The famine in China has aroused the very deepest sympathy among Canadians, and, as mentioned in my last letter, famine funds have been opened in a great many places, and by some newspapers to send relief to the starving millions. A large sum has already been collected and sent to China, but what it exactly amounts to has not yet been made known, though so far as it is possible to judge it must be about three quarters of a million dollars, and probably more. A fair idea of how the matter is regarded in Canada can be gathered from the statements made when a large deputation representing the various organizations at work waited upon the Premier, the Right Hon. Arthur Meighen, to make an appeal for national assistance on the part of Canada to China under her present distressing and terrible famine conditions. The deputation urged that the Government should appoint a national committee, give a generous grant from the money received in poll tax from the Chinese who entered Canada last year, send supplies of wheat or flour, ask the farmers to do this and arrange for free transportation of supplies across Canada and by the Canadian Government Merchant Marine to a Chinese port.
It might just be mentioned here that the Chinese poll tax amounted in 1919 to $2,069,669. The amount for last year has not yet been announced. In reply to a question from the Premier as to why the Chinese Government could not prohibit the export of food from China while famine conditions were prevailing, Dr. W. E. Taylor, who has been 12 years in China said that the Chinese Government was so weak politically, and things were in such a disturbed condition that the Government was not in a position to do so. The Rev. Gillies Eadie, a Chinese missionary, also declared that the military factions were bleeding the country dry; that foreign bankers would not lend more money until they knew it would be properly used aS no one seems to know where the money goes, an argument which was searcely a good one. Another missionary said that if Chinese relief was left in Canada to the churches—which have taken a leading part in raising money—it might look to the Chinese that the churches were merely out to christianize them, whereas succour on national lines would give assurance of Canada's friendship as a nation.
The Premier told the deputation that his Government had been considering the matter more than was generally thought; it had investigated facts from missionaries in Shantung, and found them -very alarming; the Canadian High Commissioner in London had largely confirmed these. It must not be forgotten that stories have reached this country which would appear to be authenticated, that the money raised in China for the famine by the Chinese themselves has not to a large extent reached its proper destination.
Mourripticity or Parties.
British matters are getting more interesting than.they were, and one great reason for this is the tendency to the formation of more political parties. Until quite recently the old and proved system prevailed of two parties, the Conservatives and the Liberals, although at one time there was an attempt to form a Farmers' Party which very speedily collapsed and Labour was a party but did not enter into politics as a distinct one. It is all very different now. The Conservative party has been transformed into the National Liberal Conservative one, which means really a continuation of the Unionist party which Sir Robert Borden formed and which is now in office: then there are the Liberals, Independent Conservatives, Labour, Soldiers, Women, Farmers. Manufacturers, and, owing to divisions amongst some of these, other parties have been either. formed or may be so. This is not making for the good government of the country which it must be remembered does not consist merely of the Dominion Government but of nine Provincial Legislatures os well.
When it is considered that Canada has a population of only about 8,000,000 people the truth of the saying of the Duke of Devonshire, the Governor-General, is apparent, that Canada is overgoverned. Owing to this spliting up into groups there are at least two Provincial Governments which are in power only by coalition. In Ontario, the leading Province, the Government consists of Farmers and Labour men, while the opposition consists in nearly equal proportions of Conservatives ani Liberals.
"DickeRinc'' ox Points.
To show how the system is working out reference can be made to; the question of an eight hour day of work; the Labour party wants it, the Farmers do not; consequently the matter has been shelved till a more convenient season. But it can be seen that this leaves the door open to cither party to "make dicker'? with one of the} 4 Opposition parties to upset the) Government, and try to form another which would carry out the legislation wanted.
This makes polities in Ontario decidedly interesting. more <specially as with the Labour mem-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.