KIDNAPPING GANGS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 311, 17 December 1936, Page 4 (Supplement)

KIDNAPPING GANGS.

POPULAR “ INDUSTRY ” OF NORTH CHINA. POLICE POWERLESS TO INTERFERE Although the profits on each victim are small, kidnapping has become a flourishing business in North China states the British United Press. Twenty cents (about 3d) is the average which a “ kidnap broker" pays for a child, although some have brought as little as a penny. Most of the kidnappers, however, are paid with packets of heroin and receive no cash. The “ racket ” is organised by Japanese, Koreans, and Chinese hirelings, and operations are carried out in the Tientsin, Pekin, and East Hopei autonomous districts. The ‘‘ brokers ” give the actual kidnappers drugs and then collect what they can from the parents of the stolen child. The ransom ranges generally from a couple of shillings to several pounds but now and then there is a richer haul. Police are powerless to break up the system, because the “brokers’’ claim the protection of the Japanese lag, just as do the smugglers who operate from Manchuria so openly. They are well armed and ready to fight any police who get in their way. If a Japanese kidnapping organiser gets shot, the Chinese are required to pay indemnity, and make formal apolodes, as though he were a respectable Japanese citizen. The Japanese Concession in Tientin continues to be the centre of the narcotics traffic in North China. The Municipal Government recently tried to open licensed drug dlspensaries for the sale of narcotics to registered addicts, but the plan failed because they could not compete with the prices in the Japanese Concession. A Chinese woman doctor, who was educated in the United Stales, ra•ently estimated that there were 800,10(1 heroin addicts In Tientsin alon?.

Sportsmen ail over the country were agog with excitement. “Battling” Baker, famous Canadian boxer, was to make his initial appearance in the New Zealand ring in a 15rounds contest witli Johnny Steel, a young but brilliantly promising middleweight, ,\vho had been climbing the local ladder of pugilistic fame in meteoric fashion. To many judges, it was not a good match. Steel, strong lighter though he had proved io be, was not in the class of this seasoned veteran from overseas. But the local association wanted Jo give Baker an easy first match, and to give Steel a chance of gaining more experience. In one sense, the match was a tribute to Steel. Boxing enthusiasts who could not attend sat eagerly by’ their radios that night. They were as keenly excited as the big crowd of spectators when preparations were being made for the entry of the two principals. Every listener was tense with excitemenit as the radio commentator prepared his audience for the contest. . Steel is in. the ring now, looking very fit, but very anxious . . . and here comes Baker, rugged and ’ hard . . . no nerves . . . no anxiety for- him . . . the announcer calls both men out . . . Steel .scales list 51bs, Baker makes list lOlbs . . . and here comes the referee . . . It’s 'seconds out” now, and “There goes the gong for the first round . . . Baker comes out quickly to lead a succession of lefts 'to Steel’s face . . . Steel backs away . . . such speed of attack is new to him . . . but Baker does not let up . . . in he