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gressing, even though slightly, towards civilisation as we understand it in the West their expenses increase. Then the price of cash has gone up in China, and I suppose the rate of exchange has something to do with it. The overcrowding of Hongkong has raised the rentals of places of residence. Everything has gone up in China itself.
Mr. Maitland. In the case of beef, the increased price is not on account of a com- bination on the part of the dealers ?
A.--I have not heard of any combination on the part of the dealers.
Q-Have you formed any opinion as to whether the New Territory could or could not be made to supply us with all the cattle and vegetables we require if proper steps were taken ?
A.-It would supply us with a very large quantity. I cannot say whether it would supply us with all we wanted.
Q.-From your knowledge of the Chinese character which do you think would be the best way of inducing the Chinese, of their own free will, to go in for the cultivation of vegetables, the breeding of cattle, the raising of poultry and all the things we want here ?
A. You might perhaps issue notices among the people over there. You might perhaps get hold of some of the leading Chinese and imbue them with the importance of the matter and the advantage it would be to their countrymen.
Q.-Would you be in favour of stocking the young farmers with young cattle for breeding purposes?
A.-It might be tried.
Q. How do you think it would work? Do you think they would take advantage of the liberality of the Government and apply the cattle to their own use, or honestly endeavour to use them for the purpose of breeding?
A.-I think some security would be needed before anything of the sort was done. Q.-You know what success the late Horticultural Society had in encouraging the raising of flowers and vegetables?
A.-I suppose you mean we have had more vegetables and flowers grown since then?
Q.—Yes.
A.-The Chinaman will always do anything if you give him the dollars; there is no doubt about that. If you can only get him to see it; that is the point.
Mr. Maitland.-Have you ever heard of any European having shares in stalls in the Market?
A.-There is none now, but there was a European with a share in a stall in the Market two or three years ago.
Q-Have you ever heard of Mr. Howell, the Court bailiff, having a share in the Hongkong Butchery?
A.- No.
This concluded Mr. Ball's evidence.
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