To-day "The China Year Book 1982," "is available for pur-[chase by all who desire to keep themselves abreast of conditions jin China and for that purpose, to be in possession of an armoury lof facts marshalled by one who has special facilities for obtaining those facts and, indeed, special personal equipment for presenting them in readily Jaccessible form. Mr. H. G. W. Woodhead and his "publishers late to be specially congratulated fon their refusal to make a fetish lof a date in the delivery of a book. Annuals which find their way on to bookstalls some three months before the New Year have their uses; the procedure governing their premature appearance is no doubt, dictated by considerations importance. Yet Mr. Woodhead has been wise to allow himself plenty of latitude and eharacteristically frank in taking advantage of the serious rises lof the winter 1981-82 to justify midsummer, instead of a New Year, delivery. The Book would have' lost value if he had not; it! would have been without the preliminary report of the Lytton Commission, the various official documents dealing with the [Shanghai affair and other data for which it would been annoying to have had to wait until 1933, Although, inevitably—comparison is made with other annuals, it should be emphasised that the "China Year Book" has pecial individuality of its own, no mere annual register of names and appointments. It is Jan encyclopaedia in one volume form, containing all the inforness of the encyclopedia Jand the romance of the novel. It brings the narratives of its predecessors right up to date. This issue includes new features such as summaries of the Feetham Report, a chapter on [Climate—feelingly is that audacity noted at this moment—an and various other exciting dissertations on this most exciting country. No one would seriously attempt to. discurd Chinese affairs without having this handy blue book—in the non-technical sense is the word jused—by his side, And solace is always provided by its existlence for those who distrust the readiness of casual visitors to deliver themselves of opinions valuable or otherwise—on the moral drawn from their study, of Chinese affairs. For they, cannot assuredly attempt the task without recourse to this book. It appeals with equal Yorce to the laziest and the most conscientious among them.
The Editor in collecting his data, does not make the mistake of rejecting the assistance of special contributors. Practised as he is in the art of writing on China, he confines his "one man gemment" to the columns of the "Shanghai Evening Post Mercury." To his "Year Book" he gives much of his own energy fand assiduous labour in the discussion of certain subjects, as well as performing the general editorship with care and distinction, only too clearly perceived by his brothers in the craft. He supplements this with specialist contributions from experts like Mr. E. Kann, on Finance, Mr. A dec. Sowerby, on Fauna, Mr. H. W. Kinney, on Manchurian Railways, Dr. J. Grant, on Public Health, Father Gherzi, on Climate, Miss Viola 'Smith,' on Roads, Dr. W. Wong' on Geology, Colonel G, G. Stroebe, on Floods, Dr. Ta Chen, on Labour, four prominent. religious leaders, on Religions, seven Chinese political experts on the Kuomintang and Mr. Donald King, on Insurance. This symposium, or, rather symposia, gives great to an already strong production. It remains to advise an early purchase, for obviously this "China Year Book, 1932," will be, a best seller in China as well og abroad.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.