To the Editor of the of the ratepayers? If so, what is "Nonrw-Cuia Dany News the estimated cost to the ratepayers.
This, T consider, is of secondary importance and T would willingly bear. my share of increased taxation, but the most important thing of all Sin,—Prominence has been given a communication sent to the Municipal Council signed by 78. [Katepayers, asking for another Ratepayers' Meeting. will the abolition of Child Labour second paragraph of this mean that the children, who are at present working in mills and faceiter, which i dated April 24, 1925, reads as follo tories in Shanghai will be driven into "We, the undersigned ratepayers, working in factories outside whet conditions are admittedly worse, feel that in the interests of good Government in Shanghai it is For example imagine a family, per-urgently desirable that another haps of @ mother, father and three: attempt be made to secure a quorum children working in one of the mills 19, consider the programme of legis-under foreign control in Shang! lation above referred to........" where a certain standard of condi "We pledge ourselves io" attend tions has been maintained, and where: tuch special meeting and to use our this proposed by-law would force: the three children, say earning $12.00 utmost endeavours to induce other ratepayers to attend, a month out of the factory—Would Yours faithfully, root the parents in a few months find~ ing it diMeult to maintain their, Signed:—H- Arnhold, C. W. home, pay their rent, ete,, insist on Atkinson, J. W. Bandow, E. these' children going to 'n factory Bateman, C. S. Beatty, C,'Bedoni, cuteide of settlement limits, who.
F. J. Blom, E. P. Boode, G. Boolsen, child Inbour, (if this proposed by~ Calcina, A: M.'Cannan, Inw is put in, will probably be worth hier', P. A. Cox, B.S, Cunning: Inalf of what is to-day) will not be abolished, nor controlled and the van Gyn (for J. A. J, W. children, probably having to work: bye), G.-Hashidaumi, J. Jonger hours than before at less, '8. Jensen, C. Joosetpay, under worse conditions and Kennedy, A. Kooyman, probably have to walk miles morning.
A." Kreulen, Jo' Lambooy, and night to work, for yeu will find (Laurens, H. W. Lester, R, Mishler, workers usually live close to factor~ Oldoerp, Ti. Ht. Read, A. ies in the settlement.
Schumacher, C. J. Scott, Myron Simon, Thorgeir Siqveland, A. W..
1 am prepared to attend a meet-{V. D. Star, 0. Steenstra, R. ing for the abolition of Child Laboar Stewardson, "Us Streib, P. Stuyf: but only when T am satisfied that ergon, HI. Vermey, K. Zylstra—are not going to put the children into} and 38 other names something worse than they have got. beg to draw attention to the at present and I feel that the Coun tact that wot a single one of the 41 il, as @ body and not as individuals, romes " mentioned' above is to. be should definitely state that they are {feund. in the—"List of Ratepayers rotinfied that these children will be. \Dresent"—ae the Ratepayers: Meet-Jecked after, and they should express ing of April 15, published in Munia @ofinite opinion, one way or the cipal Gazette of April 16, No. 971. other, that these children, if cent ta. tingle one off the above away' from factories in the settle nomes appears. amongst. the. 399 ment, would not be forced into mames in the Council's ofclal lst worse conditions cut of our cone Tf I am wrong it is easy to cortrol rect me. If Lam right, what is the 1 fully appreciate the almost im-Jconetusion to be drawn from a letter possible position of an ordinary signed by 76 ratepayers who—"feel ratepayer getting up at a meeting {thot in the interests of good Govern-and suggesting that the "by-Law ent in Shanghet stots srocudty should not be passed.—The entire icirnuble that euother attempt. be Stigma "and odium. of the Dydaw Sade to acura a gucntat nit being passed would probably! Cc when no fewer than 41 oat be placed on his shoulders and the signatures to such a letter hie nance telegraphed throughout q0° not eacns apse, oe the ofa the world as one who supported the maintaining of Child Labour. not form a committee of ipal paid employees for work to be done during working hours and a few ratepayers (drawing no solanes) and carefully draw up a. full and detailed scheme? list of those present at the ani meeting held nine days before?
Rejoicing, as one must, in the civie zeal displayed by the Forty-and-One en April 24 one wonders why such zealous and respected citizens made no attempt whatever, apparently, towards Destructive criticism without con-
Mtructive eriticiem is unfair to those who have this movement so much at heart and are t much for humanity. tumour of a complete census being obtained: of all child labour in fae-(ones in Shanghai et the present "miément, that every child employed should be given a document authorizing him or her to work in a factory but no other child labour should be allowed; it would be necessary to tabulate this informa-ion carefully and for present factury owners to have photos of each child attached to the document and a finger print for proof of identity. As those children grow into manhood or womanhood. so these certificates or documents for permission 'o-work-as.a child fall out and are never re-issued to other children, Perhaps sign another joint epistle to ex-lain Tam, ete, Bruce Locknarr.
Shanghai, May Day, 1925.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.