REAWAKENING CHINA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18174, 21 August 1922, Page 9

REAWAKENING CHINA.

PnoW united for progress. EDUCATION in forefront. JN.DU STBIAI; development--After hundreds of years of soiono- , china has awakened, she is breakthe ties of the past, and going head on the way of Western civilisation," d Mr. Ma Hsaio Chin, a member of the or Chinese National Assembly, So is visiting Auckland. Mr. Ma ea ; d Saturday that this devolopmeat was two lines, political and economic, nd progress m the one was really the "eflex of an advance in the other ilcpa.tr Lot of national life, and vice versa. Referring to recent political events in China, Mr. Ma stated the civil war was an end and the way was now open for ' a united China to pursue its destiny along the paths of peace. Tho strugglo had Keen between the southern or constitutional partv and the militarists, and an earnest of tLo former's triumph was to be ggen in the convocation of the National at Peking on August 1. This turn of events made him wishful to return home and take his feat in the Assembly • as soon as poasihle. The aim of tho constitutionalists was to jnake an end of military government, as practised by some cf the provincial governors. It was desired that China should work oni her own salvation as a united nation, along peaceful lines, and through the governing powers .assumed by the Republic in the constitution of 1910. If that was to bo accomplished, the first task was to set the chaotic national finances in order and thus leave no room for "bailiff" action by powers interested in foreign Joans or 'indemnity funds. That had been the first act of the Assembly when called together —to appoint, a financial committee to systematise the finances, the chairmanthip'being offered to Dr. Wellington Koo, at present in London, and formerly at Washington, and Chinese representative at the Versailles peace conference, The universities were also being called up- in to supply experts in economics I te consider the best means for utilising the vast resources which China possessed, but the potentialities of which had not yet fceen given recognition. Education and Industrialism. Instead of the internal revenue going to tonsolidate the sectional power of the provincial governors, it was the desire of the Central Government to use tiie money in a great programme of development. Education was the central feature of this policy u it was recognised that this was neceasarv if China was to advance on western lines and without the tutelage, which really meant exploitation, of foreign nations, such as Japan. Education bad already made great strides in China and today there were 5,000,000 students, or one iin every 80 of the population, as against 1.000,000, or one in every 400, in 1010. the 'date of the revolution. Many students went abroad to widen their outlook r.swell as for the special facilities provided at American and European universities. Poor students were helped by a system of scholarships. China was also looking for industrial development. She had great mineral resources, iron and coal, copper and tin, and "timg" oil, and was looking in the future to their development by Chinese engineers. Manufactures were also becoming increasingly important in the three great centres of population—Canton, Shanghai, and Peking. In Shanghai there were 300 cotton mills, with over 1,000,000 spindles, with provision made for an early increase of SO per cent. The Ministry of Agriculture was intent on rousing rural China to modern cultural methods, and. to this end, was issuing instructional literature through the provincial governors j besides sending out experts in scientific agriculture. To support the spinning industry springing up in tie towns, the country districts were being encouraged to grow a better class of wtton by the free distribution of seeds imported from America. Thus China ioped in time to grow and spin her own raw material. Demand for Wider Franchise. As in Europe anrl America, so in China, the growth of industrialism in the cities had resulted in the formation of labour unions, even of barbers and journalists, said Mr. Ma. The movement was only two years old, and had spread with astonishing rapidity. No doubt the objects of the unions would ultimately be concerned mainly with wages and working conditions, but at present their efforts were directed toward securing universal franchise. At present the vote was on an educational and property franchise, only those who had graduated from the high school or who had property worth 500 Chinese dollars (£CO) being entitled to vote. The workers wanted the vote, and they were seconded by the wonjen, who had inaugurated a regular suffragist movement on the most approved ' Western lines. His own sisters were suffragists, and demanded equality with men in all the Parliamentary institutions. At the same time, it would be an exaggeration to assert that all the Chinese had, in the short years since the revolution, learnt to think, politically. But the awakening to a political sense was rapid and widespread. Mr. Ma said the National 'Assembly was considering tho plea for oniversal franchise, but no move had yet been made.