!
a mode of avoiding the evils of the present Ordioanes the Government should see there are
to the cleanliness of the coolie houses by S appointing a man to visit the houses and se that the Ordinance was carried dift This man would be responsible for the houses being kept clean. Ha (Mr. Robinson) submitted that if the Government resorted to foree, it would not be the Government that would have to pay the piper, but the mercantile community. who oaght to be consulted and who ought to call the tane because they paid the piper. (Applause).
Mr. G. C. C. MASTER-Mr. Chairman, Mr. Sharp some time ago put a resolution to the meeting. It was seconded by Mr. Shewau. Mr. Robinson bas addressed the meeting and has put no amendment. I propose that the resolution be now put--Mr. Sharp's rosolation. This meeting was called for to-day, and one of the chief objects I understand was to see if any suggestions could be made to
put down the strike. As to what the Government way do in the future about sauitation, 80, that takes some time. This mooting either supports the Government in the present crisis or Lot. If Mr. Robinson-or any other gentleman has no amendment to pat of want of support, i propose that the resolution he now put, and although this Committee has retired I would aak Mr. Keswick to put the resolution to the meeting. (Hear, hear and applanse).
The CHAIRMAN pat the resolution to the meeting and it was carried nem, con.
The CHAIRMAN-I do not know whether that may be taken as the termination of the meeting, but assuming that it is. I am expressing the opinion of every one present when I say that the meeting has not been called in vain. We have | had an expression of opinion from various speak. ers, who bare thrown some light on the present diffoulty. For the Committee, I am sure, I may say, as I said in my fow opening remarks, they are most auxious to give the Government every support in their power, Their public functions now coase, but by suggestion and every way in their power, they will do their best to uphold the hands of the Government. (Applause). Of course. în a great difficulty such as this, as I have already said at the opening of the meeting, the Government is bound to be successful. No person, I am sure, for a single moment donbred when the strike gommenced that the Government mast eventually prevail, but the question is what is to be the cost. lt they are going to gain the day over the ovolies by the process of exhaustion, the loss will be enormous, and I do not think the Govoroment would sacrifice any dignity at all-far be it fron me to recommend anything of the kind, but I do say if the suggestion made by the Committee is considered a bad one, an uuviso one, ist as olamly cousider whether there is any other suggestion which will put this diffluity at au end at an early date, The loss entailed among the gentlemen present, and probably to many gentlemen who are not here, is unseen and up- drant of. This strike is felf enormous by the Chinese theroselvás. I am told--I have not gone, but if any of you have goue along the west and of the town you will have seen that there is very little business being d ne whore crdinarily the 20,000 coolies out on strike would have been working to provide for the wants of 260,000 people. The business of the Chinese as well as the foreign com- munity is practically at a stand-still. If I may voulure to speak on behalf of the Committee as well as myself, I would say I express no reseat. ment with respect to the criticisms passad on the Committee. As stated in their letter, the registration of the owners instead of tenants is a subject upon which opinions may well Idiffer. But is that any reason for the con-
demnation P One may well outertain
that conviction. I aw sure the Government by stating its adherence to its original design to quell this strike by its own strong arm will anc- goed as certainly as I am addressing you now, bat the outcome, by way of loss to this colouy, will be bage. I cannot tell you, gentlemen, how soon good common sense may prevail for these labourers; trust it may be to inorrow-I trust it may be to-day-so, mtch the batter. I would be the first-I and my colleagues on the Com- tuittee would be the first to congratulate the Government upon the termination of the diffi- culty which at the present time I do not see the end of. With these remarks-and I know they are most inadequate bat they are the very best I can make on the spur of the moment-I wish the Government every success, and I beg if any
gentleman has a practical suggestion to make to the Government be will make it without delay, (Applause.)
A vote of thanks to the Chairman, proposed
Left by Mr. MACKINTOSH, brought the proceedings
to a close.
NOTICE ISSUED BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.
The following notice was issued by the Go- vernor yesterday afternoon-
Whereas it has been ascertained that evil dis- posed persons are circulating false rumours that a poll tax is to be levied and that registration fens are to be charged, though it has been noti- fied again and again that no poll tax is to be tevied and no registration fees are to be charged. a reward of $1,010 is hereby offered to any person who gives information at once which will lead to the arrest of the persons who are spreading these lying rumours and misleading the people. The law must be shayad. If you are in doubt a to its provisions, though they hay. been already explained, you can apply to the Registrar-Ge neral, who will supply any information you may dasire. Obey!
RETURN OF A LARGE NUMBER OF COOLIES.
dollar a
Yesterday morning Mr. F. H. May, Captain uperintendent of Police, was asked if he could obtain a hundred coolies for Messrs. D. Sassoon, Sons and Co., and twenty-five for Mass78, Shewan and Co. Mr. May instructed Inspector Stanton and Detective Sergeant Flolt to go ont The officers and endeavour to obtain the coolies. scored a complete success, but perhaps this was largely due to the fact that the colies ware told they would each be paid a day. The officers got hold of one-enlië and sent him along the Praya to obtain willing hands. In a very short space of time the neves- sary number was anstered, and there was such au anxious rush to get on to a steum launch that oonveyed them to the boats on which they were wanted that three coolies were jostled into the water. A hundred of them went to work on the Arratoon Apcar and the remainder boarded Mesars. Shewan's boat. In the early part of the mora- ing the steamer Azamour left Kowloon Wharf, where she had been unloaded by Indian soldiers, and the Empresa of China is now at the wharf. a detachment of the Hongkong Regiment work- ing ber cargo. Ridam-n were yesterday engaged on the P. & O. boats, and the coaling was dope by Somali firemen,
An unusual sceno was wituossul in the morn- ing. Owing to the strike Messrs. J. D. Hum- phreys and Son were unable to get sufficient coolies to carry goal to the tram siation at the Peak, and they were obliged to send a waggon and a pair of horses to Wanchai to get the coal. which was placed io a tram and despatebad to the Peak, A waggon, eutaining coal, drawn by a couple of horse, is a novel sight in Hongkong. Messrs. J, D. Humphreys and Son's building contractors are also in part unable to continue their work, as they are unable to affect the delivery of bricks and timber.
A lot of unuscessary fuss has been made about the head coolies, or otherwise the keepers of the common lodging houses, getting only ten or twenty cents mors a day than the ordinary coolio. Whether this statement is correct or not we do not know, and doubtless the police would be glad to hare information upon the point from the keepers themselves, but as thog still persist in remaining out of the colony a statement cannot be got from them. Bat assain- ing it to be the case that the keepers earn only ten or twenty cents more than the ordinary coolie. what has that to do with his responsibility P Somebody most be liable for the good order of the house, and who else, but the keeper himself, The should be made primarily responsible P question of wages does not enter into the matter at all; the keepers do not have to pay a cont for registration, and how can the enforcement of the law, possibly affect their pocketa? Of course, according to the Ordinance the keeper mast have his house lime-washed at certain intervals. bat this is a matter which wust be arranged between the keeper and the landlord. The fact is there are certain individuals who are altogether unreasonably sympathetic with the keeper, and forget that in allowing this weak sentiment to enter into the question they jeopardise the law and good order of the colony.
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