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Mr. Ladds.-The hawker is not a hawker at all. He sets his stall down in the street and remains there.
Mr. Osborne.--He belongs to the shop he squats in front of very often.
Mr. Francis.-What proportion of the present Market accommodation is given up to fruit and vegetable sellers?
A.--I suppose about 25 per cent.
Q-And how much additional accommodation would be required in the Markets if the sale of vegetables is to be confined there?
A.-I have a few notes about the Markets. My opinion is that there ought to be another Market in front of the present Central Market in addition to it--for poultry and fish. Then I think there ought to be another Market in front of the Harbour Office on the reclamation,
Q. What about the Western Market ?
A. The Western Market might be double its present size.
Q. And the East?
A.--You want to have another Market later on. The new ones should be on the sea shore as much as possible. There should also be another Market this side of the Sailors' Home.
Mr. Osborne. They have got a site exactly opposite there.
Mr. Ladds.--That was recommended in 1886, as a Market.
Mr. Francis.--Would it not be advisable to have Markets for Chinese chow exclusively.
A. No, I don't think it would.
QIs it not the reason of the hawkers, the necessity of supplying the poorer Chinese practically at their own doors with vegetables?
A.-No.
Q.--What is the reason for the existence of so many hawkers?
A.-I don't know.
Dr. Hartigan. In other words the hawker has to look for the buyer?
A.-Certainly. That is, he is supposed to do so, but he generally squats in one place. Mr. Francis remarked that Chinese servants could buy from hawkers up at the Peak.
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Mr. Marshall. And very much cheaper than at the Market too.
Mr. Ladds. These men buy all their stuff in the Market before they hawk it—or the majority of them do.
Mr. Osborne.—It would be an excellent thing if we could devise some means of encouraging bona fide hawking throughout the Colony.
Mr. Ladds. All these hawkers buy their stuff in the Market.
Mr. Francis.--What about all these compradores selling hams and tinned provisions
in the Market? What business have they there?
A. They are a convenience to Europeans.
Q.-Why should they not be in Queen's Road, outside the Market?
A.—But there are only a few of them.
Mr. Osborne.--A man rents a stall in the Market for $10 while others have to pay heavy rents outside.
A.-They are practically the same amount outside.
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