ATTRACTIONS OF LIFE IN CHINA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 156, 3 July 1937, Page 16

ATTRACTIONS OF LIFE IN CHINA.

Rickshaw Coolies Trained in Schools. An interesting talk on China was given yesterday afternoon by Mrs. F. P. Bartley, who lived in Shanghai for 20 years. Shanghai, she said, was ten miles square and had a population of 1,250,000. The streets were crowded day and night with rickshaws, trams, buses and cars. The rickshaw coolies were trained in the traffic schools and the rickshaws were a great convenience. In wet weather, a waterproof curtain was let down and one could travel from door to door without getting wet. Little boats called sampans popped along like corks crossing the river. Sedan chairs with a curtain in front for privacy carried the mandarins. At the Chinese New Year fiant crackers sounding like bombs were let off. The celebrations lasted a fortnight. When in Peking Mrs. Bartley went to see the Great Wall of China. This was built in 204 8.C., and, she said, was 1000 miles long and 20ft high. Six horses could be riden abreast on the parapet. The Great Wall was built of materials on the spot. It was decaying in parts, but otherwise was just as it was built. Calculating frames were used in the shops for doing tht calculations on and these were used even in the banks. "The Chinese servants," said the speaker, "are remarkably efficient. Their everyday cooking and service are as good as any met with, in a hotel or boat." In the absence of the president, Mrs. Carr Rollett, Mrs. C. D. McLean, vice-president, presided and thanked the speaker for her address. Earlier in the afternoon a discussion on "Our Hospitals and Nurses" was >eld,

those taking part being Mrs. Amy Mil•burn. Miss Nell Martin and Miss E. Melville. Smaller hospitals were advocated, and it was considered that when the nurses had colds or were "run down" they should not work in infectious wards. The right type of "heads" should be chosen and then should be trusted.