FAMINE IN CHINA

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 59, 3 December 1920, Page 7

FAMINE IN CHINA

An account of t'lio extent of the famine in Chinix is contained in a letter received by Mr Bamucl Falls, of Auckland, from his brother, who has been a missionary in China for twenty-four years. 3fv folia writes-.-The famine in the provinces of Chi-li, Shantung and North Honan is very terrible. Over large tracts of counHvy tho people have had. no harvest for n. whole year-people who always live from hniHl-to-mouth. l.ven. the seed grain has hud to be eaten, and now that these splendid rams have come and autumn wheat can be planted, itucy have no seed-to plant It must be very terrible to have to face actual starvation along with wife and children, and 10 try and save the lives of the children! many parents are selling them for a mere mtlance-two or three dollars. This anafn opens (lie way for unscrupulous dealers to trnffic in children.. Just think, it will bo eight mouths at- least, even in Honan, before tho wheat that is now being sown cap bo reaped! I lie. reports are that 40 millions are involved, but at a moderate es'imate some 20 millions have no food, anil will need relict fight away, for many hftvo alcady mod, mid thousands have had to leave their homes and oinigrate, under the hardest conditions, to adjacent provinces. to give a moderate measure of relief .b an the hungry it is estimated will take two hundred million dollars, but a emu like that is not easily raised in a hurry All •the officials in Shansi are assessing themselves and our Governor atone has given 36,000 dollars. Peking is making a big effort and tdio whole foreign community in tho'. ports is organising and giving liberally. ' Vorv extensive relief works are lieiiig organised to provide work for the men.