Mr. S, H. Peok is probably foreing fan open door in urging the pressing heed for an extension of parks. and open spaces—purticularly for children in Shanghai. It sometimes seems re~ grottable that earnest reformers fool bound by their technique to overlook achievements and to develop the plea for further action on the basis of implied criticism. Mr, Peck, for example, is not "so little in touch withthe Public Works Department as to be unware that that Department—formerly under Mr. Charles Harpur and now under Mr. A. F. Gimson—hus been relentless in keeping to the fore the programme for acquiring more open spaces and barks. Moreover, by the exercise of all its powers of persuasion it has usually been able to command the sympathy of the Treasurer in that regard. This docs not imply dis agreement with the main thesis ad= vanced by Mr. Peck. It conveys a gentle warning lest too ready accept ance of the view that departmental obstinacy has to be overcome should obscure some of the weighty obstacles in the way. The Council has ree-agnized that the Settlement is. short the normal amount of "lung space" usually available to a city of its size but ways and means cannot ignored. The depression, in accentuuating the financial dimeulty of the problem, may also provide a compensatory advantage in the availabillity of derelict spaces whereon the estate agent looks with no favour, There is every ground for supporting Mr, Peek's admirable plea, and for regarding the experts as friendly and not obstructive thereto. a We LEFT
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.