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Q. How does that compare with five years ago?
A. Gazette.
I cannot tell you that. You will find all these particulars published in the The Market Rent Roll has increased. For instance there is a new Market at
Tai Kok Tsui.
The Chairman.--Have you yourself ever had occasion to consider this question of Markets, on what principles they should be managed and what objects they have in view?
A.-I have not studied the question.
Q.-About how many stalls are vacant in the whole of the ten Markets ?
A. -Well, there are some stalls in one or two Markets which have never been let.
Q.--That is in the Western Market?
A.--No; there is never a stall vacant there.
Q. Do you know any reason why these ship chandlers should be allowed in the Market? If they were cleared out and compelled to take shops outside as other trades- men in the same way do there would be far more room in the Market for other people.
A.—I do not know the reason they were allowed in, but I suppose it was because it was thought to be convenient for any one going to the Market to be able to get every- thing one wanted at the same place.
Mr. Maitland. Would it not be possible to impose some penalty if anyone were found sub-letting his stall?
A.-I think it is against the Ordinance, but you cannot get the Chinese to give evidence in Court unless there is some very strong feeling of enmity against the holder of the stall.
The Chairman. You say there is not enough Market accommodation ?
A.-No.
Q-For what particular class of goods is there most need for extension -meat or poultry or fish?
A.—There are a great many vegetable hawkers in the streets, and if they are all to be put in the Markets you will want a great many more vegetable stalls.
Q.-Is there any advantage in having butchers in the Markets?
A.-The advantage of having them in the Markets is that they are under supervi- sion and cleanliness is enforced,
Q.-Take the case of the ordinary Chinese shop where rice, fire-wood, and other commodities are sold-there are hundreds of these in the city-why should not a vege- table shop be just as well looked after in the streets as these shops are ?
A.—We have not a sufficient sanitary staff at present to look after them.
Q.-I suppose you have to pass regulations that these shops are to be built in a certain way-concreted and so on?
A.—If they were kept clean it would relieve the congestion of the Markets to a great extent.
Q.-Who sees to the cleanliness of the Market?
A. The Inspector.
Q.--And whom is he under ?
A. He is specially under Mr. Ladds.
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