( 26 )
Q. Do you think it would do any good if a number of places for public chairs were placed all up the hillsides?
A.-I think it would be a great convenience to the public. I think it would be a great benefit to the community if there were some ricksha stands for the Caine Road, the rickshas to keep on the upper levels, and go round to Pokfulam and Aberdeen.
The Chairman.-You want one from Government House to the Civil Hospital.
Mr. Badeley. It is not a very great hardship to come down to Queen's Road and do that journey.
Witness. I think they would find employment.
Mr. Badeley. I was thinking more of chairs, because the people who are really at the mercy of these chair coolies are the people who live up on the hillsides.
Witness. I think it would be a very great convenience to the Peak residents to have one or two stands there. It is very awkward to send from Mount Kellett for a chair and get one back in time for a tram. It would undoubtedly be a convenience to have one there.
The Chairman. That question bears on the point as to how we can combat the private chair coolics.
Witness. I don't know whether, if there were a few more of those vehicles licensed, it might not have an effect upon the prices. For example, take a Saturday afternoon, and you come down to the Queen's Road at the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, you have the greatest difficulty in finding a chair or ricksha.
Mr. Baddeley.
There is no limit to the number of public chairs.
The Chairman-I don't quite follow you, Mr. Ball.
Witness. If you had a greater number of vehicles plying for hire you reduce the profits, as the work would be distributed over a greater number of men.
Q.-But would not that diminish the number of coolies in private employ ?
A-It might do so. It might also have the other effect of bringing down more men from the country.
Q. Is there anything you wish to add, Mr. Ball, anything you have not touched apon or would like to speak to us about?
A.—It seems to me that if this Ordinance were brought into effect it would have to be carried out strictly. For many years there was a very lax system of enforce- ment, and finally, after a few years, people gradually dropped off registering their ser- There was no police control for many years and the consequence was that bit by bit the Ordinance became a dead letter. I believe I kept it up as long as, or longer than, any one in the Colony. If we have an Ordinance again, it would be well that we have some sort of security for the servants.
vants.
The Chairman.—But if they are bound to get security from some one, they will be charged a commission and that will be sure to add to the wages.
Witness. Then if you have a security as in the case of a merchant's firm where the Compradore secures all the servants, the Compradore is responsible for them.
The Chairman.-We will have some of these Compradores before us and ask them a few questions. Have you any thing further?
A.-Any complaints about servants? ought to be taken notice of.
That is a point in the Ordinance that
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.