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A.—Yes, I know of one case of two doctors-Rohmann and Gerlach-at Kennedy Road, and they have now to pay ten dollars and yet the coolies don't care to stay very long because they have too much work. They get other coolies but, so soon as the new
coolies learn that they have to go out at night, they won't stay.
Q.-Why do they object to going out at night? Do they look upon the night time as their own to go out and make a little extra money by carrying public chairs ?
A.-Yes, that is probably the way.
Q-What is your idea as to the rate of fares here for public chairs and rickshas? Do you think it is too high a rate?
A.-I think it is too high a rate and I think that is the reason why we have to pay so high wages now and have difficulty in getting coolies to carry us.
Q.-That is to say, that public employment is more lucrative than private employ - inent ?
A. Yes. I should think so.
Q-I think we probably agree with you on that point. Now, supposing the Government here introduced a law making the registration of ricksha and chair coolies compulsory on the part of the master as well as on the part of the coolies, would you personally have any objection? For instance, supposing you engaged coolies, and these coolies were not registered coolies, you would be liable to be punished for engaging coolies who were not registered. Would you have any objection to that?
A. I don't see that I would have any objection. There won't be much trouble about it.
but
Q.--Would you not have what I would call ary sentimental objection ?
A.-Certainly not.
Mr. Wilcox. You would not feel that you were being rendered liable to penal consequences ? Of course, you would be liable to a fine for employing unregistered servants. you would feel that it was your duty not to engage such and make yourself liable ?
A. As soon as it becomes law in Hongkong, everyone will go in for it. There might, of course, be some objection, but it would be with the coolies.
It is no use
The Chairman. The point is whether the masters would object. bringing in an enactment of that kind if the community is against it. If you employ an unregistered servant, and if you are found out, you would render yourself liable to be brought up at the Police Court to show why you are keeping unregistered servants; in the same way as one might be charged with keeping an unlicensed dog.
Witness.-The coolies change sometimes. I have three or four coolies, and I find I have sometimes got a new coolie without my knowledge. It might be a bit risky for
the master.
Mr. Wilcox. That would entail trouble on the Compradore.
Witness. What would you do in the event of a coolie going away and sending a substitute without your knowledge?
The Chairman.-The substitute would have to be a registered man.
Witness. In the case of a master being able to prove that the servant was there without his knowledge he should not be liable to any fine.
The Chairman.-Immediately you see a strange coolie, you say to him: "Show me your licence,"