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Q. And it enables the coolies most effectively to establish a system of boycotting if they have a wish to do so?
Witness. Do you mean by having funds at their disposal?
Mr. Wilcox. Yes, having funds at their disposal and being able to communicate with other coolies. They can boycott if they wish to.
Witness. I don't know if these funds could be used in that way. The funds are, I fancy, devoted to special purposes, and the only advantage the men have from being connected with these societies is that they can get lodging free when they are out of employment-for how long I don't know--and in case they died no doubt some money would be paid out towards burial expenses. For Triad and other purposes I think they would raise special subscriptions.
Mr. Wilcox.-Yes, that is very likely.
The Chairman.--Do you think that that absentee fee which would entitle them to go to these lodging houses when they are out of employ, has been increased within recent years?
A. I have not heard of that, but it might well be the case. It is supposed to
cover rent.
Mr. Wilcox. And rent has gone up all round?
A. And rent has undoubtedly gone up.
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Mr. Badeley. You issue cargo-boat and sampan licences and have power to can- cel them ?
A. Yes.
Q.--Do you ever cancel them?
A. Yes, I cancelled some sampan licences a few months ago on complaints made by the Police.
Q.-Well, if a sampan man whose licence had been cancelled came to you later on applying for a fresh licence and said nothing about his having been previously licensed would you spot him?
A.-I don't think I could.
Q.-You have no machinery for that?
A.-Oh yes, the photographs are there but there is such a very large number of them that nobody ever thinks of looking them up to see. I mean to say that, if a licence was cancelled in June and the man came for a new licence in September, the clerk, I don't imagine, would look through the photographs to find out whether he had been licensed before or not.
Q.-Would there be any difficulty about him doing that?
A.--No, there would be no difficulty but then there would be no difficulty either about the man sending another member of his family for the licence. A very large number of licences are given to women.
Q.--Supposing a coolie misbehaved himself and got dismissed, but afterwards sank all reference to his previous registration and started afresh, do you think you would have difficulty?
A.--I think you would. I think you would want something more than photo- graphs.
The Chairman.--What else would you suggest?