(2)
REPORT BY THE UNDERSIGNED, MEMBERS OF THE FOOD COMMISSION APPOINTED 19TH MAY, 1900.
(1.) A number of meetings were held, witnesses examined, and a mass of information obtained from Steamship Lines, Hotels, The Gaol, The Government Civil Hospital, Military Authorities, and other sources.
(2.) An advertisement asking information from householders was inserted in the local
Papers, to which 8 persons (ladies) replied.
(3.) The following table shows the percentage of rise in the wholesale and retail prices
in 5 years:-
Wholesale.
Retail.
Articles.
Bread,
20 per cent.
Fish,
13 per cent.
50
爷爷
Beef,
33
33
}
Mutton,
25
45
*J
72
Eggs,
50
80
وو
,
Fowls,
45
40
15
19
Ducks,
50
50
*
>>
Potatoes,
25
11
Firewood,
90
95
??
"}
Ground Nut Oil,
..110
100
Rice
33
33
27
"
(4.) Beyond natural fluctuations of supply and demand, the main causes of this increase
have been :-
(a.) Depreciation of Silver.
(b.) Increased Cost of Rice.
(c.) West River Piracy.
(d.) Increased Rents.
(e.) Enforcement of Sanitary Laws.
(5.) The augmentation of the Military and Naval forces in Hongkong and Manila has contributed towards a rise in certain commodities, as the sources of supply are limited and take time to accommodate themselves to the increased demands.
(6.) Whilst it is difficult by means of direct evidence to prove that a combination exists with the object of keeping up the price of meat, the fact that practically the whole supply is in the hands of two men, who acknowledge being supported by a syndicate, and from whom other market butchers buy, must tend to crush other individual effort and enterprise, give them a monopoly, and enable them to regulate prices as they please. The fact also that the two individuals put forward as owners of this large business in a trade which has a world-wide reputation for being most lucrative, swore they have been losing money in it during three consecutive years, and that during the whole course of their examination they were manifestly prevaricating and concealing the truth, makes all evidence on this point most unreliable.
(7.) We consider that Market rents are not excessive (except in particularly choice
situations) and have not contributed to the increase.
At the same time we regard rents as a tax on food, and think they should be kept as low as possible.