PRESENT-DAY CHINA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22109, 15 May 1935, Page 14

PRESENT-DAY CHINA

WORK OF MISSIONARIES GOOD RESULTS ACHIEVED Mission work in China and the results achieved, together with some of the reforms that have been put into operation, were touched upon in an interview in Wellington by Mr. A. J. D. Britland, of the Church of Ensland Mission, Peking, who is visiting New Zealand en route to England on furlough. Mr. Britland is the treasurer for the diocese of North China, and Peking has been his headquarters for 20 years. "With the exception of those districts in China which are occupied by the Communist forces." said Mr. Britland, "there is no organised opposition to the preaching of the Gospel; in laet. General Chiang Kai-shek, the present head of the Government, in his efforts to promote what is called 'the new life movement,' is engaging the help of Christian missionaries of all denominations throughout the land. Tho antireligious movement, which was somewhat violent and appeared to be encouraged by leaders of the National Government as recently as seven years ago, has practically ceased to be.

"It is noteworthy that among the leaders of modern China to-day there is a determined effort to assist the adoption by the people of many ideas which have for long been indirectly advocated by Christian missionaries. Footbinding is now practically extinct so far as young Chinese girls are concerned. Opium smoking and the use of narcotics are penal offences. Western medicine is becoming universally adopted in place of unscientific semisuperstitious treatment which has for centuries been carried on by Chinese practitioners. "Prevention of famine, whether caused by flood or by drought, is in the forefront of the programme of the recently-inaugurated National Economic Council. All these things have come to pass through the efforts of Christian missionaries during the past 50 years, and although those at the head of affairs for the most part have no affiliation with any Christian Church these indirect results of Christian work in the country are facts which encourage all supporters of missionary work."