CHINA’S PLIGHT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20110, 31 March 1928, Page 14 (Supplement)

CHINA’S PLIGHT

HARSH TAXATION in the North of China war and rapine have not been so rife as in the Southern and centre provinces, but if the present scale of taxation is persisted in, the seeds of revolution lying dormant in the minds of oppressed peoples will grow into jungles which the Northern rulers will find enveloping them surely and rapidly. In spite of the alleged national sense and pride, there is a widespread movement ,n foot amongst the Chinese intelligentsia and the merchant class*? • to seek the aid of . the order-loving, op-pression-hating foreigner. The Chinese man-in-the-street is nn orderly, decent citizen, who only asks to be left in peace to carry on his usually profitable business. He is not poli-tically-minded, nor is he truculent or recalcitrant when he has to deal with tax-gatherers accompanied by a soldier, rifle in hand. It is obviously unwise to resist taxation when the result of such resistance may be a meeting with the executioner.

Taxes are therefore paid with a promptness that is surprising, until one learns the methods of collection. The Chinese merchant struggles on, and as he nears bankruptcy decides to clone his store to save what little he can from the wreck. This may be permitted him, or he may be ordered to keep his store open, on pain of deatn, in order that his absolute ruin may be accomplished- He may commit suicide, labour as a coolie, or starve, as he prefers. It is this outlook which interferes with his nationalistic pride sufficiently to make it possible for him to contemplate invoking the assistance of the half-hated foreigner.

A vast multitude of Chinese think that tho one solution is a form of restrained intervention, and were such forthcoming, in a surprisingly short time all China’s vital arteries of trade would reopen and the prosperity to which her riches entitle her would bp hers once more, and in greater volume than ever before.