INFLATION IN CHINA

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 24, 14 November 1944, Page 6

INFLATION IN CHINA

LIVING COSTS ARE HIGH IMPRESSIONS OF MISSIONARY "Extremely high prices ranging Irom a pound of lard at 25s to £6 for a yard of plain cotton material were some of the exhorbitant prices asked for in shops in the Chinese city of Kweilin," said Miiss B. Tobin, of the New Zealand Missionary Society who lifts just returned to New Zealand on furlough, and is staying at, Puru. Miss Tobin has lived in China since 1923 and since 1928 -her head- •? quarters have been in Rweilm. Further examples of high prices were given by Miss Tobin, such as rice, which is the main food, at 7s (id U lb, beef 2(js> a lb, pork 25s a lb, and a 451b bag of Hour at £16. The price of an ordinary novel was fi'2. and a Russian-Chinese dictionary was priced at £7. Tinned foods such as miik_ fruit and fisli are obtainable, but arc almost impossible to J)uy because, of the liigli cost.. Kweilin has a population of about ■10(1 000, and has suffered considerably from many Japanese bombings, but it is fortunate enough to have limestone eaves, which make, excellent' air raid shelters, and some of the cfives will accommodate 2000 people. News From New Zealand "In Kweilin there are quite a number of said Miss Tobin. "Of they are printed ; in Chinese.'' Several times, Miss Tobin had read in these, ncwspapeis of events in New Zealand; for instance, when the Labour Party was elected to power, the earthquakes in Wellington, and various remarks of the Prime, Minister. In the last two years a British Press attache has been in the city, and a small pamphlet in English is now available. Miss Tobin had rather a surprise several years ago when she met a New Zcalander from Te Mala, Thames Coast, in Kweilin. "China is going ahead, especially in education, for at present a scheme is on foot "whereby universal education can be obtained, she said. Status of Women Since her 21 years in China, Miiss Tobin has. seen a great change in the wonieill'oik. For instance, once a Chinese lady of status would never think of working, not even in the garden but today women arc working in many spheres of life. In the city there, arc factories where they learn to spin cotton how to make shoes, and work in shops, banks and offices, and there are also women doctors and even a woman architect. Many young women arc also studying accountancy and theie. are many openings- in this work.

"The war has done much to bring the Chinese together/' said Miss Tobin. When she arrived there in ] ( )2:* quite a number of Chinese, on seeing her, had asked: "Is 'here, more than one country?" Today the Chinese know that we are not unknown strangers but their allies. In the schools there is a great demand to be taught English.