Country People on Road to Financial Independence Front Ovn Own Comesronoent Wusih, Oct, 14, The third annual conference of rural workers in China has been meeting during the past week at the Kiangsu Provincial College of Education at Wusih—169 delegates, representing nineteen provinces were pres-fent, including some of the outstanding. thinkers and workers in the field of rural reconstruction. Among. them are Mr. James Yen, Mr. Yang Shu Ming, and Dr. Leonard Shu, Diseussfons were carried on and speeches made in Kuoyu, the national language, which was well understood by all present, and_as they covered the experiences of 99 institutions or agencies whose delegates attended the conference they were of the greatest Interest.
The discussions fell into four groups. touching (1) self government, (2) economic "problems, (3) mass education, (4) general problems. Doctors, ' educators,—agriculturist leaders of the ce-operative move ments, and directors of various rural experiments took part in the discus sions, and there was a general feeling that this important work of educat-Ing and improving the condition of the rural population is in a most promising condition, In increasing numbers the intellectual classes are going into the country to live, and work. The country people are making' great advances in self-government "and economic stability, the latter being ably fostered by''the banks which ce-operate in helping them get started on the road to fnaneial independence, which their natural thrift and. industry enables them to reach with Jamazing success.
At the present conference strong. emphasis was laid on the importance of a spiritual regeneration for China, and most thoughtful speeches ing with this. phase ofthe question were made, Thirty of the 169 de~ legates are Christians, which fact in itself is of marked significance.
Many places have invited the conference for next year, and general sentiment seems to be in favor of holding it in Sian,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.