Taiwan Today

The Taiwan Salt Works has become a Government-operated enterprise since its reorganization from the China Salt Industry Corporation in April, 1951, and is the sale producer of salt in Taiwan. Owing to the limitations of the natural environment, the development of the salt industry is not an easy task. The frequent rainfall and occasional typhoons makes the island unsuitable for salt production. Furthermore, the high production costs and the, lack of good harbor loading facilities adds to the difficulty of exporting salt. As a result of the heavy losses sustained both in domestic and export sales due to the failure to adjust, ex-field price according to actual cost and the unfavorable world market, the Works is now in a very precarious financial condition. In spite of various difficulties, worthy achievements have been made during the past year toward the following four objectives set forth by the Executive Yuan:-

1. Increase of production,

2. Improvement of quality,

3. Reduction of cost, and

4. Promotion of the sale laborers' welfare.

Increase of Salt Production

The average annual output of salt in Taiwan for the past ten years (1941-1951) is 249,249 metric tons. Consequent upon the completion of extensive repair work in the salt fields coupled with the incentive of increased wages and bonuses for the laborers, the production for 1952 was raised to 311,714 metric tons, showing an increase of 56,714 tons, or 22% over the contemplated figure of 255,000 tons and an increase of 36,948 tons or 14% over the production of 274,766 tons in the preceding year. If the salt fields had not been repeatedly damaged by typhoons of unusual intensity in October, and had it not been for the cold wave early in December, the 1952 production would have reached a higher figure.

Improvement of Quality

During the Japanese occupation, the standard of quality was so fixed that first-grade salt contained 86% of sodium chloride and above, and second-grade salt contained 78% of sodium chloride and above. Upon the retrocession of Taiwan to China, the standard was raised to 90% and above for first-grade salt and 85% and above for second-grade salt. In 1952, the standard was again raised to 91% and above for first grade salt, and 86% and above for second-grade salt. Strenuous efforts were made to improve the method of production and the quality of the salt. Consequently, the records show that about 14% of the total output belonged to the first grade at the time of production when there was still a large con­ tent of water which would gradually evaporate. In the case of salt for export to Japan the standard of quality was raised from 88% of sodium chloride to 89-90% for the first contract of 70,000 tons and was further raised to 90­-91% for the second contract of 100,000 tons. The quality of salt contracted for Malaya was fixed as high as 92-94% of sodium chloride, the highest record, in the history of salt export from Taiwan.

Reduction of Cost

One of the preliminary measures taken in 1952 for the reduction of cost was to increase the unit area production, whereby production costs would be reduced by spreading the constant overhead costs. Another measure for the same purpose was to improve the loading facilities for the harbors near the salt works, namely Putai and Mashakow, so that salt could hoe exported directly from these harbors without having to be shipped to Kaohsiung, thus curtailing transportation costs to a great extent. Thanks to the Mutual Security Agency, a loan of NT$6,500,000 was obtained for the improvement of the Putai Harbor, which was commenced in November last.

Promotion of the Salt Laborers' Welfare

The wages for contracted laborers were increased from NT$22.20 to NT$36.20 for each metric ton of salt produced. Besides the wages, a bonus was granted in proportion to the quantity produced in excess of the prescribed amount. Hence the income of contracted laborers depends on the amount of production. The statistics for 1952 shows that the average monthly in­ come for each family of the contracted laborers for that year amounted to NT$412.60, an increase of NT$186.28 or 82% as compared with that of the preceding year. In addition to monetary remuneration, great improvements were also effected in the welfare of the laborers, such as the supply of fresh water, con­struction and repair of laborers' quarters, betterment of sanitary installations, enlargement of laborers' dispensaries, establishment of primary schools, and continuance of labor insurance covering injury, birth, death, old age, etc. Funds devoted to the improvement of the laborers' welfare in 1952 totalled some NT$3,200,000.

Future Objective

While it is deemed inadvisable to increase salt production in Taiwan in view of the natural and market conditions, it is also in­disputable that the salt industry should be maintained, not only because the salt laborers have to be provided for and that a large amount of foreign exchange could be obtained through the export of salt, but also because there will be need for salt from Taiwan during the early stages of our counter-attack on the mainland, when the salt works there may not be ready for production. As the annual domestic consumption of salt for all purposes, including alimentary, fishery and industrial, amounts to only about 80,000 metric tons, 75% of the annual output must be exported. In order to maintain the Taiwan salt industry, the future objective should be directed to the stimulation of foreign demand through the production of salt of a sufficiently high quality at a reasonable price. To improve the quality of salt, continuous effort will have to be made. To lower the price of salt to a level acceptable to the world market, the improvement of the Putai and Mashakow harbors is imperative. It is hoped that in addition to the loan of NT$6,500,000 already granted, a sum which has been found to be insufficient even for the completion of the Putai Harbor project, a further and bigger loan will be given by the Mutual Security Agency for the improvement of the Mashakow Harbor.

Parable of the Donkey

There were no donkeys in Chien and some curious men brought one in there by boat. As it was found to be of no use, it was simply left grazing along the mountainside. A tiger came and was very much taken aback at the sight of its bulkiness. Taking shelter behind some trees, the tiger cast sidelong looks at it, thinking it might be something divine. Then the tiger ventured to come forth, nearing it only with great caution. One day the donkey brayed and the tiger was greatly frightened, under the apprehension that it might be devoured. Before long the tiger discovered that there was not much to be feared about the donkey, and it soon got used to its braying. But still, with some hidden fear, the tiger dared not spring at its prey. However it came nearer and nearer to the donkey, tempting it with some provocative pranks. Roused, the donkey began to kick about. The tiger was thus very much gladdened, saying to itself, "Such only is what you are capable of!" And thereby, with one spring, it preyed upon the poor beast and gnawed at its neck. Not until it had finished eating all of the donkey's flesh did it go away complacently.

—From The Works of Liu Tsung-yuan.