To the Eaitor of the "Nomm-Cuuxa, Dany News When all nations are finding it a major problem to solve the unemployment question and have adopted the dole as a temporary means of relief, it seems odd to find China, despite all her intended well-meaning measures to alleviate unemployment, deliberately act contrary to her repeated pronouncements.
To find employment in existing conditions is no eay matter. A position has to be retained with both hands irrespective of the size of salary it brings. Depression, with those "employers who have to sem tinze overhead expenses, naturally impels resort. to retrenchment, the alternative being the compulsory going out of business. So the voice of charity there can hardly make itself heard.
Charity at best, it must be remem-dered, can only bring temporary ellef' to distress. It has not about the quality of permanent effect Though its help is indispensible esppeclally in times of depression, it is unwise to place too much reliance upon it to alleviate suffering. More substantial measures will yet have to [be found by Governments which are now doing their utmost for the unemployed. If they could only find a way to employ those victims of depression. A dificult problem indeed.
The well-meaning of the New Life Movement cannot be doubted. But whether the officials in the Govern: ment have a thorough appreciation of the fundamental idea which prompted this movement cannot be ascertained, Recent retrenchments in the various government controlled commercial enterprises is evidence which leads one to doubt whether there is such an appreciation by them. It should be realized that trenchment, in such cases is com: mendable only when the results thereof do not counteract measures simultaneously adopted for the purpose of relieving distress. Is it really 50 Important for those commercial enterprises to reap large profits when unemployment has to be considered? Totally ignoring that the New Lite Movement was ever inaugurated, retrenchment which only serves to further prejudice trade and labour, should never be given a. thought Charity begins at home. Of this motto sight should not be lost, if the ither of the New Life Movement fg In real earnest to bring it to a successful conclusion. It behoov" therefore, those from whom he is entitled to demand ce-operation and support to take the greatest care lest any act on their part—however Insignificant—should shake the con dence of those who have so much faith in the movement which have filled them with optimism of early return of prosperity. Let us hope we will not be led to bitter disillusionment.
/Shanghal, Nov. 26,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.