AnnualReport-1922 — Page 63

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without loss through more regular methods. The general strike was no sooner ended than a realisation of the results of their methods caused a secession from the Seamen's Union which has left the Union with practically no membership outside the men of the seamen's Department of which it was originally composed. It still has power, based largely on the funds accumulated in the months of its ascendency and the personality of some of its leaders, but its influence is waning. Its hand has been seen in nearly every labour trouble of the year: but it has had to struggle to retain even its welcome as a meddler and has failed to organise the combination of all labour societies which is now its principal aim. Its two principal allies—the Kong Ng Lun Shun Kung Ui and the Hip Tsun Tsung Kung Ui—have been suppressed owing to their illegal actions.

It has been curious to note the growth of a new Chinese Labour vocabulary during the year: Chinese, even illiterate, can be very voluble orators and their speeches are peppered copiously with the new phrases for "capital" and "labour" and the like, and illustrated freely with comparisons between the sale of labour and ordinary commodities, for which a box of matches does splendid service. The box lends itself to division and subdivision, representing either bales of goods or individuals; and even the breaking of an overpressed match has its human parallel. But the ideas based on this vocabulary were, generally speaking, very limited: and gave the impression indeed that they were always obtained second-hand from some common source. They appeared at full length in every interview and discussion and were always held to support the same demand of an increase of about 40%, regardless of existing differences in conditions or of recent increases; there seemed to be something of a magic ring about the figure.

In several cases during the year, notably that of the Restaurants, strikes burnt themselves out. Excessive demands were made which the employers could not concede: they offered the best terms possible and asked only for the protection of the willing workers. These were easily found at the price and after a period of extraordinary precautions against violence, matters returned to normal, all the old servants being replaced. Many of them, however, have since been reinstated where this could be done without injustice to the new hands. This strike was of note in that it showed the first effort on the part of the Community to resist the methods of intimidation: the strikers were powerful and well supported, but a rallying point for resisting intimidation had been found, and the agitators at once ceased to have matters all their own way: and the workmen were free to exercise the tsz yau (independence of action) of which their leaders talked so much, but allowed so little to those in their power.

It is improbable that 1922 has seen the end of our labour troubles, but it is justifiable to expect that such disputes as may occur will be open to discussion for the discovery of reasonable solutions without resort to the strike. The glamour of the Seamen's Union victory was at first dazzling to all labour: but experience and consideration has since shown that the advantage in this game