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A. Very different from the old days when you could recognise the coolies and say: "That is Mrs. So-and-so's coolie."
Q. In the days of registration, did the Registrar General help you to get servants when you were out of them?
A. Yes, I think he used to do that occasionally.
Q. When you were hard-up for a servant, you used to go to the Registrar?
A.-I think we did.
The Chairman.-I know I used to help when I was Assistant Registrar General. It was not part of my business though.
Witness. In the same way as I have written to Mr. Stewart Lockhart and asked for his help when he was Registrar General.
Mr. Badeley. What was done if a man left his employment and did not take up other employment? Was there anything in the Ordinance about that? Did he take his ticket with him, or did his employer keep it?
A.---They would not run away without their certificates. They were very particular about them. Of course, it was their pass if they wanted further service.
[This concluded Mr. Cohen's evidence and the Commission adjourned to meet again on Tuesday, 17th September, 1901, it being agreed to take the evidence of Messrs. Byramjee and Osmund.]
CHARLES OSMUND sworn:-
17th September, 1901.
The Chairman-How long have you lived in the Colony, Mr. Osmund ?
Witness. I was born here.
Q.-You were in the Government employ till a few years ago?
A. Yes.
Q. You were in the Registrar General's Office?
A. Yes, I was in the Registrar General's Office as First Clerk.
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Q. Did you have anything to do with the Victoria Registration Ordinance. No. 7 of 1866, so far as Chinese servants were concerned?
A. Yes.
Q.-Just tell the Commission how it worked ?
A.-It began on 1st January, 1867, and went on till it was repealed. I was in the Registrar General's Office the whole time.
Q.-Was that Ordinance a failure?
A.—It was a total failure.
Q. Why was it a failure so far as servants were concerned?
A.-There was no security whatever in the retention of servants. They could just come and go as fast as they liked and get registered.
Q.-There was no check ?
A. There was no check whatever.
Q.-No means of identification?