1924-12-04 — Page 5

Page

CHINA DURING THIRTEEN YEARS.

MENACE IN THE PRESENT DRIFT.

THE

.NECESSITY FOR LONG VIEWS IN COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.

In introducing a sperial article written on the anniversary of the Chinese Republic, the Ejutncial News states:China, as a republic, alter thirteen years of experimenting, has proved a failure owing to official corruption and inefficiency. Commercially, however, China has forged ahead. In the following article the writer, with an extensive knowledge of China and its people, shows that the Republie is now out of her depth and, despite her great natural resources; will sink into decadence ueless the Powers assume control."

i

The situation is not easy to analyse Affairs in China never lend themselves to easy analysis. Political and economie life are so peculiarly interwoven that one can- not truthfully portray couaiercial facts without making extended reference to political concerns.

HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4TH, 1924

HONGKONG BOARD OF

EDUCATION.

TEACHING THE PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE AT BELILIOS SCHOOL.

QUARRY BAY SCHOOL ASKS

DIORE CLASSES.

FOR

PORTUGUESE A SECOND LANGUAGE.

Rev. T. W. PEARCE: What is the rea so of this falling off

The CHAIRMAN: 1have not heard any penson caly sent in an inquiry there as to the number of pupils, and was in tormed that the number had dwindled to nice.

MY. WYLIE Mail it seemeil that there were 2 papils, and the Committer moved n solution to the effect that Portuguese would be compulsory for Portuguese The question of the teaching of Portued that they did not want to learn Portu

children attending the school. It appears, guese at the Defilios Public School was guess Having regard to the feeling raised at yesterday afternoon's meeting expressed at the time, it was very dis of the Hongkong Board of Education,

appointing that the Portuguese at the Selwol hall not attended the class.

J

T

Mr. X. Orme, Chairman, said the Mr. WYLIE asked the chairman what matter was carefully gone into by a Subine the school finished in the afternoon, and when is formed that school work con- Committer who came The article follow's :---

to the conclusion!cluded at three o'clock, remarked that Thirteen years have passed since the years, and is able to detach his mind from should have an opportunity of studying taught Portuguese, should be allowed to that the Portuguese pupils at the School this was not a late hour In his opinion) outbreak, at Wachang, in Central China the present military imbroglio, however, their own tongue there, and it was decid go on.

these nine childres, if they desired to be of a revolution that turned China from he faces condition which can readily ed that a Portuguese class should he the oldest Mohrchy of the work into a induce optimism that China is now deformed. Last month, however, the tea

Mr. FOSTER: There has been no de- Republic Fox British students of Farisitely to forge ahead economically and cher of this class gent in her resignation,

inand for Portuguese instruction from Queen's College? Eastern affairs will believe that China he can quite as readily become equally and the head of the school had informed

The CHAIRMAN: Xo. made the right more. The Republic has pessimistic,

Mr. WYLIE: You cannot compel the him of the facts of the ease, stating that

childrer to learn, Portuguese "if they do anrittedly been a failure, although dur-

the number of the pupils in the class, Rev PEARCE:

not wish to. ing the 18 years of experimentation there!

which had been given by the Sub-Com-mean a Lisbon Portugarse teacher!

It would of rourse, has been recorted a marked trade ad-

mitter as 20. had dwindled to sine. Hav.

The CHAIRMAN: Yes, probably. vance, and there me or wanting other

Alp. Wyde: Can we find out whether signs to show that economeially China has

ing only there nine on the list for Portu- these children want to be taught Partu. begun to wake up. "

being experienced in fitting in the rest of guese instruction some difficulty was "Low Bese? And, surely, political the work, and it was recommended that China is a veritable tangle. As a public, I repeat. China has been a failure.engaged, until the Board a sure of Re for the time being no teacher should be Ever since its inauguration, and. pos- sufficient pupils attending the class to sibly, because of it, we have had brigand justify the experiment, and at the same age, outlawry, interaccine warfare, off time to take the opportunity of deciding cial dishonesty, commercial irregularity, in what way these pupils could be fitted intergal customs disorders, and

in with the school work and if they found other disheartening factors from à domes rangements so that this Portuguese class there were sufficient pupils, to make ar tie standpujut; and added to all this could be held when the other work of the there has come to the people a closer, it school had been done. in his opinion it outside world, froin which only the evi would have to decide whether it by no means accurate, knowledge of the was hardly fair to fit in these aine pupils'

to the detriment of other pupils. They Club. has been grafted on to the native com feasible to engage & teacher to take this merce of the country. The result of the class after the afternoon's school work shut the ugging another teacher. The was over. He felt, at the present moment,

teacher's resignation was sent in rather that number of pupils hardly justi.

early last month-too early for them to make any decision, and he thought they had better leave the matter arer.

дву

Chinese Revolution of 1011 was a tremen

(Continued on next_Culawn.)"

Was

The CHAIRMAN: Yes we can do that, children who desire to learn Portuguese Mr. Wrots: If there are only nine

justidel in teaching such a small number. it may be that the Department are not

for this teaching in the first instance?

Dr. HICKLING: Was there a degand

and all right. Mr. WYLIE: I think there was a de

should be introduced as a second lang. The CHAIRMAN: It was suggested it

unge,

Mr. Rurus: The idea was taker up with great enthusiasm by the Portuguese cerning the matter at the Portuguess commanity and meetings were held con-)

The CHAIRMAN: I think the water ay be left over, but I hope we will go into the question whether there is a pres

PETITION FROM QUARRY BAY. pct of going on with the studies. Ewin

into that.

45

them was the consideration of a request trond Quarry Bay residents for the addi- tion of classes five and four at the Quarry Bay School.

The next matter the Board had before

A short time ago there appeared in this joarual an article which proved that China's trade has now ceased to be any thing in the nature of an experiment, and that there are possibili for cominer cial espansion in the country, under favourable conditions, which stagger the mind. But as we lock out over the face of that wide country to-day, once more torn ins nationwide conflict, the result of which cannot be imeseen, nu sane per- 800 van do other than entertain grave doubts as to whether, single-handed, China can weather the storm. Thirteen years ago today Li Yuan-hung, coerced by a band of

revolitionists into the dous innovation which could not then, and leadership of that famous revolution cannot by any means now, be looked for entertained high hopes that there would ward to without misgivings China was Brise the United States of China, and the oldest, and to all outward seeming, was being heralded as the King Edward one of the must efete of Oriental monar of China, whose penonality would enchies, and. I think, nest of your un sure the rapid progress of the country in bissed readers who really know their all directions. The writer was the first China-and they will be few enough-will Briton to interview Li in his yamen at agree that during the last 13 years she Wuchar, while the battles for the supre has not shown that she was fit for the

The CHAIRMAN said that many members macy of the strongholds of Central China change.

would remember that this question came were raging within earshot.

There is much that is admirable taining just how the 400.000,000 of Chi-matter for the greatest good of the child- There is not the machinery for 'ascer- up some time ago. After all, it was a dreaming dreams, ansions for Sun Yat Chinese realise the absolute necessity of country spend their money, but I should able that. Quarry Bay children should be i was in the Young, China group. Many young nese who constitute the population of the en generally, and he thought it desir Sen (a man at that time not so important reform, and many of them design it out estimate that 35 per cent. goes for cloth-able to stay at home and attend these in the direction of his fountry's affairs he unfortunately is to-day) in conle

of genuine patriotism; but during the 13 ing-cotton goods principally. This is not classes if the Board decided to add them. into control. As a result of that revolu-periment with the Republic there

years that they have been trying the ex- an extravagant expenditure from the an tion, as all the world knows, the Manchu been evident no sign that they possess half a sovereign. The remainder has to month.

The petition from the residents of Quarry Dynasty was overthrown.

anual purchasing power per capital of, say, Bay was received about the middle of last The Manchu Emperor abdiented on February 19th of cse of perspective, any power of be judiciously laid out on nccessaries, think that extension could be desitled But the Department did not the following year, by which time leadership, any gift of construction. Yuan-hung had come and gone, Sun Yat It must not be forgotten, towever, that tire, and sugar, or to be squandered on however, want to deplete their staff at the such as metals, coal, kerosene, matches, without some experiment. They did not, Sen had come and gone, and Yuan Shih-diffealt problems which necessarily arise opium, scap, and clephants teeth. The this extension.

China is contending with immensely such luxuries as birds' nests, cigarettes. Central School in order to bring about kai hul become the President-and since his death there has not been another man

when any country changes her form of tentative adoption of Western culture is matter to keep the children near home. It was an important has to admit that, politically. China is the insportation of railway plant (now very ought make some provision for the child- government. But, say what one will, one traced in many an economic avenue-in He thought that to sue extent they the canker among the nations.....

sight, for no railways have been built ren concerted, He thought, however, since before the war), in electrical they should have an experiment so as to materials, in telegraph and telephone see whether it would be a success, and if Let us now turn to trade. In 1911 appliances, in machinery, (agricultural, it could be done without harming other China's foreign trade was Haikwas (Cas-propelling, textile, brewing, distilling, work or making demands on the staff. tous) taels $1,812,100, made up of 471.5 knitting, and embroidery, etc.), in print The Board ought to do what was possible lion taels of imports and 377.3 million ng and lithographic materials, paper, to oblige the people of Quarry Bay. They taels of exports. Eleven years later (the and all sorts of sundries. In considering had shown considerable interest in the test figures, yet published) this tota! the advance of trade in China, one must European School there, and had done had risen tu taels 1,500,041,593 (045 mil pot overlook the fact that the Chinese for many things for the School, with gifts lou of inports and 645.9 million of ex-

centuries have found their own products ard in other ways. If the Board agreed, ports). About 150,000 foreigners were sufficient for their needs, and the some- they could give the experiment a chance, ngaged in trade in China in the revolu- what sluggish advance in the importation The request concerned classes four and

of foreign goods is due to the fact that In 1929 this cosmopolitan

holding the reins who would be fit to clean

"Yuan's shoes.

REVIEW OF THE THIRTEEN YEARS.

WHAT, OF THE FUTURE?

tion year.

spindles; we have sces her shipbuilding army had grown to 232,491 (soine 7.000 demand has to be generated by introdur fire. They would try cluss five as an ex-)

To defective.

periment. "..

Mr. WYLIE: I do not think we can grant the petition as far as class four is concerned, as special subjects are dealt with by class four at the Central School.

During the whole of the "intervening period since 1911 auch has transpired in China. The world-war quickened her erport trade, and upast the natural trends of her import trade. We have seen a vances in totals of cargo, both incoming and outgoing, and the industrialization of Chisa really dated from about the time of the Revolution. We have seen her cotton industry stride along to the tune of her present total of nearly 1000,000

plants turn out ocean-going vessels in a

nanner which a decade previously would odd Srms of all nationalities). Again, ing novelties to potential purchasera and have been considered & sheer impossibi- China's Customs revenue in 1911 was 36.1 rousing their interests and widening lity; we know that the Chinese themselves million taels (exchange being then 23. their wants slow process in a country have begun to break away from tradi8ld. to the Haikwas taci), and rose by where the means of communication are ties and are now prepared to invest their 1921 to no less than 50 million tacis (with money in industrial plants for the manu- the the worth 36, 11.7-16d.). This must OUTSIDE AID NEEDED. facture of multifarious conmmodities that be regarded as satisfactory trade pro- were previously purchased from abroad; gresi, especially when we consider condi-

Looking back again over the last 13 we have seen a public Press appear, with tions internally in the country throughout ears, then, one, must admit that in com- a resultant advance in knowledge on that long period, and to show the normal mercial avenues China has forged ahead. general lines of Western life and com- way in which China's foreign trade hast is an anomaly that while on the one We have seen this, and much gone along over a half-century I will quote inefficiency, on the other we find industry we have had official corruption and more. As one looks back over those 13' these figures-

and trade more than holding their own inducing one to the holief once again that

The CHAIRMAN: The experiment sug the salvation of Chios is not to be poli-gested is that Quarry Bay School should tical, as such, but almost entirely econ- omic. The natural resources of China be extended by the addition of class five. constitute a security for China's national Mr. WYLIE: You will want an extra indebteciness to other nations that would teacher I take it, sir.. justify loans Lenfold as great as those now outstanding, and upon some of which China is still defaulting"

merce.

1871

1881

1891

**1901

1911

1921

1992

China's total foreign

trade.

Imports. Exports. Exchange. Million. Million.

B. d.

1:0,056,239

163,903,951

70.1 01.9

COLA

&

G

71,4

5 31

934951,712

134.0

100,9

437,059,675

REU. 2

100,0

845,849,109

471.5

371.3

28

1,507,377,976.

DOG. 1.

GOL2

3 11.7.15

1,300,041,583

$15.0

6515

2 D.

(Figures in litikwan tails.)

History teaches us that we must take long views in commerce and industry in China, and a certain amount of risk. Just as the first 60 years of China's treaty trade was a heartbreaking affairs to the early pioneere, the fruits of whose gooil work business men are now, enjoying, so there are problems to day; but the out standing facts are, in my opinion, dis- tinctly beartening. They strike me as follows:-

(1) China's internationi commerce is no longer an experiment. It is firmly established; it will grow more rapidly year by your under fairly normál internal conditions

(b) In spite of misgovernment and great Dailitary upheavals such as we 'ure now witnessing, China's foreign trade (and that of Shanghai particularly) bas steadily advanced, and mint continue to grow. (e) China's industrial awakening is at band, which will render the country an enormous buyer of manufactured and semi-manufactured products he fore she can become a serious com- petitor

4. 1!

2112-16

HOW THE CHINESE SPEND MONEY.

..

band

Rev. T. W. PEARCE: "Are there any special facilities for travelling?

Mr. RALPHIS: A launch is provided privately by blessrs. Butterfield & Swire- Mr. FORSTER: What are the numbers ? Mr. RALPUS: There are 12 in the

class. facilities

Rev. T. W. PEARCE: We must provide

Mr. RALFRA: That may be so. If it is found necessary, a teacher will be sup plied.

The problem of the world is to Ket Jr. WYLE: If you are going to do China to move la her own internal eçon- it you must do it properly and bare a omic development, a cry that has been special teacher. The whole point is that

The CHAIRMAN then proposed that the experiment with class five should be tried

(1) That the spirit of real co-operation going up for the last century, Since the when the children pass on to the Central between foreign and Chinese peoples revolution, 13 years ago, in certain lines of School that School might complain they is in the air in China business, and economic progress the results are entirely are not up to their standard. They will become the most potent factor unmistakable-progress has been made. should be well taught and should be able for internal industrial development But the writer, who has spent more than to take their places without any com- during the next. 20 years.

20 years of continuous residence in China, ment. and has travelled very widely in the far The CHAIRMAN: Anyhow I think we I think it is fair to interior, and who claims to know the Chi shall see to that. nese people through long experience, and give the experiment a trial. with a knowledge of their language, finds Mr. WYLIE: You cannot make fish of It is vitally important to remember that himself increasingly of the opinion, that one and flesh of another.

I think you during the period 1911-22 the trade in China needs strength from without How ought to send class four to the Central create was from 848.8 millies taels to the Powers do not see that China is going School. 1,509.8 million, during a time when the from bad to worse, until some day she country was continually disorganized in may become the unconscious forerunner u dozen different ways. What China of international disagreement, those of at Quarry Bay School, and the Com- could he developed into as a market stag- us who have lived long in China fail to mittee agreed. gers the mind, but this will require some see. The story is, writ large. China is This terminated the business before the effective outside guidance being given to out of her depth. Thirteen year of ex meeting. the Chinese Government. Chineac is the perimenting with a form of government Those present were:-The Chairman canker of the nations, at the moment, entirely foreign to the nature and biatory (Director of Education); the Inspector shows unmistakably that she is unable of the people have shown clearly that of English Schools, Mr. E. Dalphs; the single-handed to put her own house in without assistance China may rapidly sink Inspector of Vernacular Schools, Mr. A. prer, and to all who have oyes to see itiate decadence and become an interna R. Cavalier; the Rev. I. W. Pearce, is apparent that the time has come furtional menace, while with sound guidance O.B.E., LL.D.. Mr. B. W. Too, LL.D., the Powers to deal kindly, but steraly, and strong but fair control by the Powers Dr. A. D. Hickling, M.B.E., Mr. U. with Peking.

China and her people could be developed Rumjahr, Dr. Wan Mau Kai, Mr. B. into a factor making for tho permanent Wylie, Capt. A. E. Watts, and Mr. L. peace of the world.

Forater..

(Continued, on next Column.}

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