATER WORLD MARKETS CIGARS ROPE BUTTONS CARVINGS ETC. Manila * Davao * Cebu GETZ BROS. & CO. «oilo • Baco.od BRANCHES: BANGKOK • BOMBAY • CALCUTTA * COLOMBO * GUAM ♦ HONGKONC » HONOLULU » OSAKA »• KUALA LAMPUR • LONDON * LOS ANGELES * MADRAS • NEW YORK * PENANG » SINGAPORE * TAIPEH * TOKYO » AND AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ♦ 25,200,000,000 Old Gold CIGARETTES WERE SOLD IN 1952 HERE’S PROOF OF OLD GOLD’S popularity everywhere. For the past five years, OLD GOLD has been the fastcst.growlng among the five leading regular-sized cigarettes In the United States. For no other leading cigarette is less irritating or easier on the throat or contains less nicotine than OLD GOLD. No wonder smart people everywhere arc changing to OLD GOLD. per package everywhere in the Philippines. p. Lorillard Company Established 1760, U. S. A.