Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 835

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Q. Do you think, if you paid them exorbitant wages that they would have come to your service?

A.-Well, I paid the rate in vogue three years ago, namely eight and-a-half dollars.

Mr. Wilcox.--That was a good rate at that time.

The Chairman.---Were they satisfied with that?

A.-They were quite satisfied. I don't remember them asking for more--the two of them at all events.

Q. Can you draw any comparison between the present chair and ricksha coolie and chair and ricksha coolies of former days as to their willingness and as to their strength and skill?

A.—I never heard anything in the way of objections in former days, that is, from 15 to 25 years ago.

I never heard any objection made to carry a man up and down, to or from the Peak, once down and once up a day. The coolies objected, if any master or mistress had not consideration enough and asked them to carry them down a second time. They were only too glad to go up to the Peak and carry their master down to the office and up again at night for an extra dollar a month and the wages in those days were six dollars a month. By giving them an extra dollar, they were quite pleased.

Q.--Can you give us any suggestion arising out of the long experience you have bad as to how the present difficulties can be overcome?

A.-Well, the present difficulties have arisen from a number of causes. Of course the coolies can do just as well if not much better outside of private employment. I just jotted down a few figures this morning that might be interesting to the Commis- sion. I understand that there are no guilds for rick sha or chair coolies. That is what I am told positively.

Q.-Have you made direct inquiries on that point?

A. I have made inquiries on that point.

Mr. Wilcox. But there are clubs, are there not?

A.--Coolies club together. I cannot find out any more than that.

Q. Are there no clubs of certain districts ?

A. I have not learned of anything of that sort. I suppose I should have been told when I was making these inquiries as I was very particular in the making of them. Coolies combine themselves together in these licensed coolie lodging houses for separate purposes. These lodging houses have been licensed of late years. Here is one of the licences for these lodging houses. [Produces licence.] When there are over nine in the houses or floor of the house they must get one of these licences. There have been known cases of 150 under one licence but that is not a common number. I find several tens are about the common number. Of course, before these licences came into vogue, coolies were quite free to do what they liked. We charge no fee for these licences in the Registrar General's Office nor is any fee charged in the Sanitary Department. We send Inspectors down to inspect the houses before the licence is granted, but of course, these licences have been one factor, I presume, in the present difficulties. Coolies were free to go where they liked, but now they are brought under restrictions. That has been necessary, and I don't see how it can be avoided. The rent difficulty is a very serious difficulty. These coolies have to pay a dollar a month, and there are cases where they have to pay two dollars. They share the rent when a number of them club together for a house.

The Chairman.-These are public chair coolies though.