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The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, APRIL 2ND, 1895.
Selance D
THE COOLIE STRIKE.
RETIREMENT OF THE PUBLIC COMMITTEE
A public meeting sammened by tae Com- mittee appointed at the meeting on Thursday last was held yesterday morning in the City Hall. The Hon. J J. Keswick presided, and among those i present were-Messrs. E. Mackintosh, St. C. Michaelsen, N. A. Siebs. G. B. Dedwall, D. Gillies, H, L. Deuoys (Committee), Hon. A.' McConachie, Captain Rumsey, Messrs. C. C. Platt. J. S. Moses, J. D. Hutchison, W. Dauby, G. Murray Bain, J. H. Cox, W Maobeas, G. T. tintou O. irodhinh tà. C C laster, a Ezekiel, J. B. Coughtrie, C. Palmer, J. Gons- mann. B. C. Ray, D... Brown, G. harp, H. Skött, D. R. Sassons. R. Shewan. Rev. G. J. Williams, Capt. Tillett. Messrs. A. Shelton Hooper, S. G. Bird, W. Mathisen, W. A. Duff, F. Jones Hughes, H. inith, Ho Tusg, J. Wheeler, A. Findlay smith. S. L. Darby, f Flolmes, F. W. watts, F. Walker, J. Watson
1. B. Wodehouse, C. A. Tomes, Douglas Jones, AH. Ronnie, E. Goetz, F. Henderson, &o., &c.
The CHAIRMAN said-Gentlemen, the Com- mittee bave summoned you together in order to state that they, having done all that lies in their power to assist in termurating the present laboar strike, now relinquish all farther responsibility, and hope th Government will be suöcessful in bringing the aubappy state of affairs to a speedy cone.nsion. The Committee individually and collectively may see fit to adopt independent action towards terminating the trouble, but in any case they intend in the future, as in the past, to give their loyal support to the Ex sutive. (Applause). Matters now are i just where they wore, and the only thing to do, I fear, is to tire the coolis oat, which is a Hong and expensive process. The costs entailed
are enormous, but as a matter of course the fov-. erument will gain the day in the long rua. Thers onght to be laws in the colony making striking illegal, so that on any recurrenos of such strikes they could be put an end to without the enormous losses entailed by a process of ex haustion. (Applause). The best thing this meet- ine can do is to leave the difficulties and responsi- bilities in the hands of the Government to deal' with (applause); and I would repeat that, so far as this Committee is concerned, its public functions terminato, although it may endeavour to give individual and collective privato assistance. (Applause).
There was a panse of two or three minutes, at the end of whien
Mr. D. E. BROWN Baid-Mr. Chair- man and gentlemen, I do not think that ut the present juucture of the strike, having as sembled here to-day, we should permit this meeting to be adjourned now. We, I think-I at past-came here to-day to listen to some facther suggestions from the members of the community who were possibly not present at the mooting on
Thursday, I think by adjourning now
फासे would very material- ly weaken the hands of the Government. We should be here to-day to demonstrate to the strikers that the community is working in per feat accord with the Government and that we are willing to continue our exertions on behalf of the Government. (Applause). I think it would be a very great mistake to let this meeting terminalo now. Before the meeting on Thursday--and I might say that has all along
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been the desire ou the part of the community- it was considered advisable that the shipping community should unite and formulate amongst them wives some scheme that would prove of as- sidanos to the Government in quelling what I do not consider a strike but a rebellion. (Applause.) A strike in its proper senso, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I consider is one in which the employ- ed have a grievance against the employer of la bour; in this case, it is clearly demonstrated thei strikers have no grievance against their em- ployers. They are satisfied apparently with the. wages they are getting and the treatment they receive at the hands of the employers, but ba causea certain number of the Chinese community see fit to disagree with and become disgusted with the laws enacted by our Government, I do not think we Europeans should countenance any action on their part with that end in view. We Europeans have to conform with the laws; why should not the Chinese ? (Applause). I did not intend to speak and I do not think I should, had there not been a possibility of the meeting being declared closed; and I hope anything I have had o say will be taken kindly and will' lave good effect. My company stands preparod to join the other shipping firms in the colony in devising some scheme either to bring in for sign labour or any other means that will assist the Goveromcat in putting down this rebellion.
Loud applause).
Mr. HO TUNG-Grutlemen, if you will allow me I have a few romarks to make. Furthermore, ' if ny English is not sufficient to express my views I bope you will make me every allowance. On Friday last, when the Chinese depatation eams to meet the Committes, it appears to my mind that there were only two things to be done One was for the Government to be very firm and to take all consequences, and the other was to see whether we could modify so as not to lose the credit of the Government, but at the same time to induce the strikers to ter- minate. The deputation distinctly said that nothing would be done befors the Governor's proclamation, bat unfortunately the Gover- nor was afloat, and the Colonial Secretary was interviewed and our suggestions were laid before his. I bare no hesitation in saying that if any gentleman bere had been here on Friday, being over anxious at the loss which he had ul. ready sustained, he would have some to no conclu- sion but the one that the Committeo and tho de putation did come to. The circular was nothing, it was merely a publication of what actually took place and nothing more. You see, gentlenen, it is very unsy to criticise after what has been done, but when you come and work it is quite a different matter. Personally I strongly admire the Government for being firm, because I must strongly condemu the strikers, but I have no hesitation in saying that the Government might hare adopted better and more propor prepara. tious, so as to provide the mercantile com- munity with sufficient labourers. They anti- eipted the strike months ago, and they could have adopted some batter preparations so as to avoid the throwing away of thousands of dollars every day by the mercantile community. It is Fery easy for some gentlemen to say that the leading Chinese are at the bottom of this strike, or that they have been sympathis. ing with the strikers. Well, gentlemen. I appeal to you, as successful business men, to think what benefit or what good the leading Chinese derive from this strike, considering the very heavy losses which they have already sustained. They are not exaggerated, and if you were to go through the figures, I would be able to prove that so far we have lost. if not more, at least as much as the Euro- paans. I further appeal to the Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, who is in close coutor with the leading Chinese, and I wonder whether
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