(srrciat 10 THe eux.)
Work has now commenced on the building of a simple hi at the corner of Robinson and Ferry Roads for the new social centre of the Shanghai Y. M.C. A. The purpose of this centre, according to a statement made by the General Secretary Mr. L. T.. Chen, isto develop friendly contacts with the industrial workers in the Western district, to promote the workers' education and health, and to help remove. the causes of suffering and industrial unrest.
The idea of social service among labourers is not a new one Shanghai, For the past four years the Shanghai Y. M.C. A. has been condaeting a so-called model village for workers in Pootung. There the Association, with the ce-operation of the surrounding factories and organizations, has built some 24 simple but sanitary houses for rent to the workers at only $3 to $4.0 month, supplying them also with free water and other facilities. Each house consists of a sitting room, bedroom, a kitchen and a. toil thus the occupants do not have to sleep rud eat and wash in the same spot as hundreds. of the workers in the slums do. In addition, the Association conducts in the village hall a day school for the worker's children (numbering 150) and an evening school for adult workers (about 45). Through these educational efforts many workers have improved their physical, financial and family conditions, Since the beginning of this year, the ¥. M, C. A. has been planning to extend its industrial programme to other needy sections of Shanghai, Lengthy investigations have been made to discover a suitable location for a new social centre in the International Settlement. As a result of this study, the Association has decided to build a simple hut in the Western district, and has succeeded to obtain the ce-operation of the Shanghai Power Company to use their lot at the corner of Robinson and Ferry Roads. Inquiries made among the factory authorities there also indicate that the overwhelming y of them are eager to see the immediate establishment of this centre, The location of the social centre is almost ideal, as there are in its vicinity some 40 modern factories and approximately 40,000 workers of various types. At the outset, the centre will emphasize the promotion of worker's education and health, but later on when close ce-operation from the workers is assured it is hoped to carry on programmes of 9 more fundamental character., The plan for the social centre was prepared by Mr. Poy G. Lee, a well-known architect in Shanghai, and it is specially adapted to the needs of the working people.
The new centre will be under the direction of Mr. C. H. Lowe who is fa graduate of the University of Chicago and new executive secretary of the Shanghai Y. M. C. A. Industrial Department. Mr. Lowe was formerly industrial secretary for the Y. M. C. A. National Committee, and in that capacity he had the opportunity of studying labour and industrial conditions in various parts of the country, and of observing the different attempts that are being made at the improvement of industrial relations. Mr. Lowe will be assisted by Mr. V. C. Wang, a former student of the Sociology Department of Yenching University.
Tt has frequently been asserted Labour conditions in Shanghai, 8 compared with those of other industrial centres in the west, are extremely bad. Poverty and misery prevail amlong the workers in such horrible forms that residents of this city may well begin to.think about adequate measures for reform. In starting this new social centre, the Shanghai Y. M. C. A. hopes that all those who are interested in the betterment of labour and industrial conditions will help make this project a success.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.