C 18
entatives of the consignees agreed to pay a certain sum per ship as compensation to the coolies for depriving them of an established perquisite. This undertaking was not supported by the Rice Guild, and finally the stevedores secured from the shipping companies a rise of one third in the rate for discharging the cargo. The Rice Guild offers large rewards for the detection of theft, and numerous arrests have been effected.
The jinricksha coolies in Victoria struck in June, the reason given being the painting of the fare on the front of the jinricksha. The strike was rather half-hearted, and when the holders of jinricksha licences found that the Government had no intention of humouring the men back to work, but would give those who returned full protection, they themselves put pressure on the men, and assisted the Government in doing so also. The strike only lasted three days.
In August there was a short strike at the Cotton Mills which originated in an alteration of the rates for piece work. A second strike occurred a few days later over the dismissal of two workmen, but was not serious.
At the close of the year there was a strike among the compositors in the printing office of one of the newspapers. The men obtained a rise in the rate of overtime pay. The strike was preceded by the formation of a union of compositors and other workmen in the printing business.
Two destitute women aged 70 who were found living in upturned boats near Shaukiwan, have been given an allowance of two dollars a month each.
The year 1910 was singularly free from Small-pox and Plague.
At the request of Chinese interested in the University a meeting of representatives of the guilds was held in my Office in May, and it was decided to raise funds to build an Anatomical Laboratory. A Committee was elected to invite subscriptions and by the close of the year $19,847 had been received.
In business the most that can be said is that the year has been one of only average prosperity although dealers in yarn, piece-goods, opium and tin have done well. There have been two large failures, but the losses from them have fallen principally on the Straits Settlements and Amoy. In the case of two other failures which made some stir it is thought that a satisfactory composition will be arranged.
Staff.
I was absent on vacation leave for August and September, and Mr. Irving, the Director of Education, acted for me. Mr. Hutchison, the First Assistant Registrar General, went on leave in July and Mr. J. D. Lloyd has acted for the rest of the year. Mr. Tratman has not yet taken up the post of Second Assistant Registrar General. Until the end of October, the work of examining assisted emigrants
C 18
entatives of the consignees agreed to pay a certain sum per ship as compensation to the coolies for depriving them of an established perquisite. This undertaking was not supported by the Rice Guild, and finally the stevedores secured from the shipping companies a rise of one third in the rate for discharging the cargo. The Rice Guild offers large rewards for the detection of theft, and numerous arrests have been effected.
The jinricksha coolies in Victoria struck in June, the reason given being the painting of the fare on the front of the jin- ricksha. The strike was rather half-hearted, and when the holders of jinricksha licences found that the Government had no intention of humouring the men back to work, but would give those who returned full protection, they themselves put pressure on the men, and assisted the Government in doing so also. The strike only lasted three days.
In August there was a short strike at the Cotton Mills which originated in an alteration of the rates for piece work. A second strike occurred a few days later over the dismissal of two workmen, but was not serious.
At the close of the year there was a strike among the compositors in the printing office of one of the newspapers. The men obtained a rise in the rate of overtime pay. The strike was preceded by the formation of a union of compositors and other workmen in the printing. business.
Two destitute women aged 70 who were found living in upturned boats near Shaukiwan, have been given an allowance of two dollars a month each.
The year 1910 was singularly free from Small-pox and Plague.
At the request of Chinese interested in the University a meeting of representatives of the guilds was held in my Office in May, and it was decided to raise funds to build an Anatomical Laboratory. A Committee was elected to invite subscriptions and by the close of the year $19,847 had been received.
In business the most that can be said is that the year has been one of only average prosperity although dealers in yarn, piece-goods, opium and tin have done well. There have been two large failures, but the losses from them have fallen principally on the Straits Settle- ments and Amoy. In the case of two other failures which made some stir it is thought that a satisfactory composition will be arranged.
Staff.
I was absent on vacation leave for August and September, and Mr. Irving, the Director of Education, acted for me. Mr. Hutchison, the First Assistant Registrar General, went on leave in July and Mr. J. D. Lloyd has acted for the rest of the year. Mr. Tratman has not yet taken up the post of Second Assistant Registrar General. Until the end of October, the work of examining assisted emigrants
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