Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 868

Q.This boycott was removed ?

A. They came back.

Q. Do you think there is a

guild ?

( 53 )

A. Yes.

Q.—Have you ever received any information leading you to suppose there is a guild of coolies ?

A. I have no doubt there is a certain combination, otherwise they would not work as they do.

Q.-Yes, but you are not in possession of any special information on the subject of an organisation, club or guild existing among the coolies of the Colony?

A.—I do not know about private coolies, but outside coolies have a guild. Q.-But public and private chair and ricksha coolies are so much allied that if there is a guild for the one, there must be a guild for the other?

A. There must be.

Q.—I suppose you are not in favour of any regulation for fixing the rate of wages? A. Well, you see the wages are paid according to the work they have to do and according to the distance they have to go. People like Mr. Grote, who live far up the Hill, have to pay higher than the ordinary individual.

Q.-

-Which is the more lucrative of the two-a public chair or private employ ?

A.—I am quae sure that the public chair coolies make much more money than the private chair coolies. The scale has been increased, too, within the last few years.

The Chairman.—I must say that I think that was mistaken policy. They make too much money and that tends to make them more independent.

Mr. Wilcox. I know they rush to carry these men-of-warsmen and soldiers.

Witness. Yes, and from them they get big fares.

The Chairman. Are you or are you not in favour of a fixed rate of pay for coolies in private employ-say a maximum rate?

A. A maximum rate might be fixed, but you see, if this maximum rate is fixed, the coolies won't serve everybody.

Mr. Wilcox. It does not follow that all coolies would be entitled to receive the maximum rate. Doctors, who employ coolies at all seasons, might pay it, and, in the case of a broker who is rushing about all day it might be paid, but in the case of such as yourself who use them only to carry you to the tram or to the office a minimum scale might come in and more especially in the case of an employer who does not ask them to do any other work such as watering the garden or assisting to look after the flowers and various other things-looking after dogs, which they are frequently asked to do. Some coolies do actually nothing but simply carry their employers to and from business.

The Chairman.—I think, if we remember how hard a Chinese works in his own country, that there ought to be no difficulty in inducing him to do whatever he is told to do besides bearing a chair.

Witness. By coming to a proper arrangement with them, they have to do what- ever work they are asked to do. They have to pull the punkah, go to market and all these things. That is the reason we always arrange with the Compradore, who makes them understand that they have to do whatever they are called upon to do.