Mr. WITCHELL: Yes, but they return as quickly as they are deported. Sometimes it is proved that they illtreat the in- mates and they are sent to prison. I have known cases where severe sentences have been imposed on persons who detain girls against their will.
A MEMBER: The best thing to do is to hand them over to the Chinese authorities.. MT. WITCH remarked that as long as procurers do not interfere with the wiven: and concubines of the officials the latter do not take much notice of it in China.
Mr. WELLS sated that there were 80 many millions in China, and for purposes of prostitution only a small fraction migrated to Hongkong. It was a trade which produced millions of dollars; there- fore, a fine of even $2,000 was nothing.
A MEMBER stated that he had heard there was more prostitution in America and Europe than in China.
Mr. WELLS replied that that was prob ably so.
A. MEM ER said that one reason for that was that in China every man was provid ed with a wife.
Mr. WELLS: Yes, the idea being that a man who cannot afford a wife cannot
carry on prostitution.
Mr. FEMING: In case a WOZDAN Can choose her husband, is there a special Benson like Leap Year!
Mr. WELLS: Nobody chooses husbands in China One out of a million may choose her husband,
Mr. FLEXING remarked that he observ ed a number of Chinese youths going out for tea with girls. There was surely an element of choice now-a-days?
Mr. WELLS: That is becoming 80. There are educated girls and boys now. The girls who go to Wiseman's, for in- stance, are educated
A MEMBER stated that the question of employers paying small wages, as the Chairman had pointed out, was one of! the reasons why they could not support their families. He was a new-comer to the Colony but what struck him forcibly was that there were so many men who did. mean, masnal labour. Everything was drawn by men, wagons, etc. It 8 & very uneconomical way of handling freight. He had noticed some work done by the P. W. D. which he thought cost twice as much as it would have coat in America. They ought to provide the men wih proper tools; and although a member might be thrown out of work as a result, it would only be for a time. Better tools provide better workmanship, better wages Be the B. W. D. which he thought cont and more spending power. The result would be that labour would become neces- sary elsewhere and the men would then all have employment.
The Rev. G. UPADELL wished to know: whether it was considered that labour was paid cheaply compared with the Chinese' standard.
Mr. WALLS thought that in some cases the coolie was well-off. In other cases | he was badly treated. It was a diagraċa to all of them as Britishers that no in- terest whatever was taken to better tha condition of children. As long as the prao- tice continued they were parties to it because they submitted to the evil being in their midet. It was their duty to press the matter home.
The resolution concerning registration, with a view to abolition of girl slavery was then unanimously passed
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