Sessional_Paper_1935 — Page 212

The term should be abolished.

The term has been abolished in China.

Appendix No. 18.

Chinese members of the Com- mittee and the Muitsai system.

Appendix Nos. 23, 24, and 26.

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The Chinese members of the Committee are strongly of the opinion that, the continued use of the term Muitsai in relation to Chinese girls is harmful to those girls. It is now a term of abuse used by the younger members of the family and other children. The Chinese Government apparently realised this when it abolished the term Mui- tsai as an expression indicating a condition of servitude, and directed that Muitsai should be treated as daughters. The European members of the Committee agree with this view. They recall the importance placed on mere words even by the British Government. Births in England for example were not registered as taking place in a work- house (and if the Committee remember rightly) Parliament directed its efforts against other objectionable words.

The Chinese members of the Committee desire that emphasis should be laid on the fact that for years their efforts have been directed towards ending the Muitsai System which they consider is a bad system. Nor is anything in this report intended to convey the view that to any member of the Committee the perpetuation of the system is desirable.

The members of the Committee further wish emphasis to be laid on the fact that the Muitsai System is perishing. Chinese women object to the system as one indicating sex inferiority, or they prefer to employ servants who, if found unsatisfactory, can be dismissed. Employment is to-day more readily obtainable by girls either as servants or in factories than in the past, and girls themselves are asserting greater independence. On the other hand, poverty which tends to defy all efforts to destroy the system is as prevalent as ever. The absence of poor law leaves the poor without an effective alter- native to the Muitsai System.

Procedure.

To assist them in their task, the Committee asked for the appoint- ment of a Cadet Officer as Secretary. Mr. A. G. Clarke, a Cadet Officer attached to the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs, was therefore instructed to assist the Committee and to produce to them any books, memoranda, reports, files and other papers.

Mr. C. E. R. Sanderson, a local Solicitor, who had recently ar- rived in the Colony, was appointed by the Committee as Secretary.

Through Mr. Clarke, a voluminous mass of books, reports, files, and newspaper cuttings reached the Committee. Everything relating to the subject and in the Government's possession in addition to every- thing specially asked for, so far as Mr. Clarke is aware, has been produced to the Committee.

A list of some of the more important documents examined by the Committee is given in the Appendix.

The Committee were asked to call experts as witnesses, but this was, for many reasons, considered unnecessary or impracticable.

The members of the Committee have had wide experience of many of the matters referred to them and without formally calling witnesses were in a position to consult freely with persons whom they might have formally called. Many of the leading authorities who have been consulted offered to give evidence if asked.

Many of the matters on which the Committee required information had already been fully discussed by experts, whose opinions were found in official files.