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A.-Four stall holders from the Central Market buy beef from me regularly and one from the Western Market. That is why I lose money, because I agree to sell to these stall-holders at a certain price.
Mr. Maitland. He says it is only a verbal agreement. Why does he not say, "I am not going to do this at a loss all the time ?"
A. Then they would say I was not a business man.
Mr. Osborne.—But he does not keep his agreement with his European customers? A.-I keep to my verbal agreement with these people, because if I depart from it I am no business man.
P
Mr. Osborne. But with his European customers he changes the price every day. He does not keep his agreement with his European customers.
Mr. Maitland. Did he not make big profits in sending cattle down to Manila?
A.-I had none to send down.
Mr. Maitland. Did you not supply any cattle for Manila ?
A.-At the close of the war I sold 15 only.
The Chairman.-Who did supply the cattle which went over to Manila?
A.-Hing Lee and the other men outside.
Mr. Fung Wah Chün.-He told us he paid $35.75 per month for the old Market stall ?
A. Yes.
Q.--And he pays the same now ?
A.--Yes.
Q-Has he more room now or less?
A.-My accommodation at present is rather larger than in the old stall.
Q. How many men does he keep for the whole business?
A.--Twenty-six.
Q-And he can only lodge one man in the stall?
A. Yes; only one sleeps there at night.
Q.--Where do the other 25 sleep?
A. I rent a place outside the Market near the Central District for them.
Q. How much do you pay for it?
A.-$23 a month.
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Q. And you give these men "chow as well as wages?
A. Yes.
Q-He told us certain junks were robbed. How many head of cattle were removed?
A.—Well, as far as I am concerned I lost 36 or 38 on two junks.
Mr. Osborne.-Can he tell us what is the best thing to do to get meat cheap again?
A.-If you could get cheap cattle then the price could be reduced.
The Chairman. But can he tell us how we can get cheap cattle? If he had plenty of money and he wanted to get cheap cattle for the market how would he go about it?
you
advanced some
A.-Well, there is only one course open, and that is this if
: $10,000 or $20,000 to your agents he would be able to supply you at a cheaper rate.