CO129-281 - Governor Sir Robinson & Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [1-3] — Page 451

) (

444

1st. Class P. C. 75 cents per month,

2nd. Do. Do. 55

Do.

DO.

DO.

3rd. Do. Do. 45 Do.

2. In the Report of the Commission which sat

in 1889 on the question of an increase to the salaries of

Public Officers it is stated that between 1879 and 1889 the

cost of living for Chinese had increased 10 per cent, while

the rent of Chinese houses had increased 100 per cent.

Nevertheless in 1894 I urged on the Retrench -

ment Committee the recommendation for the abolition of the

quinquennial bonuses to Chinese which had already received

the sanction of the Secretary of State, and the bonuses were

accordingly abolished.

Since the Retrenchment Committee sat, however

the European and Indian Police have had their pay increased

by the grant of the privilege of Exchange Compensation where-

as, as mentioned above the Chinese Police have had their pay

reduced.

This is a subject which I had intended call-

ing attention to before the Wa Lane gambling scandal became

known.

3. But since the Retrenchment Committee sat

in 1894 the cost of living in the Colony for all classes

has risen enormously.

I noticed it the day I landed from leave of

absence in October 1896, for I was unable to procure chair

coolies