PRESENT-DAY CHINA

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1932, Page 7

PRESENT-DAY CHINA

OLD ORDER DISAPPEARING

PROGRESS OF WESTERNISATION

SYDNEY, December 1

The Westernisation of China was referred to by Mr R. W. K. Chen, overseas director of China Associates’ Corporation, Limited, Hongkong, who returned to Australia this weok., -

Mr Chen said motor-transport in China had made, tremendaus progress, and there had been great/ development in national reconstruction due to the work of the Minister of Industry’ Mr Chen Kung Po. Huge steel works were, being constructed, factories and hour mills were be.ng built everywhere, and rural banks Lad been widely; established to assist industry. There was dawning ,n China an era of Westernisation. Old-world China, was disappearing v-hI was being replaced by modern buildings. A matter which hurt China most today wa / the tremendous, difference' between imports and exports from and to Australia. In the first half of 1932 China had an adverse trade balance w .tii Australia. China could not go On indefinitely like that, and foreign nations with whom she had business must respect her. During the period mentioned China bought from Australia £1,367,000 worth of goods, while Australia bought in return £25,000 only. That meant that out of the whole pool of trading between Australian and China, China purchased 98 per cent and Australia only 2 par cent of the goods. .

Mr Chen was in the East four months, and will work in Australia to create reciprocity between the two countries.