protracted meeting of the Canadian Presbyterian Mission in North Honan has just come to a lose. The whole situation bearing on the famine was thoroughly canvassed, The reports from every prefecture north of the Yellow River more than bear out the first statements and estimates given to the public through the press. Whilst other parts of the territory care suffering more or less, the greatest degree of distress exists ell about Changteh and Wuan. Even in regions where starvation ig not just imminent, H.C.L. at the full height of an imperious stature struts about everywhere and runs amuck at the very spots where a really good, or fair good, harvest was obtained and causes direct suffering to the masses.
That apparent plenty should be right at hand and yet just beyond each aggravates the torture. Though an abundance of rain has recently fallen it has been imposble in scme regions to get seed in order to put in the autumn wheat, and animals having been! parted with wholesale at ruination prices, tk> preparation of the land has been impeded. Crowded "trains of mercy," as the Chinese call them, daily indicate that the
thither in utter distraction, haunted populace is still passing hither and by dread, Wane Roans one Neepen.
The Rev. John Griflith, having been ce-opted by the Governor of the Province to serve on the Chinese-Foreign Committee Kaifeng, contributed much infor-motion as to the activities on behalf of the sufferers. He was: absent from the proceedings for 8 day or two attending a meeting at the provincial capital, and on hig return outlined the difficulties at present being confronted in the organized efforts to get under way.
The, Canadians in their discussions Went minutely into ways and means of affording relief, and suggested definite measures for starting work at irrigation and road-building. 'The first claim was regarded to be for a road from -Hantan to Wuan, a thoroughfare which in normal' times is alive with steady traffic. Next, in point of importance, was placed a national highway north and south of Changteh city. Seven other points at which public works could with profit be undertaken were listed; and steps were taken to get all of these practical suggestions before the proper authorities.
The appointment of expert auditors who world exercise a strict supervision over all funds passing through the hands of the Provincia Famine (Relief Committee and Bureau was urged, Arrangements were made with a view to appealling to the Canadian public for funds, and a publicity committee, with Dr. MacVicar, of Weihw as chairman, was appointed. The greater part of the money that becomes available, it is hoped, will be distributed through relief work. On a smaller scale, several Years ago, effective operations of this kind were initiated and directed to a si ssful termination by the Rev. Andrew Thomson Taok'ou whose services in present crisis will be valuable conjunction with several other Canadians who have enjoyed a technical training in engineering methods.
Tue Weak axp Avanpoxer.
Special classes will be opened -for the starving young, to whom food will be provided, Industrial work, also, will be devised to afford self-help to boys and women. The Rev. John Griffith and Dr. Perey Leslie, both of Changteh, have been put in supreme charge of the famine relict measures of the mission, with authority to requisition the entire Canadian staff in this special form of service it necessar; The building programme is to be ex redited in erder to create increased avenues for the employment of skilled and unskilled labour.
The better to cope with the pathetic problem of the enormous number of infants who are being abandoned in the stress of the famine, inquiries have been set on foot as to the most approved methods adopted in other regions. In the meantime, it has been decided that in the systematic ins-paction to be made for famine relief the ames of nursing mothers will be secured, so that special jconsideratioa may be shown to them. A distressing feature of this form of relief is the probable inadequacy of funds to cover the care of the little survivors during the years that follow the famine.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.