Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 881

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Mr. Wilcox. You are not aware of the existence of any headmen who make it their business to bring in coolies to supply the market?

A.-I have not heard that.

Q-Or keep the supply below the demand?

A. No, I have not heard.

The Chairman.-How do you account for it, supposing there is a less supply than a demand ? There are lots of, millions of coulies in China who would be only too glad to come here and earn as much as seven and eight dollars per month?

A.-That is a thing I don't see myself, Sir.

Q.-Mr. Wilcox suggests as a reason that there is an organised scheme for keep- ing the number of available coolies down?

A.—I don't think that is a reason, I have not heard anything about it.

Q-What is the reason, do you know?

A.-Well, take my own chair coolies at eight and-a-half dollars. Nowadays food and everything else is much dearer than before so they have to pay at least three and- a-half or four dollars a month for their chow whereas before two and-a-half dollars was sufficient. When I first engaged coolies, their pay used to be seven dollars a month. From seven it rose up to eight and-a-half. Last year, for one month, I had to pay $9.25. This was in the plague time and I could not get any coolies. Mr. Tomlin, of the China Fire, is paying $9.50 now, if I am not mistaken.

For Mr. Playfair's coolies, the Bank allows $8.50 each. It is not my business to engage coolies for him but I always like to do it for him and the Bank, as I tell you, does not pay more than than $8.50. Sometimes, I have had to pay half-a-dollar each man out of my own pocket for his coolies because he is a heavy man and lives up the Peak Road.

Mr. Badeley.-Doesn't he pay it cut of his own pocket?

A. The Bank pays only $8.50 and as I don't want any trouble over the matter, I just tell the shroff to pay it out of my own pocket. Of course it is not business.

Mr. Wilcox. I understand what the difference in the price of food means. I admit that, but allowing for that, don't you think there ought still to be sufficient at- traction in Hongkong to bring in plenty of coolies?

A. Yes.

Q.-You see the wages they get are much higher than formerly and they have the attraction of a busy place. There must be some reason for the difficulty?

A-I can't say there is any difficulty in getting chair coolies. When I want coolies, I can always get them but I have to pay more than formerly.

Q.-The very fact of your having to pay more points to two things-either the supply is smaller or there is a combination to keep up wages. Is that not so ?

A.--I don't think there is any combination among chair coolies.

Q.-I don't say there is, but I am alluding to coolies and wages in general, you know?

A.--Of course, if there is a combination, every employer would have to pay his coolies about the same rate; but some pay $9.50, some $9.25, others pay $8.50. I know some Chinamen pay only eight dollars a month.

Q. And do think some pay

you

less still ?

A. Yes, some pay $7.50. Before I never heard of such a thing as a coolic coming to his master and asking how many trips he makes and does he dine out often or not.