Severe criticism was levelled at the policy and achievements of the Moral Welfare League at its annual general meeting on Thursday in the Royal Asiatic Society's hall. The Rev. C. E. Spencer (Chairman), supported by the Rev. F. Rawlinson and Dr. M. Polk, presided over a large gathering.
Mr. Rawlinson, reviewing the Jeague's activities during the year, dwelt on the "rapid development of their detective branch", in spite of difficulties encountered in the way of securing voluntary workers as numerous as experienced ones. They would have in future to arrange for technical detective help. As regards their relations with Jandlords, the league had met with sympathy and co-Operation. It was most important not to move in any given case without most careful and accurate information. They had had, said Mr, Rawlinson, during the year a Jot of information volunteered to them. Its source, for diplomatic reasons, could not in all cases be disclosed.
The issue before his hearers ought to be their titude to the whole question. Should they show disapproval of present conditions and prove the situation in every way possible? To leave things alone would be to increase the difficulties and dangers. As regards establishments that had been closed down, it was a community issue. There should be no distinctions between Chinese and__ foreigners. This aim had been achieved in the closing of the houses in Kiangse Road.
When the speaker passed to the correspondence between the league and the Municipal Council regarding a proposed amendment to the conditions of the Tavern Licence, Mr. W. Bruce Lockhart interposed that they had heard a great deal about law, order and morality. He wanted to put it to the speaker that they were unaccustomed to the exaggeration and unwarranted statements he had been publicly charged with making. They were not the sort of—statements moral people should be charged with. The Shanghai Municipal Council had publicly said that Mr. Rawlinson had stated inaccurate facts, and that some of his premises were unwarranted.
Mr. Rawlinson replied that the remarks were perfectly fair, but he was not in a position ta give an official answer. The situation had been investigated and the proposal was made that Condition 9 of the Tavern Licence should be altered. A statement was sent to the Council which should} be read more carefully. It did not refer to the pre-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.