Mr Marshall found China ‘depressing’

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33532, 13 May 1974, Page 2

Mr Marshall found China ‘depressing’

CN.Z.P.A. Staff Correspondent)

KWANGCHOW, May 9.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Marshall) found considerable industrial and agricultural progress in China, but he was depressed by the “complete regimentation” of China’s 800 million people.

The depressing feature of

China for anyone who believed in the freedom of the individual was the regimentation of the people, Mr Marshall said in an interview at the end of his sixday visit to the People’s Republic. "There is only one mind in China, and that is Chairman Mao Tse-tung. What he thinks today 800 million people think tomorrow,” said Mr Marshall. PROGRESS MADE But the country was making considerable progress industrially and in the production of food. This was very apparent from the wideing display at the Canton (Kwangchow) trade fair, he said. It was also apparent from discussions he had with a large number of Chinese — from Ministers to members of communes — that the standard of living was improving, but the great majority of the people were still little above the subsistence level.

Mr Marshall added that it was nevertheless good to see some improvement in living standards. This improvement was likely to continue. Talking about what he described as the regimentation of the Chinese people, Mr Marshall said that in factories, communes, and along the streets of towns and cities he had seen slogans and longer messages telling the people what they must think. “At the moment this is taking the form of the denigration of Confucius, who, although he lived more than 2000 years ago, is regarded as the pervading influence against the new Communist ideology and the bastion of the old Chinese traditions,” Mr Marshall said. “To an outside observer it seems strange that although the Communist revolution in China has been going for 25 years the-new line has just been formulated in the last few months. It is, however, a demonstration of the central control in China that this campaign is on eight hundred million lips. “CONTROL OF THOUGHT” "The control of thought is accompanied by an equally complete control of personal activities. No-one can leave their job without approval, and this control is further supported by the availability of grain and clothing permits, which can be used only within the area of their commune or local administrative district.” Mr Marshall said this control was also made possible by the fact that everyone had a job, so there was officially no unemployment. “But it is very clear that there is not enough work to keen everyone fullv occupied.” he added. In the commune he visited 24 people

were responsible for milking 400 cows. This was their only job. About four farmers would do this work in New Zealand. Mr Marshall said that in trying to understand China and the Chinese people it had to be borne ip mind that throughout most of their history they had lived under one form of dictatorship or another. PAST SUPPRESSION

Under the emperors and warlords in the past there was a great deal of suppression of personal freedom, and consequently the Chinese people did not nave a tradition of democracy, as New Zealanders had. “It would be wrong to imagine that they feel the restraints on personal liberty in the same way as we would,” he said. “They have security. They have enough to eat, and they have shelter of a kind which is certainly no worse and probably better than they had before. “I believe that the human urge for freedom cannot be permanently suppressed, and that changes will come in the Communist world, as is apparent to some extent already in the U.S.S.R. but I think we must accept that the Communist regime in China is in complete control, and that we will be dealing with them for many years to come. GOODWILL SOUGHT “In these circumstances, although we make it clear that our political and economic position is different from theirs, we shall try to build up friendly relations and create goodwill and cooperation in trading and cultural contacts. “In the limited contacts I was able to make with Ministers, officials, and.traders on this visit, I believe that this attitude is understood and represents a mutually acceptable relationship.” Asked if he had changed his view on the timing of Labour’s recognition of China, Mr Marshall said he stood by the view that the Governments establishment of diplomatic relations was precipitate. "But I have made it clear that we have no intention of putting the clock back,” he added.

Conferences, clinics . Lincoln College over the May holidays will be the scene of seven conferences and clinics — on subjects ranging from a Students Christian Fellowship meeting' to introducing Japan to New Zealand businessmen, a soccer coaching clinic and a family reunion.