LIFE IN CHINA

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 55, 8 March 1929, Page 15

LIFE IN CHINA

TEKIN UNTROUBLED

EXAGGERATED REPORTS

On furlough from China, whero she las been teaching in a girls' school at Pekin, Miss M. M. Gibson, of Christchurch, arrived in Wellington yesterday by tho Kimutaka. Miss Gibson works under the New Zealand Board of Missions, and to a "Post" representative sho had somo interesting remarks to make on lifo in China generally.

Part of her holiday was spent in England, and thero sho realised that very exaggerated cables had been received regarding affairs in China. Tor instance, on one occasion a cable said that all foreigners had had to take refuge in tho Logation at Pekin. "All tho time I havo been in Pekin 1 have never even taken my suitcase down from its shelf, much less moved down to the Legation," she said. "At one time we were warned that we might have to go there, but it came to nothing. In 1925 when tho strike was on wo closed tho school down for one month, but 1 know of no occasion when we had to take refuge., I am not prepared to say that the reports which appeared in tho New Zealand papers were exaggerated, because I have not seen them, nor do I know what conditions are in the south of China, but I have ■been out just over live years, and as far as trouble in Pekin goes I have seen nothing.' The greatest- hindrance to China was the military party put into power in 1013 by Yuan Shih Kai. As Jong as he livedhe was able to control the movement, but after his death there was dissension among tho generals, and discipline lapsed. Tlio Nationalist Party, now ruling in Pekin, has been gradual!}' coming into power for the last twenty -on thirty years, but it actually; 'arrived' in Juno last. It is true that Borodin and the Bolsheviks made trouble with certain sections of tho Nationalist Party at Nanking, but once the party as a whole realised what Bolshevism would mean to their movement they turned it out neck'and crop. Tho authorities now are absolutely aritiBolstiovik." ON THE RIGHT LINES. Miss Gibson said that the Nationalists were starting on the right linos, and if they were able to put the interests of the country before those of party only, and she was tremendously liopeful that thpy would be, then, things were going to be very much better in China. The party was establishing schools to remedy tho Hugo percentage of illiteracy, and realising the value of leadership and tho training which tho Girl Guide and Boy Scout movements gave in this valuable quality, thoy were va-y much in favour of them right throughout-the country. Guiding was started in'Pekin in 1920-21, and after tho strike, in 1925. it took a new lease of life, and was now very well established. Miss Gibson has a company ,of 55 girls, which sho has left in charge of'■one of her Chinese girl lieu-' tenants, while another lieutenant looks after her own. company in the,country. Of five Rangers last year, four, are now running .companies. "For responsiveness, ability, and: enthusiasm, ; Chinese Guides would be very, very difficult to beat, and, they v are keen to form their own nationals movement," said Miss Gibson. "W^e 1 have- begun on 'translation, andi'.jLhb tenderfoot and sceondc!:(rfs work has been completed,' and wiieu i go back wo will translate the. first-class 'and games work. Certain' adaptations have to be made, of "course.Camping and such outdoor work, for instance, is .'not ..really feasible, because of the prQSpneo.of soldiers and bandits,, and more domestic work ia substituted. The girls are particularly interested in hygiene, '"ambulance, and nursing classes." ■'■ . ■With the opening of tho universities to women, a reform which the Nationalist Party fully believed in, many women were studying for professions. Thero were not many women, so far, to be found in public life, but: Miss Gibson recalled a recent women's international meeting in Pekin where the chair was capably taken by a Chinese lady speaking excellent English. Chinese women wero rising vory well to their responsibilities to their country. "But except for bobbed hair, I.don't think the Chinese girlsl arc going to adopt Western methods," added Miss Gibson. poverty in russia; On her way to England Miss Gibson ten veiled through Russia and Siberia. "Thero are trains three days a week now from Pokih'to London," sho said, "and the journey only,.' takes twelve days, and is well patronised and extremely comfortable." Poverty was "very noticeable in Russia, tho children particularly looking very poor. Belgium, too, was visited by Miss Gibson, Hvho was' very much struck by the enormous amount'of rebuilding accomplishedl in 1 tho battlo areas. In . Yprcs All the new buildings were in the old Gothic style, but tho city itself was much larger than before the war. One of the most boautiful cemeteries in all the battlefields was the Tynecot Cemetery, on a slope overlooking the plain where so many New Zoalanders fought, and this Miss Gibson found to be kept in weedless perfection by two men who had themselves fought on tho salient.