36
20
3. The European resident, unlike the local labourer, purchases many articles which have to be imported from He is therefore countries with sterling or gold currencies. affected by variations in the exchange value of these currencies as expressed in terms of the silver dollar. The collapse of the American dollar caused a considerable cheapening in the prices of articles imported from the U.S.A., but although the silver dollar showed a gradual improvement in its exchange value vis-à-vis sterling throughout the year, no noticeable effect was apparent in the local prices of articles imported from England. It is a commonplace that the adjustment of local prices always lags behind a rise in the sterling value of the silver dollar.
AVERAGE RATES OF WAGES FOR LABOUR.
Building Trade :--
Carpenters
Bricklayers
Painters
Plasterers
Scaffolders
Labourers (male)
(female)
Transport Workers :— Tram drivers
conductors
"J
Bus drivers
conductors
"
21
$36 to $45 per month.
30 to 39 50 per month. 20 to 25 per month.
"
19
Working hours, nine per day. Free uniform. Bonus at end of year.
Railway Workers (Government) :·
Engine drivers
Firemen
Guards
Signalmen
Station Masters
Booking Clerks
Telephone operators
99
"}
$540 to $1,000 per annum.
330 to
600 to
480 1,000
$1
600 to 1,000 1,100 to
17
$1.15 per day.
1.10
600 to
1,800 1,000
"
""
480 to 1,000
""
17
1.10
Female Workers in Factories:
12
"?
1.10
Cigarette making
$0.40 to $0.80 per day.
27
19
Knitting factories
1.70
22
"
Perfumery
0.80
Confectionery
0.20 to 0.55 0.20 to 0.50 0.20 to 0.60
95
71
0.50
33
35
$1.45 to $1.80 per day.
1.20 to 1.80
Fitters
Sawmillers
Boilermakers
1.00 to
0.80 to 1.80
1.00 to 1.40
1.50
""
"
**
Working hours, nine per day. Time and a half paid for overtime. Free temporary quarters provided on the building site and communal messing at cheap rates.
Shipbuilding and Engineering :-
Electricians
Coppersmiths
"
Working hours from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. One hour off at mid- day. Over-time from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at day rates.
Domestic Servants :-
Employed by Chinese
Employed by Europeans
Gardeners
$7.00 to $20.00 per month.
15.00 to 40.00 " 15.00 to 30.00
"}
"
With free lodging, and with Chinese employers, generally free board.
NOTE: The rates of pay of Government employees approximate closely
to those of a similar category in private employ.
AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS, ETC.
Sailmakers
1.00 to
1.50
1932.
1933.
11
Rice (3rd. grade)
8.4 cents per catty
7.6 cents per catty
Blacksmiths
0.80 to
1.20 71
13
Fresh fish
.31.4
31.8
17
17
17
وو
"}
Turners
1.00 to
Patternmakers
1.00 to
1.40
1.40
""
Salt fish
34.6
27.8
اور
32
27
"
Beef
48
44.4
وو
22
J
22
"
35
"1
11
Pork
55
51.4
22
""
22
"
27
Labourers
Over-time-time and a half. Night work-double time.
0.50 to 0.80
17
Oil
..24.2
21.4
"
"
23
22
"}
Firewood
.10
for 8 catties
10
""
A
for 9 catties
37
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