"To the Editor of the "NoRrH-CHINA Dalny NEWS"
Sim.—Your correspondent DiscmAcE in today's issue is not-alone in his view concerning the: compensation paid out by the Shanghai Municipal Council. One small group of people I heard discussing the question were of the same opinion and it was remarked that "Someone is sure to write to the paper about it" although ihey each left for someone else to Your correspondent "asks: "Who pressed for payment for the dependents of the men killed? The question is a very natural one in view of the statement in the letter from the Council in which the Secretary states: "I have pleasure in enclosing a cheque for $3,000, with the request that your Association ascertain the names and addresses of the dependents properly entitled to the money, and hand it over to them." Evidently the Council does not know to whom the money is to be paid and it is therefore apparent the pressure for compensation has not come from the dependents, as their names and addresses are not known to the Council. Why then should the money be handed over before this information is forthcoming and why has not the money been placed in some form of permanent security where it will be of lasting benefit to the dependents? "What will become of the money should the. Association fail in its efforts to discover the names and addresses of the dependents or when 4 ther there are any dependents at all. "Wil the money be returned to the Council? If the Council is to add this responsibility to its voluntary and humanitarian obligations, would it not be wise to. at least commence at once to ascertain definitely the names and addresses of the dependents of the remaining members of the camp to whom payments could be made directly in future should another regrettable incident occur and whether they would like payment in cash or in kind, such às a memorial?
How did the Council arrive at the sum of $1,000 for compensation for each man killed? Is that the figure at which the Chinese Government assesses the value of human life? Have ihe dependents of men and women killed in times gone by been so compensated and are the dependents of men losing their lives in the presen: conflict being compensated anything like so generously, if at all?
It the Council had made any serious' search for the Chinese Government's assessment of the value of human life it could have discovered it from the columns of the "North-China Daily News" which published a report from Canton dated April 16, reading as follows irisation: Families of Deceased and Injured to Canton, Apr. 16. families of ihe victims of the fire Measures for compensate
Canton-Kowloon oilway last Jane which "occurred on a lave been communicated by the Ministry of Railways to the Kwangtung "Provincial, Government for will be given to ihe family of each erding to the; passenger killed, and '$30 to each {os casualties. ie tala? compensating a li omen the to! will be noted that the names and addresses of the families had apparently been ascertained and the payment made direct, Shanghai, Oct. 13
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.