An important petition has been filed by Mr. Robert T. Bryan, Jr.. Municipal Advocate, on behalf of the Shanghai Municipal Counci ith the Supreme Court of China in Nanking asking "for rulings on three matters of vital importance to residents of the International Settlement. The petition was filed through the Second Branch of the Kiangsu High Court and it has, it is understood, already been forwarded to the capi sian Relief Advisory Committee to fattend one of their meetings.
'There had been a very small school opened in April, 1924, in a flat in Avenue Foch which' was Jearing for 28 destitute chikiren, laged from 4 to 13 years, bat as this Jschool had no money they were practically reliant on food sent {them by the Catholic sisters, The school was reorganized on [September 1, 1924, and moved into hew premises at No. 23 Linda Terrace, by which time the number of children had increased to 60. These premises, however, proved quite unsuitable to accommodate 60 pupils and it was at this juncture that certain foreigners came to the assistance of the school and a foreign advisory committee was form-jed which has practically had charge of the finances and administration lof the school ever since.
Through the efforts of this committee, more suitable premises were obtained in Rue Chapsal, and for the first time these children were not only educated but also fed and clothed.
During 1927 the school was again moved to 56 Route Ghisi and at [present there are about 120 pupils, of whom about 85 are boarders. This-month, owing to the house in Route Ghisi being sold, the school again has to search for new premises, and it is almost impossible to find a house suitable for accommo dating these children where the Jowner is willing to let the house, for such purpose. It will te realized that housing these children in an ordinary dwelling house intended for one family, renting it Jat about Tls. 200 per month, means that they are over-crowded to an, extent which is to say the least very undesirable, and it is felt that the only possible solution is to raise a fund with which to build premises that will accommodate {this large number of children under reasonably satisfactory conditions jand where there will be some degree of satisfactory conditions and, where. there will be some degree of permanency.
Beyond a monthly donation of Ts. 100 from the French Municipal Council, and $100 from the Race Club, the school is entirely depend-fenton contributions from the Shanghai public, and on fees received from such of the day scholars whose parents are in a position to pay something. Every penny that is spent is most carefully seratinived ky the foreign committee controlling the school, and although it has been possible to improve the food during the past year, even now the amount. available for food is only something under $5 per child per month.
It is felt that this is a project which should have the sympathetic support and interest of the whole community.
Entrance tickets for the fete may be obtained from any member of the Rotary Club at $2 each.
Mr. Bryan, it may be recalled, entered a very strong protest on September 4 in a case in which a postal clerk was charged with Communism. Judge Soong heard the Jcase alone in the criminal division of the Second Branch of the Kiang-ssu High Court but the Municipal Advocate contended that, according ito Chinese law, at least three judges should sit, on five if necessary. The sitting of one judge, he argued, was illegal and, therefore, any decisions which that official might give could not be considered legal.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.