CHINA TO DAY

Southland Times, Issue 20016, 2 November 1926, Page 8

CHINA TO DAY

A LAND OF STRIFE WORK OF THE SALVATION ARMY ADJUTANT McKENZIE INTERVIEWED “I was in China for seven years and for six out of those seven civil strife was rampant,” said Adjutant McKenzie, of the Salvation Army, to a Times representative yesterday. “Until what can be called the latest outbreak the fighting was merely the result, of party feuds, but the effects of Russian propaganda work can now be clearly traced.” Adjutant McKenzie is at present on a semi-official tour of New Zealand and has in several centres been delivering lectures on her experiences while on missionary work in the inland of China. She has been in the Southland district for a few days, and on Sunday conducted the afternoon and evening services in the local Salvation Army barracks. She went to China from Melbourne some seven years ago and has since been stationed at various parts of that country carrying on the work of her church. When asked by a reporter for the latest f news of the war in China she replied that r she was on her way to the Dominion before ) the real fighting had commenced and could not speak from an authoritative point of view. She was able however to give many interesting details of life in that country > and the attitude of its inhabitants. 1 “A Chinaman,” said said, “is naturally of 1 an obliging disposition, and when any small ‘ kindness is extended to him it is never forgotten. China has so far as my experi- ’ ence goes never been free from insurrec- ■ tions and party feuds but. the present 5 trouble has arisen as the result of agitation • on the part of Russian propagandists. The particular form in which it makes its ap- ! pearance does not take away from the truth • of this statement. In other countries it has - taken other forms but in China the emis- ’ aries of Moscow have roused the people > against the foreigner. Another factor which does not tend to better the existing con- > ditions is that each leader, and there are many such, is imbued with the idea that he alone is better able than any other to lead the people and establish some form of Government. - “The particular Army base where I was ■ stationed for a time, at Ta Ting Fu, was for a long time immune from scenes of . strife, but in November 1 last we were in the thick of it. At the time I left for New I Zealand, in June, and for some time after the other missionaries there were living in [ dug-outs. The majority of the cities are walled in, and when fighting commences or . when siege is laid the gates are closed and egress is prohibited. Most of the generals, however, when a city is taken possession of, see to it that the foreigners or at least the missionaries are well supplied with foodstuffs. Such was the case anyway when I came away. “The soldiery is greatly respected by the townspeople, hut this is merely superficial, as an army in retreat has adopted the practice of looting thoroughly all the villages through which it passes. It is best therefore to show some respect or there may be serious consequences. During one minor fight in the vicinity of the Army compound at Cheng Ting Fu rifle shots penetrated the building, while men armed with rifles and with bombs attached to their waist-bands could be seen in all directions. “The Salvation Army is doing a great work out there,” she continued. “A great deal of relief work is carried out among the poorer classes in the cities, and this is very necessary. There are perhaps hundreds of people who would find it hard to live through one of the rigorous winters were it not for our porridge kitchens where meals are supplied free to the most needy cases. Night shelters are also provided in many places for honleless men and women. In this way we have saved many from being literally frozen to death. During the last two years many girls have been taken from districts devastated by flood and famine, and saved from being sold into slavery. These girls are sent to our homes where they are given some education and taught a certain amount of needlework. Last year five of these girls voluntarily went into the Salvation Army institute at Pekin to train for service among their own people on the mission fields. Altogether there are some thirty girls in training there. “.All the Army officers do a certain amount of medical work on the mission fields, and through this means we are able to preach the Gospel to people who would otherwise never have a chance to become Christians. The officers are also allowed on the battlefields, and needless to say they do all they can to help the stricken men.” When questioned as to whether the Chinese had adopted the customs of the foreigners to any extent the Adjutant replied that the old Chinese customs were dying hard. Even in the cities women could still be seen in their bandaged feet, while in the country districts a woman was unusual if her feet were not bound up after the manner of her predecessors. It was only in centres where they came into continual contact with the foreigners that the people were modernised to any great extent. sidered as absolutely alike. A glance at the Imperial Economic Committee’s report supports this view, which I have maintained all along. Only nine per cent, of Britain’s cheese purchases comes from outside of the Empire, New Zealand and Canada supplying the bulk and if we extend our cheese sales over twelve months we meet competition we can avoid, and we increase our difficulties and losses through shrinkage, soft ends, etc. With butter it is different. MR WRIGHT’S POSITION. “Let me say again that we have to go back a bit if we are to save the situation. Price-fixing has to go. We must adopt the Australian system of price-naming, which gives the merchants more freedom and is welcomed by them. You will notice that only two merchants do not oppose the board’s policy. The allotment will show why. Let me say, too, that the allotment policy is too stiff, serving to restrict our market, and it must come under review and be made more resilient. Put the first point is the price-fixing which is causing the trouble. Mr Wright is the associate with that policy, he is the advocate of it, and the trade connects him with it. The cable messages show what the position is, and Mr Wright must go along with price-fixing if we are to retrieve our London market instead of driving the merchants into the arms of our rivals. Mr Wright did put his resignation in, forcing the board to adopt the policy it did, or accept his resignation. Mr Fisher’s motion fixed the policy of price-fixation and the resignation was withdrawn later. The way out now is to follow the course suggested by Messrs lorns, Paterson and the Prime Minister—that is not an anti-control policy, it is sound because it takes up a system that is acceptable to the merchants. \ NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN. any case,” concluded Mr Timpany, “I have given notice of motion’ that the whole matter be reviewed in the light of the cables from the Prime Minister and Mr Paterson, and any other information that may come forward, and that the termination of Mr Wright’s engagement be considered. That action is necessary, I think. Evidently the Prime Minister is anxious, ' although the board seems to pay little attention to that fact.”