rate ?
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The Chairman.How much do you consider the present rate greater than the old
A.—A dollar or a dollar fifty I think would be fair.
Q.--Have you had any difficulty in getting coolies?
A. -No.
Q-Any difficulty in keeping them?
A. Not in my case.
Q.-Now, you say you are Compradore to the Mercantile Bank.
coolies for the Bank ?
A. Yes I do.
Q. Is that in your agreement ?
A. No, Sir.
Q. Do you engage coolies for Mr. Yates?
A. If he requests me to do so.
Q. When was the last time you engaged coolies for your hong?
A-I believe five years ago.
Do you engage
Q.—It is not part of your agreement, but I hear it is part of some Compradores' agreements to do so. Is that so?
A.--You are not obliged to do so, but if you are asked you just do it as a favour.
Q. How do you set about doing it?
A.—I simply go to my chair coolies and tell them to ask their friends if there is any one who would like to come.
Q.-Do you, as a Chinese gentleman, wish to have registration of private coolies in Chinese employ?
A.-I have given that question great consideration and I have also asked the opinions of many of my Chinese friends, and they come to almost the same opinion, and that is that registration of private coolies would not be a good thing. It would cost the coolies money and they would charge more than the present rate at which we engage coolies. If a chair coolie was ill-a licensed chair coolie-and he wanted someone to take his place for the time being he would have to get a licensed coolie who would say, I want more because I am licensed.
Q. What is your opinion?
You
A.-I say no. It is a good thing in one sense but a bad thing in another. can't tie the chair coolie to you, and when you want a substitute you will find great difficulty. I have considered the thing and I give the answer 'no'.
Mr. Wilcox.-Don't you think that difficulty could be got over, Mr. Wei A Yuk— that difficulty of substitutes-by the giving of temporary registration tickets? There being no fee whatever, the registration would be a simple matter. The man would only have to find a substitute, take him to the Registration Department, get him registered and come back.
A--That is one point I would like to know particularly about. Who is to pay the fee, if there is any?
The Chairman.-There would be no fee.