Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 810

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION APPOINTED BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR TO ENQUIRE INTO AND REPORT ON THE QUESTION OF THE EXISTING DIFFICULTY OF PROCURING AND RETAIN ING RELIABLE

CHAIR AND JINRICKSHA COOLIES FOR PRIVATE CHAIRS AND JINRICKSHAS.

The undersigned, Members of a Commission appointed to inquire into and report on the question of the existing difficulty of procuring and retaining reliable private chair and jinricksha coolies, have the honour to report as follows :—

1. We have held 14 Meetings between 3rd September and 4th November, 1901, and have examined 30 witnesses.

2. We have ascertained the views, on certain points, of over 120 residents by means of a printed paper of questions, which forms Appendix C.

3. The answers to those questions show conclusively that there has been difficulty in procuring and retaining reliable private chair and ricksha coolies.

4. As to the causes of the existing difficulty, we find that the main cause of the difficulty in procuring such coolies is a demand for increased wages, which many nou- Chinese refuse to pay.

5. We observe that there has apparently been no difficulty in procuring six hundred coolies from China to man the three hundred new public rickshas which have recently been licensed. Further, we observe from the annual reports of the Captain Superintend- ent of Police that in the year 1897, 7,164 drivers and bearers were licensed; in the year 1898, 8,252; in the year 1899, 8,923; and in the year 1900, 9,984, or an increase of 2,820 drivers and bearers in a period of 4 years, that is, an increase of nearly 40 per cent. in the number of drivers and bearers. These figures seem to show that the demand for public chair and ricksha coolies has been amply met, and lead us to the conclusion that there is an adequate number of men procurable for private service, provided the wages offered approach in amount the takings of the licensees of public vehicles.

6. We are of opinion that the price of lodging is not as a rule a serious factor in the matter, because private coolies are usually lodged, rent free, by their masters; and we think that the increased cost of food has been approximately met by the advance in wages which has occurred in the last five years.

7. The demand for wages exceeding $8 a month seems, in the main, due to the fact that the calling of a public chair or ricksha coolie, especially the latter, is more lucra- tive, and induces private coolies to leave to join the ranks of public coolies.

3. The evidence tends to show that no regular guilds of chair and ricksha coolies exist, but each lodging house seems to be an effective centre for combination.

9. The causes of the difficulty in retaining such coolies when procured are:-

A. That such coolies, in many cases, object to perforin odd jobs, such as chit carrying, punkali pulling, tennis fielding, housework, &c., which they once did without demur,

B. That there is some doubt whether the law makes it penal for such coolies to neglect their duty, or to absent themselves from duty, or to leave service without notice, or to disobey lawful and reasonable orders, &c., &c., although such a law exists in respect of domestic servants. (Vide section 3 sub-section 3 of Ordinance 14 of 1845.)

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