CHINESE SLAVE GIRLS.

Shannon News, 18 January 1924, Page 4

CHINESE SLAVE GIRLS.

SOLD BY THE POUND.

" One little Chinese girl of five was just recently sold at so much at lb. She was weighed on the scales and the cost was worked out." This statement was made recently by Miss L. R. Page, who has returned to Sydney from China. She is the only Australian in an enthusiastic little band of woman in Shanghai saving Chinese girls from slavery and worse. It is called the Door of Hope. It is not bound to any church or social society but it is helped by most of them; and this is what it has done; It has rescued 4000 Chinese girls from a ruinous life, has trained them and taught them Christianity in a picturesque lit. tie home, just out of Shanghai; and has finally married them to good Chinese citizens.

" Though I'll be glad to be among all my friends, I'll be even more pleased about next November, when I'll be going back to China for another six years, »* said Miss Page. " It's work that you cannot help liking. It's worth while."

The trade in §/rls in China, she said, was amazing". Every day, fine, wellreared girls were being sold by their parents. Tfcere were many reasons, Sometimes it was to pay off debts, sometimes, in a famine, to buy food, so that at least some of the family might live. They were sold often for a few shillings. A few attractive girls were sometimes worth £SO or more to their parents.

■'* Oh, it's a terrible business. They are bought and sold, just'like cattle; and fromelimes, when they are very young—wee girls of five. Only just recently there was a good deal of bartering over a five-year-old child and finally it was agreed that she should be sold by the pound. She was put on the scales and the cost was worked out" "No foreigner is ciults safe travelling in China now,'' Miss Page said. "You never know when you.' cnair bearers are go-i? to take you tf> bandit headquarters for ransom."