A Galvanized China.”

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1922, Page 4

A Galvanized China.”

STOR Y OF WONDERFUL

PROGRESS.

DUNEDIN, August 7. Taking everything into consideration -her former exclusiveness, conservatism fatalism, and general nloofnessthe astonishing change that as c over China within the short period of twenty years makes one'of the mos wonderful stories of our times, 01 anytime. One can best real, se th« change, of course, by visiting the vast empire of the East after a long ab-

Se Tho Rev. A. Don, well known in . New Zealand; has had this opportunity. , Ho visited China forty years ago ana ( again twenty-four years ago, ant on ( each of these occasions China was the China of the ages, the land of 'the . heathen Chinee.” Mr Don’s third | visit was made this year; indeed, he ( is only just, returned from it, and ho | brings news and paints a picture of" an absolutely new China—a galvanised China, with street cars and- department | stores! wiitli factories and railways, with women’s rights and freedom of speech, with post office and daily newspapers. In an interview with a “Star icporter, Mr Don said Unit Canton holds 1.600.000 people, and Shanghai 1,500,000, but these figures ure not disproportionate in view of the huge population of the whole- of China. The eorollerv of all this, Mr Don points out, is that three-quarters of the people of China depend directly upon agriculture for a living. Tin's will explain why famine so often strikes the land when drought or floods come along. The people having nothing but their farms to depend upon, are rendered destitute, but now changes have begun or are ending. The great industrial operations which are just beginning which arc bound to increase rapidly and enormously, will result in concentration of popuation in districts where factories arc situated thus bringing about a revolution in the habits of life of the villagers. One big com-

pany is being formed with the* object of acquiring a million acres of land iu various parts of China. This will be utilised for the growing, testing, spilinin''', and weaving of cotton. The “big change” ill Chinn. it seems dates from the Boxer movement in 190(1. so that it is quite recent. The effects have already been so marked, however, that there is nothing in history to compare with it. The change is as yet most marked in the maritime provinces, the people of the interior being slower to shake off the dust of ages. “When tile Boxer movement occurred.” said Mr Don. “the whole world began to look at China, with the result that China hc- ' gnu to look at herself, and see the need for reforms.” One result of .this focussing of the world's attention was a Hocking of missionaries now working in that field, half have gone there witliin the past ten years. Then there is the change of attitude on the part of the - Chinese towards csablisliod in. stltations. The Government, they used to think, could do no wrong. Now they are recognising, its fallibility. Change of attitude, 100, is disecrnnble towards foreigners, who were formerly treated with contempt and worse, wlnle change of attillire towards civiliMtion generally is indicated by such great develojsineiits as are noticeable in the means of travel and education. Tiio increase in the means of communication lias been largely responsible for bring-

ing about those reforms. Twenty years ago there were hut a few miles of railways; now there are 6000 miles—not a great deal for such an enormous eouiitiy, nut an The lease sufficient to show the trend of thought. Twenty years ago, too. there were no post offices (except a few private ones); now there are 10,000. Thirty years ago tiler© were practically no newspapers; now there it.rell.Vj, nearly all dailies, 57 of them being Christian newspapers. Another big factor in the awakening of China is the annual distribution of six and a half million Bibles or portions of Scripture. All this change of attitude h.-is resulted in movements tending to throw off old prejudices, to- loosen old bonds. There was the nnti-Dynastie

movement ,tbe anti-opium movement, the aivti-foot-liinding movement (vqry lew young women are seen now with hound feet); and the anti-Japanese movement. “And,” added Mr Don.

1 ‘tliwn* is :\ distinctly anti-British movement just now, tfic Chinese being of the opinion thnt Britain did not deni fairly with them in recent compacts.” A'stranger is in vnrinld.v ashed what (onntry lie is from. If his answer reveals him ns a Britisher, the conversation usually stops, while if he is an American, the Chinese interrogation pursues bis enquiries with interest. Then again, there is the in-

tellectual movements to unify the spoken language. A very large number of returned students who have been more, or less educated in America, Great Britain, and .Japan are now scattered over the maritime provinces, and their influences are strong in the matter of Government affairs, and in institutions such as the normal schools, colleges, and medical seliools. In conclusion. Air Bon said that

New Zealand ought to get into direct shipments as otfr goods have to he transhipped from Melbourne or Sydney. An enormous trade is possible with China. They could, take wool from us. and give us cotton, for instance. At any rate, we should m>ve a Trade Commissioner in Shanghai the same as Australia has.