NEW ZEALANDER’S ORDEAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 4408, 23 October 1934, Page 1

NEW ZEALANDER’S ORDEAL.

ARRESTED IN CHINA

UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE

When leaving- a store in Mukden, China, after making a number of purchases, Mrs Charles Bell, who returned to Christchurch this week with her husband after a tour of the East, had the terrifying experience’ of being arrested by Chinese policemen and hustled from one official to another on a chaigi made by an old woman in a language which she did not understand.

“It was terrible,” said Mrs Bell in an interview. “My husband was with me and we had no idea what we had done. The police should have had more sense than to arrest us on the word of the old woman. For more than half an hour we were being taken from one officer to another before we could convince them that they had made a mistake. Had wo been able to understand what they were saying it might not have seemed so bad.”

This experience ruined the • trip for Mrs Bell, and she was under a doctor’s orders for some time. A possible solution was provided by a Chinese missionary, whom Mr. and Mrs Bell met when they were viewing the Great Wall. Informed of what had happened in Mukden he said that the police and the old woman might have been in conspiracy. It was a common occurrence at that time. He added that it was dangerous to go down any small alleys. One might be found lying with one’s head broken. Asked what she thought of China and Japan, Mrs Bell said that there was a great contrast between the two countries. China was terribly dirty, while Japan was well ordered and clean. But the Chinese women were fascinating. “They* are really lovely,” said Mrs Bell. “Many have adopted Western dress, which suits them.”

In Japan some women are also wearing Western dress, Mrs Bell added, but she was very glad to see that many are still clad in the kimono. This gave colour and gaiety to the streets. Labour conditions were described as shocking. “The women are slaves, and the men beasts of burden. I saw four men pulling a cart which we would have drawn with tow horses.” Nearly all the work was done by men and women. The machine age had no great hold in the East yet.

The general public in both countries were everywhere charming, but the affair at Mukden had rather ruined the memory. “I am delighted to be back,” said Mrs Bell.