China Helping Herself: A Notable Movement

Northern Advocate, 31 July 1939, Page 9

China Helping Herself: A Notable Movement

A Whangarei lady has received from a relative in Hongkong a letter, in which interesting information is given regarding a movement called the Chinese Industrial Co-operative, which has been organised chiefly by a New Zealander, Mr Rewi Alley, of Christchurch, and which is backed by Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, and hfs wife and Dr. Kung. f Kill Chinese Industries

Its purpose is to defeat Japan’s aim to destroy China’s industries. It is hard to believe, says the writer, how hard that would be until you realise that with the destrucion of Shanghai’, China lost over 70 per cent, of her entire industries. Broken machinery was shipped back to Japan for bombs, and damaged stuff was patched up and taken over by Japanese companies. They hope to compel the Chinese to buy Japanese goods and they always try to destroy all factories wherever they go. There is such a scarcity of stuff that even material for soldiers’ uniforms had to be bought from Japan. Imagine that! The New Idea The new idea is to move machinery out of threatened areas to the inland territory, and organise refugees into small groups, mobile where necessary, to produce things needed by soldiers and civilians alike. Naturally they are anxious to get a number started quietly before actual starvation compels refugee skilled workers to accept the appalling conditions and wages offered by the Japanese, and thus turn traitors to China.

There are already between 800 and 1000 of these co-operatives in operation, and there has not been one failure. Skilled workers are got together and loaned money for implements, etc. They must hold at least one share, and when they get going they must pay back the loan. Madame Chiang moved 1000 women cotton weavers inland to safety. The inland is rich in all sorts of raw materials, but lacks workers. The Chinese are aiming at 30,000 co-opera-tives. The latest refugee figures are about 70,000,000. I am hoping people in New Zealand will raise some money. Every penny helps. Ten pounds will start a surgical gauze co-operative: £5, a gold washing co-op; and so on. Chinese to be Admired You cannot live among the Chinese without admiring the patience of the hard-working coolies. They are worth helping, and the support of the co-op. movement is a splendid way to fight Japan. One instance of the effect which the granting of assistance has, is given by the writer. She says a printer had brought his 25 men thousands of miles across China, and kept and fed them all the way until he hadn’t a sou left. When the co-operatives offered fo lend him money to start a business, he just wept. Central China has had no industries. no universities—this is like a second Renaissance.