CO129-473 - Individuals - 1921 — Page 143

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Quite recently as an experiment it has been arranger that a Committee of Chinese ladies should be nesed. ated with the Chinese elders in dwaling with cares of mul tɛal. It should be mentioned here that these Chinese gentry who have devoted so much time and labour to the pretection of women and children,have noticed with indignation the misrepresentations mude as to the system of mul taal by persons whose seal entirely outruns their comprehension of the

Dosition.

With the general system of mui trai us

explained above (to which it would bu added that

marriages are usually arranged for these girls by their employers when the proper age is reached, and friendly relations zintained after marriage )

propagandiste øver more courtantly mix up the

question of what in surope we should call the white

is an Flave traffic. This entirely different question, wit! which Government has to deal as b.at it can, and it

in a very difficult question in china. but to bring

in cares of this sort in order to cun. am the

custom of mui tsai is unfair to that custom and con-

fures the iroue. A number of prostitutes no doubt

come from the class of mui tead as from all other

of the poorer classes, but no roof whatever n LA

ben preduced in support of the allegation reckle ́aly

made that the mui trai system is a recognised moane

of obtaining girls for immoral muznores.

Another question mixed up with tue mui trai

question ir tue occafionsì ill treatment of children

by their shte and the fact that there is no legal

protection at present for child labour. In the first

category the only rnedy is presecution in the Courtą and we are always ready to enquire inte

monaitis