Mr. Gilbert Reid's very practical letter to the Chinese Times, which follows, will be read with interest, embodying, asit does, recommendations which we have frequently made. We can hardly understand the Famine Committee here having sent Mr. Reid the reply which he mentions having received from them form of supplying labour, thus meeting the needs of diferent. classes; and in such an undertaking I would more gladly lend my aid than for the usual method of mere free distribution.
That the Chinese funds should be used in such a way, many have already advocate ed; but to gain this desirable result there is no better power than the example of foreigners in the same direction, however small the funds.
S1n,—Your excellent article on the above topic notes a very important feature in the work, viz., that such funds should be used ing labour for the people. As you leave the subject to the consideration of your readers, I take the opportunity to atate the result of a little experience in this direction.
Some three years ago an official of the rank of Taotai came from Tientsin to be associated with a missionary here in the distribution of relief. Though personally Thad no responsibility in the matter, I yet saw the official several times, and once in conversation I incidentally remarked that in the West we had largely adopted the nev policy of aiding the peuple by supplying them with work. ' Why," he said, "that is an old custom in China. I supposed the foreigners did not approve of that method." Whether this is a true idea of the wishes of foreigners, I cannot say. Tum led to suppose it is only too true.
The present year, when engaged in relief distribution, I came into relation with an official of the rank of Prefect, and several times I presented to his notice the adv bility of using a portion of his funds in giving wages to the men for embanking some of the small streams in that district. He heartily favoured the suggesti said he would at once consult with his superiors. [have since learned that some of the funds have been so used, greatly to the advantage of the people.
In the same work, and in different seotiond of the country, I sought the opinion of the people as to their willingness to accept relief in such a form, and always they were mote enthusiastic for this method than for the common one of simple free distribution. I also found that in the places I visited the most desirable work was in Arongthening some of the embankments of the Yellow River, by no means an impossible undertaking.
In calling on a Magistrate in a very distressed district, and one who has been a friend of the foreigners in the capital for many years, he said that he had urged one of the missionaries to use his money in helping the people in a double way by giving them food for building up some of the embankments, but that the missionary thought the money could not be thus used. He urged me to secure funds for such an undertaking, and promised his hearty support.
On my return to the capital, and learning that there was a surplus of funds, and also hearing that some of the officials would help me in securing the permission of the Governor for relief to the distressed in the form of work on the Yellow River, I tele-
Anyway, I would be glad to see the plan tested, but fur this more funds are needed than one poor missionary in the interior of China is apt to have at his disposal, Thanking you for your suggestions, Yours respectfully, Gusext Rew.
Chi-nan Fu,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.