(69)
Q.-Suppose there was no registration fee, are you in favour of registering them? A.—I don't see any harm in having them registered if the Government thinks so. Q.-Suppose they were registered, do you think anyone who engaged an unregis. tered coolie should be liable to be punished?
A.--There is a difficulty in the way. If you fine the coolie, then the master, if the coolie has no money, will have to pay his fine. If you fine the master, then the master will have something to say about registration.
Mr. Badeley. When you have had to engage coolies for the gentlemen in your hong, do you make inquiries as to the work they have done before, what master they have been with before, what character they have and so on?
A. I make no such inquiries at all.
LAU CHU PAK declared:-
The Chairman. You are Compradore at A. S. Watson & Co. ?
A. Yes.
Q. Where is your residence ?
A. My present residence is No. 353, Queen's Road West.
Q. And do you employ ricksha or chair coolies?
*
A.-Ricksha coolies.
Q. No chair coolies?
A.-No.
Q. How many ricksha coolies do you employ?
A. Two.
Q. What wages do you pay them?
A. Nine dollars.
Q. What does that include? Do you give them oil and fire ?
A. Nothing at all.
Q. Do you lodge them?
A. They live outside and buy their own food.
Q.-Five years ago what did you pay ?
A.--Seven dollars.
Q. What accounts for the difference?
A.- an not sure myself, but they say the high cost of living. Q.—Nothing else ?
A. That is the only reason they have.
Q. Do you engage coolies for the gentlemen in Watson & Co.'s ?
A. Yes.
Q. Have you had any difficulty in getting coolies?
A. Recently, I have.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.