121
4
quite as much wholesome food as they can eat: although I am told that this is not the case on every plantation and as it is impossible for planters to procure for them such food as they use in China the coolies are dissatisfied.
Regarding the complaint re wages, that is a moot point, the coolies, even at the low rate of ten shillings per month now paid them cost the planters about £3.0.0-$15.00 Gold per month; while the expenses of board and lodging, medical attendance and passage money to and from China are added to the amount of ten shillings per month paid to themselves. I am informed that these coolies who have elected to remain here for another three years have done so because their wages have been increased to twenty shillings per month.
In the matter of Hospital treatment the Government Sick takes every care to supply coolies with the best medical attendance and necessaries in suitable buildings put up for their especial use; charging 1/6 per day.
On the other hand there is no doubt that the coolies are on many plantations obliged to work without intermission on every Sunday in the year during the whole of their three years' contract; on the ground that the five or six Chinese holidays yearly claimed by them under the contract are sufficient, This is unquestionably a great hardship, but can only be remedied by the insertion of a special clause in future coolie agreements to the effect that they shall not be obliged to work on Sundays and so do away with this species of
!
121
4
quite as much wholesome food as they can eat: although
I am told that this is not the case on every plantation
and as it is impossible for planters to procure for them
such food as they use in China the coolies are dissatis-
fied.
Regarding the complaint re wages, that is a moot
point, the coolies, even at the low rate of ten
shillings per month now paid them cost the planters
about £3.0.0-$15.00 Gold per month; while the expenses
of board and lodging, medical attendance and passage
money to and from China are added to the amount of ten
shillings per month paid to themselves. I am informed
that these coolies who have elected to remain here for
another three years have done so because their wages
have been increased to`twenty shillings per month.
In the matter of Hospital treatment the Government
Sick takes every care to supply coolies with the best
medical attendance and necessaries in suitable buildings
s d put up for their especial use; charging 1/6 per day.
On the other hand there is no doubt that the coolies
are on many plantations obliged to work without inter-
mission on every Sunday in the year during the whole of
their three years' contract; on the ground that the
five or six Chinese holidays yearly claimed by them
under the contract are sufficient, This is unquestion-
ably a great hardship, but can only be remedied by
the insertion of a special clause in future coolie
agreements to the effect that they shall not be obliged
to work on Sundays and so do away with this species
of
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.