PRESENT-DAY CHINA

Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1932, Page 7

PRESENT-DAY CHINA

OLD ORDER DISAPPEARING. PROGRESS OF WESTERNISATION. Sydney, Dec. 1. The Westernisation of China was referred to by Mr. R. W. K. Chen,, overseas director- of China Associates Corporation, Limited, Hongkong, who returned to Australia this week, states the New Zealand Herald correspondent. Mr. Chen said motor transport in China had made tremendous progress, and there had been great development in national reconstruction due to the work of the Minister of Industry, Mr. Chen Kung Po. Huge steel works were being constructed, factories and flour mills were being built everywhere, and rural banks had been widely established to assist industry. There was dawning in China an era of Westernisation. Oldworld Chini was disappearing and was being replaced by modern buildings. A matter which hurt China most today was the tremendous difference between imports and exports from and to Australia. In the first half of 1932 China had an adverse trade balance with Australia. China could not go on indefinitely like that, and foreign nations with whom she had business must respect her. During the period mentioned China bought from Australia £1,367,000 worth of goods, while Australia bought in return £25,900 only. That meant that out of the whole pool of trading between Australia and China, China purchased 98 per cent, and Australia only 2 per cent, of the goods. Mr. .Chen was in the East four months, and will work in Australia to create reCiprocity between the two countries, __