13.
217
12.
11.
say
Mr Campbell goes on to say that the present system of licensing Salt Weighers is open to many objections," and it might be stopped, and interfered with, and the Government might not know why or wherefore," but the licensed holder will take care that this does not come to pass, as long as he has to pay £1,095 annually for his license. The salt trade, beyond the trifling quantity consumed in the island, is entirely a smuggling transaction. That article is brought here in boats from the East Coast, and sold to persons who come to this harbour to receive it and smuggle it into places on the Canton River. It is removed from the coasting craft into boats regularly built for smuggling, and under these circumstances, as might be expected, continual disputes ensued between the seller and buyer. To prevent these disputes, the Chinese themselves requested that a Broker might be appointed to superintend this trade. A Broker was appointed, and he willingly pays £1,095 per annum for permission to arrange this business between the parties engaged in it. No complaints against the system by the Chinese themselves have ever been made, and I confess I believe the evils attributed to it to be purely imaginary. The Public Markets are a great convenience to the Public in every respect, and they are no more a monopoly than is Covent Garden. No one need go into them. All persons are at liberty to dispose of all articles of provision except fish and raw meat, in any place they see fit; if therefore they do resort to the Market, it is for their own convenience. In fact, in the Market any petty dealer may supply himself with a stall for the sale of his vegetables, grocery, etc., at