Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 820

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Q-Have you had any complaints from Chinese about not being able to obtain proper servants ?

A.-No, I have not.

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Q. What is your opinion about fixing the rate of pay for these private servants in the same way as the rate is fixed for cargo boats, sampans and public conveyances

?

Mr. Badeley.--It is not fixed at all. It is so much a job for them, not so much a month.

The Chairman.What about regulating wages in the same way as fares are regu- luted? Have you thought of that?

A. Yes, the last proposal I made to the Government was to put the procuring of these coolies into the hands of a headman. I approached a man on the subject and one great difficulty in this question is the question of accommodation. The reason I mentioned earlier in my evidence that the coolies were practically limited in number is a fact and a reason for that is that there are not enough houses in the Colony to admit of this class coming here freely to live. Coolies won't come down from Hoi Fung to this place unless they can do so at very small cost. They have not got any money and unless they can find accommodation with some friends they won't come. That is one reason why the supply is limited. I approached this man and he said, "If you get the Government to put up some coolie houses and let them to me, on reasonable terms, I will undertake to supply you with any number of good, strong private ricksha and chair coolies at $9 a month each for hill and low-level work." That was on the assumption that he could rent the houses from Government at about 50 cents per head of coolie inhabitant. That is that with twenty coolies on a floor the rent would be $10 for the floor. Those are the rates of some time ago, before rents had gone so high. Then I said "Suppose Government are not disposed to go in for this capital expendi- ture and you have to find the houses ?" He said "Well, I am prepared to build houses, but then I will have to charge $10." That is to say if you gave him a sort of direct offer for all these coolies, he would supply you with coolies for private service at $10 a bead. He is a man whom I have had a good many dealings with.

Q.-

-Do you mind giving us his name?

A.-I prefer not to give his name as he might get into trouble, but he is a man I have confidence in as to his ability to do what he says he will do.

Q-I suppose Mr. Badeley knows him?

A. Yes, Mr. Badeley knows him.

Witness.-I think this scheme must have a headman in the saine way as I have got a headman at the Peak to run chairs there, and have got headmen for the rick- sha coolies and for the licensed chair coolies.

The Chairman.-Can you tell us what are the rates at present prevailing in regard to private chair and ricksha coolies-the rates of pay I mean?

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A.-Well, they have risen considerably, and the coolies, I think, are trying, as far can see, to get them up still higher. I should say the rates now run from $8 to $11. I don't think there are many rates under $8.

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Mr. Wilcox. There are very few at $11, I think.

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Witness. I know a case at Queen's Gardens in which, unless I am misinformed, $11 are paid.

Mr. Badeley.-Last summer, I think $9 was the highest at the Peak.

The Chairman,-Do you know of any special class of the community who are apt to give or who do give higher rates without there apparently being any unusual reason?