C 7
1832
YAUMATI PUBLIC SQUARE,
(Table XXX).
PASSAGE MONEY FUND.
(Table XXXI).
Translation.
38. The total number of translations made in the department during 1932 was 1,208 as compared with 1,675 in 1931. 500 of these were from Chinese into English and 708 from English into Chinese. In addition a large number of translations made in other Government departments were sent to this office for revision.
General:
LABOUR.
39. Labour conditions in the Colony during 1932 were quiet. The level of wages has been mainly unchanged, but unemployment has been more marked. The building trade, however, showed considerable activity.
Disputes and Strikes:
40. In February trouble occurred in a silk-weaving factory employing a number of Shanghai workmen. After investigation by this department, it was arranged that the management should pay expenses of repatriation to Shanghai.
41. In August a dispute arose in connection with the Chinese Compositors' Union. Detailed enquiries were made by this department with regard to hours of work and allowance for food and other points affecting compositors in local Chinese newspaper offices.
42. A more serious dispute took place in September arising out of a petition for increase of wages made by employees in junk building and caulking establishments at Cheung Sha Wan, Aberdeen and Shaukiwan. A number of men went on strike and some new men from outside the colony were taken on. There was, however, no unanimity either among the workers or the employers, and some of the latter granted increases while others refused. The time chosen for an application for increase of wages seems to have been inopportune in view of the general dullness of trade.
43. The help of this department was also sought in the matter of a dispute between masters and men in the cake-baking trade. As usual some interesting details were revealed in connection with the mysteries of the trade, and an amicable settlement was reached in due course.