AN ERA OF EMPIRE

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 34, 4 November 1942, Page 3

AN ERA OF EMPIRE

Singapore Discussed By E.S.U. Guest A missionary’s life is a busy one, but it has its compensations, according to Mrs. L. J. Donaldson, who has had 28 years’ experience of tho work in the East. Mrs. Donaldson is also a former resident of Singapore, and in the course ot an address given 'by her at the English Speaking Union in Wellington recently, the tragedy of the island city, with its teeming population ot Chinese, Indians, whites, and leisurely Malayans, was depicted in sharp contrast to the type of life enjoyed hy those who lived there before the Japanese moved

“Singapore itself was a lovely place and always had a peculiar charm for me,” said Mrs. Donaldson when describing its odd mixture of oriental ami occidental influences. Kickshaws, bicycles, bullockwagons and motor-cars shared the streets and dozens of languages were spoken. When she first arrived there a knowledge of Chinese was indispensable. Mrs. Donaldson gave examples of idiom and explained some ot the confusing tonal distinctions of the Chinese tongue.

Though this was no time for comment, concluded Mrs. Donaldson, there should have been more religious stability in Singapore and Malaya generally. ‘.'One has viewed the life there, and in some ways one has been ashamed,” she said, adding that the native looked, to the European as a pattern, and if we knew what it was to live to the betterment of an Empire, we would seek, by strong discipline and courage to built it up instead of pull it down.

Mrs. E. D. Good, chairman, welcomed a group of visitors from other cities, both in the Dominion and overseas. Mrs. Chapman, who sang, and Mrs. Wilson, her accompanist, were thanked for contributing items and presented with lapel posies, and tea was served bv lhe committee