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Q.-Have you never engaged any?
A.-No.
Q. Do you engage any for your masters in the firm ?
A. Yes.
Q. And when you engage coolies for them, how do you set to work and where do you go to find them ?
A.I tell the porter or gate keeper to look for coolies.
Q. And does he invariably get them for you?
A. Yes.
Q.-Have you ever had any difficulty?
A. Yes, I have had some difficulty. When they thought that the master was bad tempered or the wages too low then they would not come.
We want facts.
Q.-Have you had difficulty on these two accounts? Mr. Badeley. Have any coolies ever refused to come because the master was bad tempered ?
A.-On account of the wages being too low, they have refused to come.
The Chairman. What wages do the gentlemen in your firm pay?
A.-A chair coolie gets eight or eight and-a-half dollars a month.
Q. What are they paid now?
A.-Formerly they used to pay seven and seven and-a-half but now they get the money I mentioned.
Q.-What about ricksha coolies ?
A.-We don't engage ricksha coolies.
Q.-You are under a bond to your firm are you not ?
A. Yes.
Q. Is it in your agreement or bond that it is part of your duty to engage coolies for your masters ?
A. You see I am simply an Assistant Compradore and there is no stipulation in my agreement as to its being part of my duty to engage coolies.
Q. When did the Chief Compradore fall sick?
A. Last evening.
Q.-Is he very seriously ill ?
A. No, not very ill.
Q. When will he be well again?
A.-It is difficult to say.
Q. Do you think he will be well to-morrow?
A. Yes, I think so.
Q.-Do you, as a Chinese gentleman, think that private chair and ricksha coolies in Chinese employ should be registered or licensed ?
A. Well, I think if their wages are increased a little bit you would be entitled to register them. I think they would have to pay a certain fee for registering them- selves.
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