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was an Ordinance for the the registration of domestic servants in this Colony from 1866 to 1888. It was repealed in 1888, having fallen through for various reasons.
Witness. It was not carried out.
The Chairman.-One main reason probably was the fact that the servants were not photographed.
Witness. I am not against registration if there is any particular reason shown me that it will pay.
The Chairman.—With regard to public chair and ricksha coolies, these are licensed, and only licensed men may ply for hire. It has been a success with them.
Witness. It is almost necessary with them is it not?
The Chairman.Why should it not be successful in regard to private chair and ricksha coolies?
not
A. Has it been successful as far as public chair and ricksha coolies go? We are
very
well served.
Q.-We are not absolutely well served, but it seems to me that, with a system of photography, registration is the best thing to be done.
A.-A great many of them are absolutely unfit and have often to put you down lest they should die in the shafts.
Q.-Cargo boat people are licensed, are they not?
A.-Cargo boat people are not registered themselves. Their boats are registered,
I hear.
Q.-The boat is registered and the owner of the boat is licensed.
A. The coolies working on board are not registered. There is nothing to prevent them having unregistered coolies.
Mr. Wilcox. The registration of coxswains and engineers has acted extremely well.
Witness. I don't know anything against registration. It is an experiment that, I should think, is bound to fail.-
The Chairman.-In other matters it has not. I am pointing out that there has been licensing of owners of cargo boats, owners of sampans, of hawkers, and also of launch engineers and various other people, and, so far as we know, it is a system that suits the Chinese and has not proved a failure. So, from that, it is quite possible, we think, to have a system of registration of private chair and ricksha coolies. It may be of some use at any rate, even if it does not attain all the objects we would like. You said just now that probably it would be an interference with the liberty of contract. Take the case of the cargo boat and sampan people, doesn't the same objec- tion apply there? I am talking of the registration of the people simply.
A.-It seems to me that outside coolies would be better not to be registered and therefore unlimited in supply.
Q. Do you think that a system of registration worked by the Police would give the Police some control over the men ?
A.-I never felt that I wanted a policeman to have any control over my coolies.
Q.-There is a general feeling in the Colony, and I have no doubt about it, that some sort of control should be exercised. Certain individuals may not think that, but throughout the Colony, there is a feeling that greater control should be exercised.
A. As far as I am personally concerned, I don't want any control.