IN THE EAST

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 19 June 1928, Page 5

IN THE EAST

AN INTERESTING TOUR. REVIEWS AND IMPRESSIONS. Experiences- in the course of a trip to the East -were given to a. “Hawera Star” representative by Mr J. E. Campbell, who returned from, abroad a few days ago. The last stage of his tour abroad was occupied in a trip to the East, Malaya, Borneo, China and Japan, and thus was full of interest and fascination, especially for New Zealanders seeing the East for the first time. The route Jay via Gibraltar, Suez, to Colombo, Penang, and Singapore, Hongkong, Shanghai, Aloji Kobe, Yokohama and Canton, Tokio. Colombo' is, in Air Campbell's opinion, one of the most beautiful of the eastern cities with its wonderful harbour, fascinating tropical vegetation and beautiful gardens. Singapore is a remarkable place, but, said Mr Campbell, there has not been a great deal of progress made with the ’naval 'base. Britain has control of administrative work of the island, while busi‘ness is mostly in Chinese hands and ‘they have built many lovely homes. It ’is reported that Japan has established a 'fishing base some distance away, a fact 'which may or may not have some significance. IN CHINA.

In China, Hongkong, .Clanfon and Shanghai were visited. Hongkong, 'with its mainland European settlement Kowloon, is a delightful spot and its progress and development are a striking tribute to British enterprise and bnergy. Kowloon is a stretch of country leased from China on a long term and has been marvellously improved in a comparatively short time. It is a new territory acquired on lease as a residential area for the British residents. Repulse Bay Hotel, in Hongkong, is one of the finest seen in the bourse of the trip. With a view to .seeing something of the interior of China, and of the area Concerned with the revolution and riots bf December last, Air Campbell inquired of Cook’s agents whether it would bo sole to go to Canton. 'the reply Was satisfactory and the journey was ‘accordingly made in a very fine steamer. When Canton was readied news came •through that in the previous night au’other steamer on the river had been .(captured, and the passengers held for ’ransom by Glunese pirates. The seriousness of the position was emphasised by the fact that next day the train on 'which part of the journey was made bad two fully armed Soldiers on. each 'carriage. ■ , > The British Legation at Canton was ‘still surrounded iby barbed wire entanglements ns a protection against 'possible attack by insurgents .and the ’river boats are still protected by small 'barricades against pirates. It is reported that in Canton no less than a quarter of a million Chinese 'live their whole life on junks on the river. Children are born on these junks, and in order to safeguard them from faling overboard are tethered to the vessel and as'they grow bigger are •kept on the junks and live their whole life there. Drainage, is practically nonexistent and the water of the raver takes all the refuse and is also used ‘for all culinary purposes. Clanton streets are in the native quarter in the main so- narrow that no Vehicle can be used except the sedan 'chair, and in many places two people touching hands can span the distance between the houses 1 . An interesting feature of the life in China is the institution of the city of -the dead, where the bodies, of people dying are kept until a ‘lucky day comes and a suitable place 'for burying is found. Burial on a lucky day and. in a lucky location ensures prosperity for the descendants of 'the deceased and there are cases where 'bodies' have .been kept as long as seven months, awaiting a diucky day for burial. This is one of their ancient superstitions. . „ , „ But one strikingly good feature is their veneration for the. aged. The idea ’is that children when born need the care of their elders and therefore when •these youngsters grow up to maturity it is only right that they should return this care to those who in their infancy protected them. It is a happy custom which could well be copied by other peoples. . ' The population of China is not exactly known, because no census could be taken, but it is officially estimated at ■485 millions, and to have increased no less than fifty millions during the last nT o£tiris • The conditions' of their soldiery are dreadful, and the rank and file receive practically no pay. The General comTniaaiding maty get £i grcint <xiid filter ‘taking his share passes it to the next in command and so 1 on down the scale •of officers-. What actually keeps the •common soldiers going is the promise ot i 0 Shanghai, said Air Campbell, is a magnificent city and the Yangtse Kiang is one 0 f the greatest waterways of the world. It is navigable for about two thousand miles, and a 10,000 ton boat like the Alorea could go at least bUO miles inland to Hangkow. British soldiers are still in garrison at Shanghai. In that city is one of the finest streets he saw in his travels, a street called “The Bund,” the main thoroughfare of the city. , ~v , In the country surrounding the towns are towers somewhat liike .silos and it was found that these were used for keeping of clothes of the poor people. They put them there in winter and redeemed them again in the summer, at the same time depositing their muter garments for redemption, when the cold Weather returns. The feeling in China generally is much more cordial towards the English than has been the .case for a long tune, although it is still considered unsafe to travel far inland. All trains proceeding inland carry armoured cars with searchlights fore and aft.

JAPAN. A short stay in Japan proved most happy land interesting. It is very evident that the Japanese are very quickly adopting themselves to western ideas, and the men have become Westernised in habits and dress more quickly than tlio women. The majority of the latter stilt wear ttie liattvo kiniiiio. til the schools, however, tlvo pupils have readily adopted the regulation costume, so usual in British schools and this means that the change will go forward more quioklly as the youngsters come to maturity. In business circles both, languages are used, and generally orders are given both in- English, and in Japanese. There •is amongst the people a great anxiiety to speak English. Mr Campbell experienced this at his hotel, when a buttons boy unable to ispeak more than a. word ‘or two of English, told him after a lot ‘of trouble that “the bar was good•niiaht,” meaning closed for tile- evening. * The frequency of rivers makes the ‘conditions somewhat Hike New Zealand, ‘and lend themselves to electric power supply and such services are g,ood and (efficient.

Silk export is a wonderful industry, and Japan (supplies 60 per cent, of the world’s raw silk, and 45 per cent, of this is absorbed by U.S.A. In return 33 per cent, of Japan’s imports com© from U.S.A. Only about 22 per cent of the laud of Japan is arable, and the output of that area, is a tribute to the marvellous intensive cultivation. practised by her farmers;; and' still the farmers use practically no modern implements. From Tokio this tour was made •through Kamakura, Yamada, Kobe, Hou.jiji, Kayoto-, Nikko, Nara. Yokohama. Kobe, Osaka, Aloji and Shimono-sa-ki. . A curious story, illustrative of the Japanese relgious and superstitions feelings, is told of the finq, stable of the white horses kept for the use of the .spirits of tin? mighty dead. There is a gateway of exquisite beauty and a. feature is that on one of the supporting pillars the traceries are worked upside down. The istory is that this is the “evil averting” pillar, and was designed to avert the jealousy of Heaven, which might have been aroused had the building been flawless. It is stated that the people have been Vised by some of their leading professors to adopt a change of diet, and i o use more milk and butter if they are To take their place among the nations. These are now extensively used. The ,traveller can rarely sire any cows. Practically the only cattle seen are water buffaloes; but this increase in the use of dairv products is leading, to great development in dairy farming. The Government has taken a hand and imported pedigree Holstein cattle, stud horses and bulls. It will be. recalled that a Japanese expert from the Department of Agriculture was through New Zealand about three yeans ago, •md was in Hawera for a couple of dayitt.Another industry that is being developed is. the smelting of iron from iron sand deposits, and it is expected l bat in the near future Japan expects to secure enough pig iron for her own use. This should interest New Zealand

o'i-v much. Nikko means “sunny splendour, and is the queen of the tourist resorts 'of Japan, nature and art being there in intense competition, and every endeavour is being made to build shrines amid beautiful surroundings. Tt is a significant .fact that, although Shintoism or the worship of ancestors-, V the national religion. Buddhism has "Town with great rapidity in mrfnt rears, and now has 50 million adlie-r----"l" THE RAILWAYS.

The railways of Japan are interesting because they give good service. Train travel is considered the cheapest thing in Japan. Most passengers remove their shoes and sit on their legs in the seats. Name® of stations are given in Japanese and English, and there is also a board stating where second-class carriages will stop and another telling the name of the first station each side of the isation at which one- happe-nsi tobe. A 1 communication board is provided for use of passengers, on which, to write messages for expected friends; also notice® in English, “Telegrams accepted "ere ” at teleoraphic stations- There are good dining cars on the trains, and time- i-s allowed to procure refreshments at stations. Even railway tickets are printed in both languages. There are long care, .sleepers; and observation cars on the trains. Porters and in.oiine-drivers and navvies wear gloves vhile at work. . Smoking on trains and at many public places is prohibited. Time-tables -are printed! in English, and red figure® always indicate morning times and black figures afternoon and evenings. Typewriters are provided m post office.® for public use. Big -stations are equipped with name announcing megaphones. STORES AND HOTELS.

The departmental -stores- are- very fin© and- mostly in Tokio, seven storeys on basement, fine roof gardens, with running -streamers, elevators, escalators, and cots for children. The hotels are good- but expensive, and prices ranging from 24s without breakfast and changes- for meals- are: Brekker 4s, iu-neheon 6s, dinner 7s, and in some cases 10 per cent: i-s added for the staff. Tiie staff servants all speak English. THE CHERRY BLOSSOAL

Air and- Airs, Campbell had the good fortune to visit the capital at the Cherry Blossom Carnival. Cherry ll’iossoni is considered an emblem of democracy, the time for revelling when all classes mix for common amusement. Then? was -a cherry dance recital by geishas, a solemn performance, n'o smiling geishas and little applause, but wonderful costumes and scenery. “It has been a. wonderful experience,’’ said Mr Campubel! in conclusion,” but we have come -back realising that our own little country is. a- place- of which we tsho-uld be proud. Conditions here compare ore than favourably with any seen in the whole of our travels.”