66
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.
MONDAY,
APRIL 12, 19373
KINGS MUL-TSAI PROBLEM IN THE EAST ALHAMBRA
SHOWING TO-DAY
AT. 2.30. 5.10, 7.15 & 9.30 P.M.
Thoy're in the
Army now
In a song-show ♫ that's a wow!
Warner Bros, Present JOE E!
BROWN
An That famous Musical Staga Hit,
SONS O GUNS
With a Regiment, of Roar Retri
JOAN BLONDELL
BEVERLY ROBERTS
ERIC BLORE
WINIFRED SHAW CRAIG REYNOLDS
JOSEPH KING ROBERT BARRAT, Directed by Lloyd Bacon
Song: Hitt. by Warreni & Dubin",
ALSO
'LATEST WARNER BROS.
COLOUR CARTOON
"COUNTRY MOUSE"
NEXT CHANGE
United Artists
-
FRANCIS LEDERER in'
"ONE RAINY AFTERNOON" with IDA LUPINO ROLAND YOUNG
QUEEN'S
DAILY AT 230-515-7-20 & 9:50 -TEL.31453
TO-DAY & TO-MORROW
Directed by JOHN FORD EKO-FADIO PICTURE Assa producers, Cliff Reid and Robert Sisk
Every Man to the Barricades! Romance! Revolt! Revenge!
A flag-flying romance of the stormy days of Dublin's Easter Week Rebellion.
SLAN OTAKIY ̈
Barbara Stanwyck Pleuch
ANDER THE DIGUS
I
with PRESTON FOSTER
[UNA' O'CONNOR
and Players from The Abbey Theatre of Dublin
ALSO LATEST
MARCH OF TIME
NEXT CHANCE
HENRY_HALL, The Unchallenged idol of Radio Millions, in
"MUSIC
DAILY
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230
520
720
920
HATH CHARMS”
STAR
LAST TIMES TO-DAY.
Adolphe Inker 3TTING ID
FRANCIS LEDERER ANN SOTHERM
TO - MORROW.
4.
WEDNESDAY
HANKOW ROAD KOWLOON TEL 57795
It's another "Ruggles of Rod Gap".
The famous Saturday Evening Post story of the Count who married
$2,000,000 West arn hairess and went nalive in a big way!
MY AMERICAN WIFE
with Frad Stone - Bittiä Burke Emust Cosson · Gront Mitchell Dinged by Harald Young 12 Paramsaada Patan
WILL ROGERS in
"STEAMBOAT round the BEND"
CENTRAL
QUEEN'S
ROAD
CENTRAL CAR PARK. -
JERVOIS STREET
Tako No. 4 or 5 Bus góing west, 3 min. from stop opposito Queen's Theatre
FINAL SHOWINGS TO-DAY
At 2.30, 5.15, 7.20 & 9.20 p.m.
SEE SHIRLEY danco the minuet, perform as a strect-singer,
do thros now tap-dances with Bill Robinson, pload with the
4
President for her daddy.
Her best story! Har grandest role!
Shirley TEMPLE
The
LITTLEST
REBEL JOHN BOLES
JACK HOLP
"A gallant band,
British Foreign should
It
of men struggling Miss Picton-Turberville's Address Before becoted Child
an
erndiente to Age-long evil with: Inadequate
chinery" was the
Civil Servants
British Commonwealth League
J
Protection Ordin- ance' as my re-
port states, na Sir has In-
tribute pald Disagreement With Colleagues - Mui- Georg
cluded boys and the Chinese Pro-Tsai is Not Slavery - Urge To
icciorates of laya
kont and
by
Miss Old. Ordinance - Maintains Her
Picton-Turberville
who signed
0.3.
a minority
report
Di the Mul-Tapi Commission, in on
British Commonwealth address to the League in London on March 3.
The meeting was described as the beginning of a defalte campaign to keep publie opinion awake and alert until this blot on the good name of has been re- the British Empire moved."
said: Miss Picton-Turberville- "Most of the recommendations of the majorily report 1 nccepi. I am, how- ever, fundamentally opposed to my colleagues when they say "let things continue as they are but improve the administrative situation." The pro blem must be tackled, if the attack Is to be successful, from an entirely new angle.
"The commission, you must re- member, dealt only with the position under British administration. I am saying nothing about Chinn for which we are not in a position to legislate.
"1 want lo make it quite clear," continued Miss Picton-Turberville, "that mul-teai in not slavery in the accepted sense of the word. ordinarily Slavery 100 years ago meant that people were slaves all their lives and their children were born into a life
of slavery.
"That is not the case with mui-tsai which is perhaps better described as child servitude of bondage.
Sold For Servitude "In Malaya and Ilongkong" Misa Picton-Turberville went on, "female children are purchased sometimes in infancy, but more generally between the ages of five and six years, and re- main in bondage until they are 18 or
10 years old. They marry and their children are not born into slavery.
Correct.
nosed of those transferred for valu- able consideration.
"One reason for this is the dread-
ful definition of mul-tsni. You can- not define mui-tsal, It is roughly held to be a female domestic servant for whom payment has been made to somebody else to secure her services.
"There are thousands of girls trus ferred who do not come within that definition. Many are taken for pay- ment of a debt, or are given in pledge
for loan.
Law Confusing "The definition is confusing--the law is confusing. One law says it in Illegal to have a domestic servant under the age of len, and another asks employers of mul-tsal, many of whom were under ten, to register them.
"Investigation has convinced me that even though exploitation were confined to some of the mul-tsal, the Cact that the status of mui-tsal is sliffeult to define creates a dangerous situation.
"We must apply the machinery of protection, notincation, and where tecessary, inspection, to all trans- ferred girls under 12 years of age,
although
Scrap found nu cases of Report chard
boys being pur-
purposes.
for cvil
om convinced am that that ordinance and will protect safeguard children
and will abolish finally the evil of mut-isai.
NATHAN RD. HOW LO
FINAL SHOWINGS TO-DAY
I
A SENSATIONALLY
Scrap The Old Ordinance
"It requires the registration of all children under the age of 12 years who have been bought, or trans- ferred from their parents, Sir George gives many exemptions. I sometimes wonder if he has made too many. The Protectors of Chinese will have
discretion.
the majority report allignalises this ordinance as practically impos- sible. I venture to submit that Sir who spent 30. years in Malaya, practicable and what is not.
George Mrobably knows what lai
UNUSUAL
WITH STORY
THE
INGREDIENTS OF GREAT ENTERTAINMENT.. THE QUINS!-
DRAMA
AND LAUGHTER
WHEN THE COUNTRY
DOCTOR'S 3,000 GROWN-UP
*BABIES" COME HOME!
THE DIONNE QUINTUPLETS REUNION
to "Sir George was Chief Secretary Government and had no special at- tachment to the Chinese Protectorate. I think that is a good thing for when one department a person is settled sometimes he cannot see the forest for the trees.
The majority report contains some TOMORROW,
recommendations
New Universal. excellent prove the present machinery but, in
Picture judgment this evil cannot be abolished
passed, unless a new ordinance is
10 im-
"The main recommendation of the majority report is that prosecution should continue. In another part of That is the kernel of my report.. the report they admit that prosecu- long and tedious. tions are often Tackled that way the problem will ba with us for centuries.
"I am convinced," said Miss Picton- Turberville, that this intricate pro- blem cannot be solved by compart- ments. Unicas a generalised system of protection is instituted, the ovit will crop up again in different categories and forms.
"A new law giving general protec- tion for all children under 12 years of nge will, in the first place, benefit
the
"Scrap the old ordinance which is reaching only one category and bring in one that will include all categories. Frankly. main details of the majority report view the problem too much from the angle of 15 or 16 years ago and not to-day. I fell certain the Chinese will welcome new legislation. A growing feeling against mui-tsal will facilitate the solution of the pro-
"Children are not, us has been +|~|~÷÷÷|~||~|-|·|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|- blan stated in this country, sold in public places to the highest bidder. The transactions are curried out without much attempt at cover but it is not an auction.
Bever
This purchasing of children is done by Europeans. It is Chinese custom, which has down through the ages, to sell chil- dren, generally for servitude,
come
"What is slavery as it is under- Miss Picton- stood to-day" asked Turberylle adding, "Slavery, as it has been defined at Geneva, at which we are represented and to which we have agreed, is the status or conditions of a person, over whom all the powers attaching to the rights of ownership are exercised:
"Under that definition of slavery, undoubtedly mul-tsul is slavery. In Canton they do not bother over the word at all. A manifesto was issued there dealing with slaves, known as mui-tant.
An Evil System "The purchase of children as mui- tsais In Malaya and Hongkong is definitely illegal" avowed Miss Pie ton-Turberville, "and steps have been taken to declare it so.
to
"I am expecting this miter be debated in the House of Lords, and possibly in the House of Com- mons, and so do let us get beyond the old argument that the children are better off in their new homes than they would be in their own homes," sad Miss Picton-Turberville. "That dues not affect, the situation. The Government has declared that it is an evil system, and that it shall be stopped.'
"From 1926 to 1833 the Malayan law making the acquisition of a mul- tsai illegal, was a dead fetter. In 1933 public opinion was aroused and a register was opened. Last year the Government appointed a commission, I want you to listen carefully to its terms of reference.
"To investigate the whole question of mul-tsal in Hongkong and Malaga
and of any
PIGEON-HOLED!
T
IE evidence given before the Mul-tral Cuminisalon was placed in the library of the House of Commons on March 1st. Mr. George Lunn M.P. asked to see it on March 3 and found that it had already been consigned to board and the librarian had to scurch for it. |-~|-|-|-|-||-|-|-|-|-|-|-÷
cun-
of unregistered
the large number mui-tsal which now exist,
"In Malays they exist in thousands that fact is not challenged. Where masses of children are bought for servitude some must suffer cruelty and hardship. Cruelty is common throughout the world and I do not want to base our endeavour to abolish mui-tsal because they are cruelly treated.
No SafeguardTM
"The second category which would benefit from a new law is the adopted daughter there is a very large num- ber of these,
"If we cannot have a new ordin ance, concluded Miss Pleton-Tur- ancer berville, "I would rather have the than majority recommendations nothing; but for the purpose of abolishing mui-lsal I consider them to be totally inadequate."
Press Interview "Whatever is the ultimate fate of my minority report. I am convinced that it can be only a matter of the before a bill based on Sir George Maxwell's outline, is introduced into Malaya to deal with the mui-tsal quesville 0.B.E., a member of the said Mas Edith Picton-
Government Mul-Teal Commission which visited Malaya and Hongitong last year, to a Straits Times repre- sentative.
21
"I have accepted Sir George's out- line" she continued, "but I am not at t all sure that the exemptions from
sisters, ys and nieces. registration should not be limited to
It is
JEAN HERSHOLT
ROCHELLE HUDSON · HELEN VINSON SUM SUMMERVILLE ROBERT KEHT
Dorothy Poniese › jaha Qusion
"BREEZING
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with Wm. Gargán - Binnie Barnes - Wendy Barrio
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• SHOWS
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1340 WANGHAI
TEL. 20470
2MORE TO-DAY • TO-MORROW. THE BIG MILLION DOLLAR LAUGH HIT!
A MAMMOTH SHOW THAT TOPS ALL OTHER SCREEN
that I consider mine to be the more accurate report. My colleagues have put forward some ex- cellent recommendations but they are Inadequate for the purpose of ridding the British Empire of the evil of mul- WED, tai.
THUR.
"In some details, small perhaps," continued Miss Picton-Turberville, "the majority report is contradictory and I do not think that when they say 'Occasional instances of cruelty, neglect or sexual crime occur in res- of other girls' of mul-tsol, 05 рест they the Chinese home,
being
complimentary to "The Commission examined about 130 witnesses all of whom were asked Are you in favour of fresh legislation? The replies were more
two to one in favour.
"Again the law is misleading. It states that every person who takes part, or attempts to take part in any transaction the object of which is to transfer or confer, wholly or part
ion, custody, or control the possession,
18
years any minor under the age of
valuable consideration shall any be deemed to be guilty of an offence unless such person proven beyond reasonable doubt that the transuction was bona fide and solely for the pur pose of a proposed marriage, or adopthan tion
for
•are
very
Definition Changed
"In 1932 a Mui-Tsal Bill, of which the Chinese Advisory Board had op- proved in general, was introduced Into the Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements.
"Would you not assume that the transfer generally is Illegal unless It is for adoption or marriage? Yet the transaction is carried through with no official cognisance. The section which appears to offer a safeguard is really no safeguard at all.
The word used in that bill was Thousands of children are sold at dirt, and Mr. A. B. Jordan, the act-
1 years of age as prospective
Ing-secretary for Chinese, Affairs, 45 and daughters-in-law. Dught they to be made a point that a wide definition the Commission is overwhelmingly in include all the varied forms of ac favour that they should be. In the
houses the prospective quiring female children current in the Colony, and. to overcome the poorer daughter-in-law takes the place of Action that a girl is an adopted the mul-tasi.
surviving practices in protected? The evidence given to mul¬tsai was necessary in order to
those territories of transferring women and children for valuable cunalderation whether on marringe or adoption, or in any circumstances."
"In my judgment the majority re- part centres too much on mul-tsal, as if there were no second problem of the thousands of children who are boug., transferred, for valuable con- sideration.
"Two questions confronted us," Miss Picton-Turberville declared, "is the disquietude justified? If so, what further steps can be taken to deal more successfully with the problem of child, servitude?
Only One Category
"A Chinese in Malaya said: In my own community I know of casca nf genuine adoption, but I also know lot of mam ones. There is other evidence on the point.
A Lucrative Business "Then there are the girls bought young and transferred again as con- To secure little children of cubines,
daughter.
"Here are Mr. Jordan's words. "I am of the considered opinion that it is cssential that the definition of mul- tsal should be. wide. Otherwise wo shall leave loopholes through which evildoers can escape and the legisla- tion will be nullified."
Ave or six years of affe it is usual to months later, omestic servant. I
pay $10 for each year of their life. keep a girl for ten years or even eight as they can marry at 13, and "Women are mentioned but child- then transfer her, if she is attactive ren are the main issue. I do say that for $2,000 or $8,000 is an extremely 1. think that my report gives a truer lucrative business.
The reading" continued Miss a dissentient valce. Three Picton-Turberville, "was passed with- out
the definlilon is changed to agree that the reasons given by Mr. A. M. Goodman, the Secretary Chinese Affairs, were most reason. able. He pointed out that giris who had been properly adopted would op-
for
pleture of the situation, a more ac "It is not fair that they should be pear in the same register as mul-isai and mui-tsal 'carries with it a certain. curate analysis of the problem and. protécted from being transferred for a embodies the most effective means of considerable sum of money at such connection of slavery. complete abolition of the practice of tender yours? My suggested ordin- transferring children for valuable ance would protect them until they consideration."
were 18 years uge.
J
Public Demand
.
"My point is that nowhere is it "There is no dispute," continued "Girls are purchased to enter a life auggested that the definition would Miss Picton-Turberville "that in. of prostitution. Here, I must say," make the bill impossible, impractical Malaya only a fraction of these little sald Miss Picton-Turbervile, "that the or impolitic. These are pre-1922 ex- girls in servitude' were registered. law in generni views prostitution very cuses and I am surprised to find them
"My investigation has proved to me seriously and very severe penalties in the majority reports." that the little mul-tants are only one are imposed. Still, giris, are pur. In conclusion Miss Picton-Turber- category of transferred children who chased by women when they them ville, who is a former Socialist Mem- ought all to be protected. I agree selves are getting old and unable to ber of Parliament, stressed that this where earn a living. The money is paid to was a non-party matter in which with the Losby Report that wants, the children in order to keep outside members on both sides of the House
were interested.. or is bought, or transferred, generally the ambit of the law.
is
for a sum of money, that child is in "I have adopted, and mude a precis
protected.
of the Ordinance suggested to the peril and should be
beyond all Commission by Sir George Maxwell,
"I am convinced," she said, "that if the Government does not accept Sir George Maxwell's ordinance, publle
"Investigation ory requiring who is the expert on Slavery Conven- opinion will demand the protection of
doubt that one protection is that of children com- tion at Geneva nominated
by the these thousands of little children.".
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JOAN
POWELL BLONDELL ·
"GOLD DIGGERS
of 1937"
VICTOR MOORE - GLENDA FARRELL LEE DIXON 08GOOD PERKINS ROSALIND MARQUIS » A First National Pto- Iure Directed by Lloyd Bacons Musical Num+ bers Created and Directed by Busby Berkeley Mature by Boty † menu à de Pudra and Moral arter 3. V. Pudu
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SO'SULLIVAN
A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Super-Production
WEDNESDAY - ONE DAY ONLY-
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JOAN CRAWFORD
CLARK GABLE in
"CHAINED"
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