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quite as much wholesome food as they can eat: although I am told that this is not the case on every plantation and as it is impossible for planters to procure for them such food as they use in China the coolies are dissatisfied.
Regarding the complaint re wages, that is a moot point, the coolies, even at the low rate of ten shillings per month now paid them cost the planters about £3.0.0-$15.00 Gold per month; while the expenses of board and lodging, medical attendance and passage money to and from China are added to the amount of ten shillings per month paid to themselves. I am informed that these coolies who have elected to remain here for another three years have done so because their wages have been increased to twenty shillings per month.
In the matter of Hospital treatment the Government Sick takes every care to supply coolies with the best medical attendance and necessaries in suitable buildings put up for their especial use; charging 1/6 per day.
On the other hand there is no doubt that the coolies are on many plantations obliged to work without intermission on every Sunday in the year during the whole of their three years' contract; on the ground that the five or six Chinese holidays yearly claimed by them under the contract are sufficient, This is unquestionably a great hardship, but can only be remedied by the insertion of a special clause in future coolie agreements to the effect that they shall not be obliged to work on Sundays and so do away with this species of