AWAKENING OF CHINA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9067, 16 April 1908, Page 5

AWAKENING OF CHINA.

BOYCOTT OF THE JAPANESE. Received April 15, 9.40 a.m. SYDNEY, April 15. Thu Grand Master of the Chinese Masonic Lodge in Australia states that the boycott against Japan is to continue. He claims that Australians benefit largely from the Chinese commercial awakening. A proposal, which has been consolidated by the boycott, was initiated last November, the moving spirit being Mr U. Kingman, of Shanghai, a Cantonese merchant of high repute, who has received an excellent European education and training. Mr Kingman did not originate the idea with any intention to boycott, but for the purpose ■of bringing into existence a purely Chinese shipping company. The Sydney branch of the Chinese Empire Reform Association has received full details from Mr Kingman, with a request that the Chinese in the Commonwealth should consider the proposals, and, if required, take shares. The particulars possess the endorsements of the Chinese Minister at Pekin, administering the Board of Trade, the presidents of the Chinese Chambers of Commerce at Shanghai, Canton, Honkgong, Singapore, and Manila, and are in the following terms:—Last November Mr Kingham visited Pekin for the purpose of laying before the Minister controlling the Board of Trade three proposals, viz., the formation of a shipping company, a banking company, and -an insurance company, which should be controlled, and the capital required subscribed, wholly by Chinese. The Minister fell in with the idea, but suggested that one thing at a time should be undertaken. It was, therefore, decided that as the shipping interests was the most important, that should be the first company to be floated. Then the boycott was decided on, and the construction of vessels is to be accelerated. The boycott will be world-wide, and is fraught with greal possibilities, and whatever attitude Japan may take up In the matter, it is absolutely certain that, so far as the Chinese are concerned, they intend to see the thing through.