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The Chairman. And do you, as a leading Chinese gentleman, want to have rick- sha and chair coolies in the employ of Chinese registered?
A.-I don't think so.
Q. Why not?
A. If you register them they will charge more.
Q-Why? Suppose there was no fee for registration ?
A. Because there is so much work about in the Colony nowadays that they will go somewhere else if they are placed under restriction.
Q.-But if they can go elsewhere and get better work, why do they become chair coolies in the first place?
the
A. It is very easy work for them.
Q.-But I asked you why you objected to registration and you said it would raise wages and that the coolies would be placed under restrictions. There would be no restriction in registration. Any other reason?
A. Because the other labourers are not registered.
Q.-But public chair and ricksha coolies are registered or licensed ?
A.-I am talking of those labourers engaged by contractors. An ordinary coolie if he works diligently can earn 40 cents a day. Most of them get 40 cents.
Q. Is that an earth coolie ?
A.-An earth coolie gets 30 cents a day.
Q. But these are unskilled labourers, are they not?
A. Good ordinary labourers.
Mr. Badeley. Is an earth coolie about the lowest ?
A. Yes.
Q.Then thirty cents will be the lowest wage ?
A. That is squeeze price.
The Chairman.That is not the wage the coolie gets, you can depend upon that, Witness. If the contractor engiges permanent coolies, he does not have to pay so much. But, if he wants outside coolies he has to pay more.
These coolies you see on the street with a pole, every one of them makes forty cents a day. Other coolies make fifteen dollars a month and some even make more.
Mr. Wilcox.-Do you think there is any organization in the Colony for keeping up the rates of labour-an organization of headmen or guilds?
A.-No.
Q.-There is a very strong belief in certain circles that more coolies could be easily obtained if they were allowed to come into the Colony. Have you any reason
to think so?
A.-No, I have not heard that.
The Chairman.-It would be a thorough Chinese practice, Mr. Fung Wa Chun, if they combined to keep up the price. You would not be surprised if you were told it was the truth, would you?
A.—I think different parties of coolies combine to a certain extent. Those who get only eight dollars would refuse to work unless they got eight and-a-half, but I don't think they are led by any headmen.
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