LIFE IN CHINA

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25554, 23 July 1948, Page 4

LIFE IN CHINA

EXPERIENCES OF N.Z. PHOTOGRAPHER

WORK WITH FRIENDS’ AMBULANCE UNIT

Three years in. China as a worker with the Friends’ ambulance unit and as a photographer making documentary films for Chinese Industrial Co-opera-tives has given Mr Lindsay Crozier, of Invercargill, an insight into the ways of life of the Chinese people. During the war he worked in Free China and was engaged in hauling medical supplies along the Burma road and in the improvising and maintaining of medical equipment such as X-ray plants. . ~ A great deal of improvisation often had to be used, Mr Crozier said in an interview in Christchurch yesterday. He had been present at one operation where an electric soldering iron had been used as a cauteriser. At the end of the war, he and other workers went to what had been occupied China and helped to reopen mission hospitals on behalf of various missionary societies. “Most of the hospitals had been taken over by the Japanese or had been left desolate,” he said. “They had been stripped of all their equipment. New equipment was given by Red Cross Societies of various countries and also by UNRRA. With the great rebuilding programme in Chma to-day there was a tremendous need for trained personnel, in medical and educational work, Mr Crozier continued, and it was in this that the assistance of CORSO was of such great value. CORSO had a system of “lending” personnel to train Chinese workers ana good work was being done in this way in many parts of China. At one hospital CORSO workers trained Chinese hospital mechanics, laboratory technicians, and physiotherapists. They found them very quick to learn, Mr Crozier added. Gifts of clothing sent by CORSO also had a great effect on the Chinese people, he continued. Some of the clothes were given to the thousands of refugees who had lost everything, and who were pouring into the main cities. Although not much could be given to any individual they l were all very grateful, and found it hard to believe that people in countries overseas were thinking kindly of them.

Breakdown of Feudal System There was a gradual breakdown today from the old feudal system to a more socialist existence, Mr Crozier said. The Communists had originally found it difficult to get the support of the people because of the strength of the family relationship there. They had won the support of the common people by their agrarian reforms which they had “played up.” “If we take an over-all picture of China to-day we can see a very strong trend to Socialism,” said Mr Crozier. “The Communists are forcing the Government. The Nationalists are beginning to realise that the Communists are fighting a winning battle politically. “However, I have not heard of any refugees yet fleeing into Communist China, and there are thousands fleeing from it,” Mr Crozier added. Speaking of the attitude of the Chinese to the British and Americans Mr Crozier said that to the common people all foreigners the same. The. Americans, by supplying much equipment to the Nationalist army, were blamed for prolonging the war. Mr Crozier also described the work of the Chinese Industrial Co-operatives which he said were helping the people themselves to gain more economic freedom from the big combines. RUGBY FOOTBALL AUCKLAND RANFURLY SHIELD CHALLENGE <P A.) AUCKLAND. July 22. A decision to press for a Raniurly Shield match against Otago on August 11," the date left vacant by the withdrawal of the West Coast challenge, was reached at a meeting of the Auckland Rugby Union last evening. The secretary (Mr R. Inglis) was/instructed to communicate with the Otago Union and report to a special meeting of the Auckland Union to-morrow afternoon. TEAMS FOR TO-MORROW SYDENHAM CLUB Games for Saturday, July 24 6st 71b A v. Kaiapoi, at Kaiapoi, at 2.30 p.m. sst 101 b v. Belfast, at Sheldon Park, at 1.15 p.m. Boys from these two teams meet coach at Midland Motors at 12.45 sharp. Advt. RUGBYJLEAGUE SYDNEY TEAM MAY VISIT NEW ZEALAND There Is a good prospect that Western Suburbs, the leading club team in Sydney, may pay a visit to New Zealand, probably In October. A match on the West Coast will be included in the itinerary. The proposal will shortly be considered by the various .provincial centres. The trip, it is understood, would be made by air. , • ASSOCIATION CODE FIXTURES ARRANGED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 22. The council of the New Zealand Football Association to-day decided to play the final of the Chatham Cup at the Basin Reserve on August 21, and an extra test against the Australians at the Basin Reserve on September 4. These dates were available as the result of negotiations with the Wellington Association.

On July 31 a New Zealand team will play New Zealand Air Force at the Basin Reserve. The following New Zealand team has been chosen by Mr T. Dick:— King (Auckland); Hodgson and Gilbert (Auckland); McKissock (Wellington), Gordon (Canterbury), and Hutchinson (Auckland); Sharpe (Wellington), Sargent (Wellington), G. Smith (Canterbury), Kidd (Wanganui), R. Smith (Canterbury). Emergencies: Boyes and Bell (Wellington).

SOUTH CANTERBURY TEAM TO PLAY CANTERBURY

Only five members of the South Canterbury Association football team that played Southland in the Dawson Cup series have been included in the team announced by the selectors (Messrs A. Trotter. R. Houston, and G. Weston) yesterday for the match against Canterbury at Timaru on July 31. The team is: goalkeeper, H. Woodall; right back. M. Blazey; left back and captain, P. White; right half. I. Blazey; cen-tre-half, K. Baker; left half, A. McDonald: outside right, H. Fleetwood; inside right. A. Trotter: centre forward, A. Howie; inside left. T. Reid; outside left, J. Lyon; reserves, R. Jager and A. McCarthy.