Sir,—In further reference to your letter of November 23 I have the honour to inform you that a meeting of the Committees of the Employers' Federation and of the Cotton{ Mill Owners' Askociation of "China was held on December 5 with the object, of discussing the feasibility of abolishing child Labour im mills and factories, The subject, was gone into very thoroughly and discussed in all its aspects, the general consensus of opinion being that legislation must come in the first instance from the Chinese: that it might be suggested te them that from the point of view of the foreign employer legislation was indicated and that educa tional facilities for the children of mill operatives should be considered in conjunction with their nonemployment.
It was finally decided that the two organizations referred to should address a_ letter in the above sense to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and to the Chinese Cotton Mill Owners' Association, a copy of which I enclose for your information.
keep you informed of any further labour in factories.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.