‘A legend in his own lifetime’

Press, 28 December 1987, Page 7

‘A legend in his own lifetime’

PA Wellington Rewi Alley was a man of whom New Zealanders could be proud, said the Prime Minister, Mr Lange. Rewi Alley, a legend in his own lifetime, devoted his many talents to the development of China and the lot of its people, he said. Since his almostaccidental arrival in Shanghai in 1927, Rewi Alley never wavered in his will to share with the Chinese people their experience in transforming and modernising their ancient land.

“His participation was never less than total; his was the moving force behind the Gung Ho cooperative movement which helped provide supplies desperately needed by war-torn China,” Mr Lange said. “It was Rewi Alley, too, who foresaw the need for technical training in China’s vast rural hinter-

lands.” He was instrumental in establishing the Bailie School at Shandan in Gansu Province, a project which he continued to support throughout his life. Even in his last years, when he could no longer undertake the long journey to Gansu to visit the school himself, his commitment to its rebuilding remained unwavering. “There were times when his commitment to China put him in opposition to many of his countrymen in New Zealand,” Mr Lange said. “There were other times, notably during the Cultural Revolution, when he and his own adopted family, and many of his friends suffered with China. “Alley never opted out. He did not leave China when things became difficult; he never compromised his views because they were unpopular

either in China or at home.” Many outsiders were fascinated by China. But only a handful committed their whole lives to the country and its people. Rewi Alley was one of those few, and the only New Zealander among them. Rewi Alley won the affection and admiration of the Chinese people and the respect of many in other countries throughout the world, Mr Lange said. His many and varied writings helped interpret Chinese literature and history to the outside world. The warmth of his personality endeared him to all the New Zealanders who met him in his later years. “Rewi Alley symbolised in a very individual way the value of friendship and humanity in development of links between people of different countries and societies.”