CO537-(36-37) — Page 301

The Chairman:-

A.

17402

A.

04

Q.

A.

05 Qo

2151.

26

ww.sough cut

here. What is the objection ↑

I dont know. The only thing I know is that theit never

has been anyone who would put any money into it. I have

tried to get one or two contractors to combine with

Warren and Company.Warren and Company can get the stone,

but the West River men wont come down to Hongkong, and

the Hongkong men say they wont go there. They are vary

conservative.

17.403

Might it not be that the people who are engaged in the

shell lime business dont want those people to start ?

That may be. At the same time, they cannot supply the

demand at the present moment.

17.40%

But they are probably doing very well for themselves ?

They have put up the price a great deal.

17405

But so far as you know, it might be possible to work'

it profitably ?

A.

Yes.

17.406

of a.

A.

A.

You dont see any reason why it should not be worked'

profitably?

I would not like to say that. I dont understand the

Chinese method of doing business.

The objection might be a real one, that there is no

money in it ?

17407

That is possible, and that at the price they can turn

it out, it would not compete with shell lime, unless

it were made compulsory, and there would be a difficulty

in making it compulsory because unless you see a

Kupply, there is no use creating a demand. I would

be better able to give you correct answers if you

give me some idea of what you want to know. The question of mortar is one that should be another thing

altogether, although they are rather closely connected,

- the question of concrete and the use of red earth

TH

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