IMPRESSIONS OF CHINA

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27985, 4 June 1956, Page 16

IMPRESSIONS OF CHINA

“ Plenty 7 Of Internal Problems ”

COMMUNISM SAID TO BE FIRMLY ENTRENCHED

(New Zealand Press Association) • AUCKLAND, June 3.

, China seemed to have plenty of internal problems and was not likely to present any challenge to the rest of the world, said Dr. W. R. Geddes, lecturer in anthropology at Auckland University College, on his return from a visit to China.

Although he did not like a totalitarian regime, he found that the Communists had done much for the Chinese people, he said. The peasants could see these gains—and they saw production rising. For this reason communism was more firmly implanted than ever in that country. New planting methods, wider use of fertilisers, and the introduction of machinery were having a big effect on rice growing, said Dr. Geddes. Villages were being organised and helped from central agencies. Rigid discipline was giving place to persuasion and indoctrination, he said. This indoctrination was particularly noticeable in the schools.

One surprising feature, he said, wa* the way the Chinese were getting into their stride in running all their own affairs. Foreign advisers were not wanted, and a soirit of independence was abroad. Many of the changes had, however, been “helped along” bv foreigners. Dr. Geddes met Mr Chou En-lai and other leaders, and was pleased to find they had a keen awareness of whal was going on in other countries.

The Communists in China welcomed criticism, said Dr. Geddes, but only within the framework of their philosophy. He found it was not possible to criticise where fundamentals were concerned.