OLD AND NEW CHINA.

Wairarapa Age, 4 March 1927, Page 4

OLD AND NEW CHINA.

ADDRESS BY MB. J. B. STRONG. THE NATIONALIST PARTY. An interesting address on the ancient and modern history of China was delivered at the Wairarapa High School yesterday by Mr. J. B. Strong, of Auckland University College, who has just returned from a stay of a year or two in the “Flowery Kingdom.” After touching upon earlier developments, Mr. Strong gave some account of the rise into power and prominence, under the guidance of the late Dr. Sun Yat Sen, of the Chinese Nationalists, whose activities in the region around Shanghai are now in many countries a subject of anxious concern. The Nationalist Party, Mr. Strong stated, was to-day the only party in China with ideas above its own pocket. The people of South China were solidly behind it. The old idea of a Chinese political party, the lecturer added, was to stay in office, get hold of as much money as possible, and then get out quietly. The contest between North and South China was now interesting people throughout the world and would have far-reaching results, especially in the Pacific. On account of her vast mineral wealth and other resources, China would rank ultimately as one of the most important Powers in the world. Her coal fields were the largest in the world; one of them was as large as the whole of Great Britain. She had in addition big deposits of oil, and immense agricultural areas offering great scope for development. It was impossible for any foreigner to visualise the enermous wealth—mineral and otherwise—that was the heritage of the Chinese. When the mineral wealth of ether nations camo to an end, that of China would be practically untouched. Jn further passages of his address, Mr Strong interestingly described many features of Chinese life. He had a most attentive hearing throughout, and on concluding was asked and answered a nuiiber of questions.