Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 819

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Q-Then, I take it you think it would be better to allow a certain time within which all servants and coolies should be registered?

way.

A.No, I don't think it is a question of time. What you want is to prepare the

66 prepare the way "?

Q.--What do you mean by A.-Well, I think, if these coolies were licensed and registered there ought to be a headman through whom you could work. Some man ought to be a headman of all these coolies and get coolies for you. No doubt, he would make something out of it, but if you got hold of such a man and got him to undertake to get you coolies, I think you might put the thing through without any strike. That is what I mean.

If you went and tried to license them offhand without making any provision for a strike you. would possibly have some trouble.

Mr. Wilcox.-Would it cause less trouble if you took them in detachments so to speak-a district at a time perhaps?

A.-You would have to do the whole thing at once.

The Chairman.--Do you think it would be advisable to make any Ordinance that might be introduced come into effect in the winter time instead of the summer?

A.--I have always chosen that season in bringing the question up. My idea was to get the law passed and put into force in December when the weather is cool and people can do without chairs. You can smash any strike here inside of a month.

Q.--I quite agree with you that it is the best time of the year. Now, should there be a central registry office, separate from any Government Department, or do you think that the registration should be conducted in the Registrar General's Departinent or Police Office at the Central Police Station ?

A.--Well, I don't want to take any more work on the Police, but I think the Police Office is the proper place to have it done, because they would have the means of doing it better.

Q.-You think the Police is the proper department because they would do it better and have more power ?

A. They have more facilities for taking action when complaints reach them.

Mr. Wilcox. It might be a sub-department perhaps?

A. I would license them just like the licensed coolies. It simply means a Chinese Clerk and some more work for Mr. Badeley and myself.

Mr. Wilcox. In the Straits Settlements they have a sort of separate sub-depart- ment under the Municipality, and it works very well I believe.

Witness. Of course I only mean that, as things are at present, probably the most efficient departinent for this work would be the Police. I am not saying it is the best possible arrangement.

The Chairman.—What are your ideas as to how an Ordinance having such pro- visions could be enforced ?

A.-Well, I think that, as we are situated here, the Police Department is the best. It is just like the licensing of dogs. The Police would have to run a coolie in for hiring himself without a licence and they might have to summons men also for hiring coolies who have no licence and so on. The Police Department is the proper one for that.

Q.-Sub-head (d.) under the Commission reads as follows-" whether any proposed legislation or other measures should embrace coolies in the employ of Chinese and non-Chinese alike." What is your opinion on that point?

A.-I see no necessity to extend it to Chinese.