( 21 )
The Chairman. --What profit did he make out of his business the first year in the new Market ?
A.-About $1,200.
Mr. Osborne.--Now he is losing $1,200 a month?
The Chairman.--How much profit did he make last year ?
A.--I lost money last year.
he was
Mr. Osborne. He said just now he paid $23 to $26 per head for small cattle and $46 to $47 for large cattle, and that one head of large cattle weighs about three piculs. That makes it about 10 cents a pound.
like.
A.--What about the small cattle, Sir?
Mr. Orborne.-Well, he pay less for them.
A. If you mix them up together-big and little-you will find there is a loss. Mr. Osborne. If he buys at 10 cents a pound and sells at 15 that is a profit. A.--I can convince you by documentary evidence that I have made a loss, if you
The Chairman.-How many years' books has he got?
A.—I am not able to say. I have this year's and last year's, but as to the year before last I shall have to ascertain.
The Chairman.-When the Market was burned the year before last were they not all burned?
A.--No; there was no fire.
Q.-Then his books were not burned ?
A. You know the Chinese custom; sometimes they do not keep old account books.
Q. How many accountants has he?
A.-Three
Q.-In different shops ?
A.--No; at this stall.
Q-There is no room for three accountants at the stall.
A.-They act as sellers of meat as well as accountants. place for an accountant.
Q.-You keep the books in a shop outside, don't you ? A.-There is a small table at the stall.
K
Where are they?
We have got a separate
You have a compradore and have a compradore's stall have you not? A. No; I have no stall except this.
Q --No other shop or place of business outside the Market?
A.-No; I have a family house.
Q. Where is that?
A. At 27, Graham Street.
Dr. Hartigan.-There is one thing I want to ask him. This man says he suc ceeded Wat Yui Kut, does he know what year he began business in?
A. He had a stall in the old Market for two or three years and then he moved to the new Market.
Q.—What year did Wat Yui Kut begin business? I have a reason for asking.
A. I cannot tell.