CHINESE NATIONALIST CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19218, 8 July 1924, Page 9

CHINESE NATIONALIST CLUB.

MEETING PLACE IN CHRISTCHURCH. A PRESSMAN’S IMPRESSIONS. (Fbou Oub Own Coreesponoekt.) CHRISTCHURCH, July 7- ‘ The first thing mat un Englishman is supposed to do when he goes any whereis to form a club. The Chinese of Christ-* church appear to have taken a leaf out of the Englishman's book, with the result that we now have a Chinese Nationalist, Club in Christchurch. This club has 'a membership of 150, comprised of Chinese i Obidonts and business men of the, city, anti their meeting place is 509 Colombo street. The club’s object is apparently to offset the predilection of the Chinese for a quiet game of fan-tan or sush gambling diversion, and to provide for him a place where on Sundays bo can foregather with his tel low-countrymen and discuss with them the latest political news from China or the local business conditions, etc. ' The club has Iroon founded on constitutional lilies, Mr Chow Leo being the prssicent arid Mr Ye© Gam the secretary. Yesterday a pressman interviewed the. president, and on his invitation paid visit to the dub room The room is situated upstairs in a comparatively new block of buildings in ’Colombo street. It h large, and well lighted, and scrupulously clean, with carpets and mats over the floor, while on the walls are hung- a large number of pictures and maps, along with sign# and notices printed in Chinese. As one ascends the stairs ha is faced with a large Chinese sign, painted on blub silk. ft urges members of the dub to ■savo'* therein oney and increase their businesses in. order to assist their relatives at home in China. Incidentally, it is the motto of th? flub. ■ An intonating feature of the deoontv tions are (he pictures. Contrary to expectations, these comprise largely wellknown English prints of the more orthodox, type. One picture in particular stands out from the rest. It is the well-known group of British army types printed shortly after (ho conclusion of the South African, war.; To the New Zealander, however, the titles, of the pictures are meaningless, because,; without exception, they are printed in. Chinese. Tim chairs are labelled, ip Chinese, the agenda paper of last Sun-', day’s meeting Is written, in Chinese, ;apa,, iii fact, all the literature in the robpi.ilt Chinos©. ‘ The club is, strictly speaking, a non?, political one, but as moat of its membere come from Quong Tung, the province of which Canton is the capital, tfierg is -'a general feeling of sympathy towards Dr bun Yat Spn, whom practically, .all thelocal Chinese residents look upon as g*. groat leader. At all events, the Christ-, church Chinese Nationalist -Club hpjds up communication with the party of the. samp; name in China. Occasionally European visitors are InviteiJ. to visit the club rooms, and are entertained in true Oriental fashion. The president informed a reporter yesterday that it was his; intention to secure a Union Jack flag and a Chinese flag, the former to be flown op? British holidays, and the latter on thffi, occasion of Chinese celebrations. .’ ,