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A. -There would be greater competition, but you would require a larger sanitary staff and constant inspection, and you would have people lying about the meat, and so
I think there are a great many more Markets required.
Qn.
Q.-The Markets are too far apart?
A.-Some of them are far apart, there is no doubt. way from Wanchai.
The Central Market is a long
Q. Is there any other matter about which you could usefully give us information about the Markets or the working of the Markets?
A. The general opinion seems to be that there is a crying want for more Markets in the city. That seems to be a very important matter.
Q.-To what extent would you suggest?
A.-I think we need at least two or three more good Markets in the city.
Q.-Do we want twice as much Market accommodation in the city, as we have, or half as much again or four times as much?
A.-I should think we want two or three more Markets.
Q.-- Don't you think it would be an advantage on the whole if the rents for the stalls were a fixed and definite amount, so that anyone who wanted a stall could get one without being turned out by having his rent raised ?
A. If the Government got a sufficient revenue, I suppose it might do.
Q.-Leaving out of account the question of revenue, if the Government let the stalls at a fixed sum don't you think it would be better?
A.--No doubt it would be more convenient if the charge were a fixed one, but I cannot say that I quite see it in that way. I do not think the Market rents affect the price of food. It seems to me the operation of the law of supply and demand. Every- thing is rising. If you take up a Chinese newspaper you will see how workmen are striking because everything has increased in price in China.
Q. Has not the high rent paid and the fact that certain tradespeople are not allowed to sell their goods except in the Markets something to do with the high price of food?
A. You say high rents. Some of the rents charged for stalls and shops may appear high, but you must remember that there are others which are very low-some as low as $1.50 in some of the Markets.
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-But they are badly placed and no one will go to them.
A.-I was going to say that, and with regard to a fixed rental I question whether the Chinese would like to pay one.
Q.--I do not mean the same rental for every stall, but for every class of stall,
Mr. Maitland.--And then the trouble would be that the Chinese would sub-let?
A.—I do not think reducing the rents of the stalls would cause the price of food to come down.
Mr. Marshall. Have you formed any opinion in your own mind as to why the price of food has gone up?
A.-I think it is the general rise of everything.
The Chairman. But in your opinion what is the prime cause?
A.-That is very hard to say. There seems to be a multiplicity of causes. Living is higher. The Chinese are taking up with more foreign goods, and if a nation is pro-
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