Nov. 1.
To meet distress among the British unemployed in Shanghai the Chamber of Commerce' Committee, according to a letter published elsewhere to-day, Dect to need $25, jand, before the winter is over, another sum of the same size. The Committee box for subscript take steps to act as a means of interchanging information be-jing with British relief. They will specially try to reduce overlapping toa minimum. From the mere fact that they have ventured on an estimate of their requirements, it may be assumed that in some degree they have been able to examine the chief features of the problem. No doubt the canvassing of all its details might defeat some of the objects which the Committee have in mind. Still it cannot be urged too strongly that the mere distribution of funds is not or should not be the Committee's only work. Steps ought to be taken, in association with the Consular authorities, to create definite machinery for giving an Jauthoritative analysis of the problem, in order to ascertain what should be the permanent policy of relief, as distinct from the impulsive" and spasmodic operation of charitable emotions. Now that the Committee have stated their view of the amount of money required it is highly desirable that some kind. datum line should be drawn. In other words "the Committee should intimate that, except in very special circumstances, no relief ought to be given from the funds thus raised to any unemployed British subjects rriving in Shanghai after this Otherwise there may be an intensification of the stream of distressed entrants into Shanghai, to the prejudice of local unemployed. In this matter the Consular authorities might give valuable help by. officially advising all Pacific ports and emigration organisations that conditions in Shanghai do not {justify the belief that work can be readily found here by the speculative adventurer.
'The Chamber of Commerce and the China Association have between them gone some way toward meeting, the views freely expressed in' these columns. Their action does not, of course, touch the problem of unemploy: ment among non-British foreigners and here it may now urged that the Consuls, in cowith some official by each of the two municipalities, shoul ike concerted action to set Up a small liaison committee keep in touch with the organisation now formed. In this way the ground should be completely covered. No difficulty should arise regarding unemployed Russians for alread: jand have long been, accustomed to deal with that pee 1 problem. Those societies could be brought into suitable touch with the liaison machinery, The appeal now made does not, course, interfere with the normal working of the National Societies. Those admirable organisations will continue operate their usual appeals, but they can be expected now draw on the central fund for such additional assistance as the result of the special distress now prevailing. The British Shanghailander may require guidance to fulfilment of what may be called a dual obligation. Guidance can be offered by this Journal only with the greatest diffidence for, in the last resort, the determining factor ig the donor's own inclination. Moreover his capacity to make an extra effort can be gauged himself alone. It may, however, be permissible to suggest lat the response to the Centr: Fund should be as large as possible and independent of the usual support given to the National Society, In this way alone can the distributing or-Kanisations be placed in funds Sufficient to meet the expected need. Whether the method of Subscribing to the Central Fund will be by monthly payments, as so well proposed by certain correspondents, or by lump sum donations must be left for the individual to determine. British Shanghailanders are so trained generous expression of their practical sympathy for their less fortunate fellow-citizens that anxiety is felt for the success of the appeal. One of its great advantages lies in the fact that it now enables the various energetic folk, who have been planning special entertainments Jor other devices for raising money for the unemployed, to g0 ahead with their schemes. They will, perhaps, be further helped if, without delay, the liaison necessary' to bring non-British foreign unemployed within the scope of the public's generosity be established.
In considering the raising of funds it may not be amiss to lenter a gentle caveat against well-meaning attempts to create jan atmosphere, of solicitude for the distressed by some kind of sumptuary regulation. easy, of course, to argue tha! social activities cannot be the subject of more than general criticism. But, fortunately, it is possible to take a broader view. Apart altogether from the illogicality of selecting one special form of entertainment for condemnation and leaving alone the numerous other daily means of relaxation in which Shanghai, in common with the rest of the world, is disposed to indulge, it may at once be said that those who can afford to keep money -in circulation on their own pleasures are usually
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.