Young Chinese Engineers On Unusual Mission

Chronicle (Levin), 8 February 1949, Page 5

Young Chinese Engineers On Unusual Mission

WELLINGTON, Feb. 8. Five young Chinese Uni.versity students in engineering reached Wellington today by the Monowai from Sydney on the last stage of an unusual mission from Fukien Province of China. They will gain experience in New Zealand in modern mechanicai means of construction, heavy machinery and hydro-electric Vorks, designed to help them later in the reconstruction of devastated China. They were met on arrival by the Chinese Consul-General, Mr. Wang, and Mr. J. E. V. Grace, resident civil engineer of the New Zealand Railways, the latter being responsible for their mission. In 1946-47, when Mr. Grace was in China with U.N.R.R.A., he conceived the idea of bringing some young Chinese engineers to New Zealand to gain experience and accordingly, on his return, made representations to the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser. Mr. Grace sai'd! that the Prime Minister got in 1 touch with the Chinese Nationai j Government and the Governor ofFukien Province, in which Mr. Grace had been working, and suggested that about six academically equipped men be selected, and that if the Chinese Government paid their passages the New Zealand Government would put them on its payroll during their service in the Dominion. Mr. Grace said that the men for their part were bound to work for five years for the Chinese Government on their return. They would be in New Zealand for between one and two years.