79
20
3. The European resident, unlike the local labourer, purchases many articles which have to be imported from countries with sterling or gold currencies. He is therefore affected by variations in the exchange value of these currencies as expressed in terms of the silver dollar. The collapse of the American dollar caused a considerable cheapening in the prices of articles imported from the U.S.A., but although the silver dollar showed a gradual improvement in its exchange value vis-à-vis sterling throughout the year, no noticeable effect was apparent in the local prices of articles imported from England. It is a commonplace that the adjustment of local prices always lags behind a rise in the sterling value of the silver dollar.
AVERAGE RATES OF WAGES FOR LABOUR.
Building Trade:--
Carpenters
Bricklayers
Painters
Plasterers
Scaffolders
Labourers (male)
P
(female)
$1.15 per day.
1.10
1.10
11
1.10
77
1.70
"I
+
0.80
12
""
0.50
"
J1
Working hours, nine per day. Time and a half paid for overtime. Free temporary quarters provided on the building site and communal messing at cheap rates.
Shipbuilding and Engineering :-
Transport Workers: — Tram drivera
conductors
21
T
$36 to $45 per month.
30 to 39
t
**
Bus drivers
conductors
11
25 per month.
Working hours, nine per day. Free uniform. Bonus at end
J
"
50 per month.
20 to
of year.
Railway Workers (Government):-
Engine drivers
$540 to $1,000 per annum.
Firemen
330 to
480 11
"
Guards
Signalmen
Station Masters
Booking Clerks
Telephone operators
Female Workers in Factories :-
Cigarette making
600 to
1,000
"
"J
600 to
1,000
27
1,100 to 1,800
11
600 to 1,000 27 480 to 1,000
27
17
1
$0.40 to $0.80 per day.
Knitting factories
Perfumery
Confectionery
0.20 to 0.55
11
0.20 to 0.50
H
"
0.20 to 0.60
1
day.
Working hours from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. One hour off at mid-
Over-time from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at day rates.
Domestic Servants :--
Employed by Chinese
Employed by Europeans
Gardeners
$7.00 to $20.00 per month.
15.00 to 40.00 11 15.00 to 30.00 +1
31
13
Electricians
$1.45 to $1.80 per day.
Coppersmiths
Fitters
Sawmillers
1.20 to 1.80
0.80 to 1.80
1.00 to
+1
15
11
1.40
22
Boilermakers
1.00 to
1.50
Sailmakers
1.00 to
1.50
With free lodging, and with Chinese employers, generally free board.
NOTE: The rates of pay of Government employees approximate closely
to those of a similar category in private employ.
AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS, ETC.
1932.
1983.
Blacksmiths
Turners
0.80 to
1.00 to
1.20
Rice (3rd. grade)
8.4 cents per catty
7.6 cents per catty
tr
Fresh fish
.31.4
"
21
72
31.8
"
1.40
*
+
Salt fish
34.6
27.8
22
21
22
13
21
11
Patternmakers
1.00 to
1.40 17
15
Beef
48
44.4
J
"5
17
"
Labourers
0.50 to 0.80
Pork
55
51.4
J
19
*+
"J
>>
77
13
11
Oil
............24.2
21.4
+
FJ
27
FE
23
Over-time--time and a half. Night work-double time.
Firewood
.10
for 8 catties
10
for 9 eatties
80