FACTORIES & SCHOOLS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 April 1942, Page 3

FACTORIES & SCHOOLS

NATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION IN CHINA TREMENDOUS EXTENSION OF COMMUNICATIONS. DR. WELLINGTON KOO’S SURVEY. (British Official Wireless.) . RUGBY, April 12. Details of progress by the Chinese in national reconstruction behind the fighting front were given by Dr. Wellington Koo (Ambassador to Britain) in London. After the Chinese Government moved to Chungking, said Dr. Koo, an extensive programme of developing communications in western China was at once put into execution, and within two years 6000 post offices and some 30,000 miles of telegraph lines were established. The telephone service was also tremendously expanded.

More than 700 miles of railway had already been opened and more than 3000 miles of motor roads completed, with another 3000 miles under construction. Manufacturing metallurgical and power plants had been built in different areas,

A decentralisation policy was being adopted in view of the enemy’s indiscriminate bombing and different kinds of industries were now scattered widely in 15 main areas, with due consideration of easy access to markets and sources of supply, fuel, labour and raw materials.

Nor had education been forgotten. The Chinese Government had adopted a policy of encouraging students by extending them every aid and facilities for learning. At the end of the first two years of China’s resistance, 46,000,000 people had been taught to read.