Girl Slaves isi China

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7246, 28 August 1933, Page 2

Girl Slaves isi China

Another step in the emancipation ot ■women in China has just been, taken in pronoml at tbo Ministry of the Interior to abolish the slave girl, accord in to a nows item in Skri D harm a For centuries tho system of mur tsai, or women slaves has been a blot on China. It consisted of tho practice of taking young girls from the poorest wiin'esc families, paying the parents a small-sum in recompense, and selling them into wealthy households for tho highest bid, either as a concubine or as a servant. The girl’s slavery m most cases paid for her brother’s eduction. Even now this system is briskly indulged in, especially in tho inland villages, where girls are still regarded as anything but a blessing in povertystricken homes. A girl whoso parents are fond of her and would not willingly sell her as a slave very often submits herself voluntarily to slavery, so that her father and mother may eat and her brothers become honoured among men. Numerous cases of ill-treatment and cruelty accorded to these unfortunate slave-girls, however, have led to the present step being taken, and the proposal to abolish this slavery is now awaiting Government decision.