BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S ROUND TABLE CLUB

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21320, 13 November 1934, Page 3

BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S ROUND TABLE CLUB

j The usual monthly luncheon of the Business and Professional Women's Round Table Club was held at Ballantynes tearooms yesterday. Miss Ellen Jones, the president, presided, and the speaker on this occasion was Miss Nessie Moncrieff, M.A., secretary to the Young Women's Christian Association in China.

Miss Moncrieff said many reports were heard to-day of banditry, civil war, and general chaos in China, and it would appear that the country was on the verge of a sudden upheaval. The present conditions in China, she said, were due to a large extent to the fact that the West had forced its way into China at the end of last century. China had 4000 or 5000 years' history behind it and did not want any outsiders. Miss Moncrieff mentioned effects of the Western influence in the customs of the people and illustrated one point by a photograph showing two modern Chinese girls with the latest style in shoes and close-fitting gowns in place of the voluminous robes which were formerly worn. On the more serious side she emphasised the desire for learning in the modern Chinese women, and said that those students who had been away from their country, went back eager to impart their knowledge and new ideas to their fellow women.

It had been part of China's internal policy to keep education running along classical lines and to withhold education from the masses. It was no surprising event to have a father and son doing the same examination at the same time through the old stereotyped form of education. After the Boxei rebellion in 1900 the old system had been wiped out and a new system was set up based on American methods. This was not a good thing for China, who had to work out her own methods. Chiang Kai-shek, the speaker said, was trying to reintroduce the old virtues of Confucius, because he felt that only those virtues were going to form a sound basis for the future, and until China came back to a recognition of her old traditions she was not going to get anywhere.

Miss Moncrieff said that about 25 per cent, of the Chinese population were farmers, and amongst them there was a desire to join the army, as a result of poverty and insufficient food in their homes. In the past there had been the War Lords who had had to submit to the Government, and the troops had been dismissed with nowhere to go, and thus they started kidnapping, not from viciousness, but simply because they had to have food —and a livelihood. Miss Moncrieff remarked on the improvement in motor roads throughout China, there now being 4000 miles, as compared with 100 miles 15 years ago. Also better railway lines and services, and exceptionally good bus services. In China women were coming into prominence more and more, especially in Shanghai. Miss Moncrieff related instances of the success of professional women there. Under the new laws women had equal status so far as marriage and divorce laws were concerned. The old system of concubines had now been ruled out, and only the children of the first wifej inherited the property of the father, j The Young Women's Christian Association, she said, was doing interesting work with the women in China, especially in getting the new laws understood amongst women in all parts of the country. The association was the o'nly national women's association there, and its members all appreciated the link with the rest of the associations throughout the country. Miss Moncrieff said some persons thought the association was a church, some a hostel, and some thought it was a grand party from Monday to Saturday. Chinese women were feeling very much that if was their organisation, through which they could make contact with women throughout the community, find out the problems of the industrial girl, and see about awards. There were millions of rural girls in China. The association got in touch with old conservative China—the people who play Mah jong, and also in touch with professional women and women in their homes. All the people coming back to their country were keen to impress upon their countrywomen the need for advancement. At the end of her address Miss Moncrieff was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, on the motion of Miss Bernice Shackleton. • • - • * '