CONDITIONS IN CHINA

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 887, 3 February 1930, Page 9

CONDITIONS IN CHINA

“ARMY” ADJUTANT’S STORY BANDITS AND FAMINE From Our IZcsident Reporter WELLINGTON, Today. The tragic results of misgovernment in China are described by Adjutant Sowton, of the Salvation Army, who, with Mrs. Sowton, has been doing missionary work in the country and who is now visiting New Zealand. He is a son of Commissioner Sowton, and his wife is a New Zealander, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Carmichael. Thousands of Chinese soldiers, says the adjutant, are living on the country and on the people. In addition to the abnormal taxation, famine, floods and locust plagues have reduced the country to destruction and because of the scarcity of ready money and the general insecurity there are huge numbers of unemployed. Banditry has increased enormously until kidnapping and ransom have become common, while companies of bandits, sometimes 3,000 strong, loot towns and cities, burning them afterward if they have met with resistance. Life is cheap, and the cost of living is more than doubled and is still rising. "In spite of the chaotic conditions of affairs," said the adjutant, “the Salvation Army is struggling to carry on its work, and is slowly gaining ground, whereas formerly, a strong national prejudice militated against persons joining an organisation with foreign connection. The Army halls are now crowded with people, and open-air meetings call forth respect and attention.”