March 28, 1895.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
by section 73 it aimed at stopping overcrowding actual tenant or occupier of any building, and | and the effect of these by-laws, and have gone so especially in common lodging houss and laid in the case where there is no such person far as to personally assure them by offering them down that no person should keep open a com- the immediate landlord, and in the case of written documents that should at any time the mon lodging house unless the house is registered eorporations and companies the secretary Government wish to take advantage of these by- and the keeper thereof is licensed by the Regis- thereof. I do not think it would be any real laws and to impose a poll tax uponthe coolies, we, trar-General," the keeper, under the definition hardship. Somebody must be made responsible as representatives of them in this colony, would elause, meaning any person licensed to keep open for the maintenance of the law with regard to be personally liable to them. We did this so as to a lodging house. By Ordinance 26 of 1890 that overcrowding. The object is to keep these show them in the strongest manner we possibly” section is amended, and power is given to the houses in a sanitary condition, and especially with could that there was no intention on the part," Sanitary Board to make by-laws with regard to a view to the possible advent of plague in the of the iovernment to impose anything like the licensing of common lodging houses. The near future. It is highly essential that poll tax upon them. (Hear, hear.) That we have by-laws were duly made, but the date of their somebody should be made responsible for the not succeeded in persuading them is a matter coming into operation was postponed from time proper number of persons inhabiting these com- for regret, and although we have not succeeded so to time, until, I think, the end of last year, mon lodging houses. I think, sir, it is manifest far, I can assure your Excellency and this Coun when it was determined that the by-laws and that during the last few years the Chinese-oil that we, as representatives of the Chinese, the provisions with regard to overcrowding do not of course refer to the higher classes-bat will not cease our efforts to bring about a change of lodging houses, especially having regard to the chief coolies and others have stirred the men in the present state of affairs, which we all de the advent of the plague, should come into force, up and harangued against the law in the hope precate. In some cares the men have been... and should be strictly put into force. Now, sir. of coercing the Government. The time has amenable to reason. Still, as I say, we will not the Captain Superintendent of Police under come when the Government mast pat its foot cease our work, and you may rely upon this, that took the duties or a portion of the duties of down, and put it down firmly. If the men do those Chinese who have come to the help of: the enforcing the registration, or enforcing the law not like the law the sooner they leave the colony Government hitherto will render to the Govern.. against, I should say, the keepers of these the botter. Of course this action of the Government their loyal support on this comasion. houses whether licensed or not, and making them mout must to some extent tell against the trade (Applause.) conform to the by-laws under the Ordinance. of the colony, but I think 1 may say with confi- Bill read a third time and passed. When he came to actually attempt to prosecute dence that where you touch their pockets by The Council then adjourned. the keepers, or those who kept open these houses, enforcing the law or by getting others to do --because there is a definition between these what they ordinarily do, you will find that the two classes of persons-he found very great diffi.inconvenience to the trade will only be tempor- eulties in the way. The first difficulty he foundary. With these remarks I beg to move the first was that the keepers-I use the word keepers reading of the Bill.
THE REGISTRATION OF COOLIE
HOUSES.
under the definition clause-those persons who The COLONIAL SECRETARY—I b1g to second
ACTIVE MEASURES BY THE POLICE. keep open the house, had run sway, and that. After the remarks of your Excellency
The Police havo resolved to enforce the re all the chief men. could not be got at. and the full explanation of the hon. the Acting gistration of coolie houses in the oplooy si laid In several instances some of the men, or the Attorney-General, there is not very much left down by the Sanitary Board by-laws, and, as an head coolies who appeared to be keeping the for me to say upon the subject. I am sure that instance of their determination, twenty-moven house open, were summoned, and in one or two every member of this Council will be agreed that summonses against coolie house keepers were instances convictions have been made. The it is absolutely necessary that steps should be issued and made returnable at the Police Court difficulties that the prosecution has are almost taken and that nothing shuld be left undone to on Friday. The offence in each case was “unlaw- in «urmountable. Another difficulty arise in carry out the object which the Government had in fally keeping open a common lodging house with. connection with the definition of common lodg. view in this matter. I am sure the whole of this out registering the same and obtaining a licenos ing houses. According to the present definition community will read with great satisfaction the from the Registrar-General," and the sammonsen a common lodging house is "any house or part remarks made by your Excellency that it was ware issued under section 73 of Ordinance: 24 thereof where persons are housed-not being the intention of the Government to stand firm in of 1887. In only one case did the keeper of the members of the same family-at an amount not this matter and not to allow the coolies to have house appear, and it exceeding five cents a day, or one dollar a month the upper hand. To my mind this is one of the mander W. C. t. Hastings, the Magistrata: was decided by Cont. for each person." You can imagine the difficulty most extraordinary disputes in the history of that he had not infringed the law, and so tam which any prosecution would have in proving labour. There are unfortunately many strikes case against him was dismissed. All the rec any house to come within that definition. How in England and elsewhere, and there is always maining summonses were taken out against “the is it possible in the face of the hostile position some reason for them, But here we have a keeper" no name being mentioned, as the polion and in the face of these people running away large number of coolies without say actual were unable to ascertain any of the names, Of from the colony, to prove that the coolies only grievance and without being able to formu course the inevitable consequence was that not paid five cents a day or one dollar a month late any grievance. There are strikes in all a single defendant appeared in answer to the It is a law which has proved impracticable, parts of theworld, and there is always charge, and it is said that the whole of the and in only one or two cases has any evidence some grievance, but in the case of these keepers, with the object of evading the law and been obtained. Take the second section and you coolies it is impossible for them to formulate any giving the police trouble, have temporarily will again see what a difficulty presents grievance. Under these circumstances I feel evacuated their houses and left them in itself at once in oase of any breach of the certain there will be no hesitation on the part of charge of the coolies themselves. The Magis- law in regard to lodging houses" Any per the members of this Council in supporting the trate, of course, had no option, the defendants mapent structure in which employers of Bill, the first reading of which I have now the not having appeared and their names being labour lodge their employes other than domestic honour to second. As the hon. the Acting unknown, but to dismiss the summonses, Bus servants, or shopmen, as part of the remuneration Attorney-General has pointed out, it is abso- fortanately the police will go ons better than given for their services." Tuere again you see it lutely necessary that somebody should be he wily keepers. The trump card bas yak would be impossible for the prosecution to prove made responsible with regard to these common to be played. It is practically impossible to that domestic servants or shopmen were lodging | lodging houses. Under the old law it has been get the names of the keepers, and so other in these houses as part of the remuneration found that directly the head coolie chooses to
means must be adopted to put the law© in hich they ware receiving for their ser- move into Chinese territory, the by-law becomes motion. The coolie houses are, for the most vices. Therefore it has become necessary a dead letter. If the householder as defined by part, let by the owners to men who in turn to simplify the definition of common lodging
sublet them to the coolie house keepers The houses, and it is proposed in this Bill to keep
men who lease the houses from the owners ont any reference either to the amount paid
registered as the householders at the Registrars by these coolies for their lodgings or the re
General's office, and the police will now issue froth fam muneration which they receive from their em
summonses against these men. It is only by re- who
ployers. The second material clause of the Bill
sorting to this method of procedure that the Fouches Section 73 of the Ordinance. There gistrate e
keepers can be traced. If the occupants are not- ue classes of persons dealt with in this
the keepers it is not likely that they will stand apperon-persons who the houses, I under.
the racket of prosecution under the provisions of issnend that as yet no persons uavu bon licensed
the Ordinance, but will, in their own defence; der section 73. and inasmuch as în uda.ly
reveal the names of their subtenants; if they TH3ry case the person who keeps open the house is
are the keepers and in one or two onzer zit e person who is actually responsible, I may say |
will doubtless be found that they are that he has fled from the colony, and there is a ne
they of course will be unable to further de cessity to look for someone else. Well, of course, Hon. Ho KAI-Before the Bill is passed I lude the authorities. Up to the present not a it has been a matter of very serions considera-think I ought to say a few words. I have not single lodging house keeper has complied: with sion as to who shall be responsible in the absence opposed this Ordinance to-day, not because I the demands of the law, as ontained in the fol of the person who keeps open the house, and in think all the sections are quite just and fair-in lowing resolution passed at a meeting of the case he cannot be found, or in the absence of fast I think section 3 presses harshly upon the Sanitary Board at the latter end of last year the licensed keeper, if there is any breach of the householder or the immediate landlord-but" That the lat day of January, 1895, be fixed by: by-laws made under the Ordinance, it has because I think the unfortunate position which this Board under by-law 17 made on the Zlat been thought that it wou'd only be fair—in has been brought on by the coolies themselves day of July, 1892, and approved by the Legin case, say, where there is a person who keeps has made it necessary for the Government to pass lative Council on the 30th day of November in open a house and cannot be found that you an Ordinance of this kind to deal with the the same year, as the day upon which shall come should come down in such an instance on the matter. But I can asure your Excellency that into force the by-laws for licensing and householder as defined by the Ordinance; or I, as representative of the Chinese in this Couu-gulating commou lodging honses where a house has been licensed and there oil, together with many other persons Mr. Wai sub-section 12 of section 13 of Ord has been a breach of the law and the keeper has | fled from the law, that you should come down similarly upon the householder. The house holder, for the purposes of this Ordinanes, is the
for
the Ordinance does not wish his house to be used as a common lodging house he has the remedy in his own hands. I am quite sure that householders will show a public spirit in this matter, and will come forward and support the Government in trying to bring about a satis- factory settlement in this matter. (Applause),
Bill read a first time.
The standing orders were suspended and the Bill read a second time.
Council went into Committee, and the Bill was Load clause by clause and a minor alteration made.
Council resume1.
Yuk and others connected with the Chinese have for a long time been soning with these soolies. We have explained to their head men thoroughly the intentions of the Government
section 1 of Ordinance 26 of 1890. After the ancy 24 of 1837, and sub-section (d) first batch of summonses has been disposed of proceedings will be taken against all keepers-