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Q.-How many months ?
ago
A. About six months ago.
Q.-What is the difficulty?
A. They want high wages. They want more than ten dollars a month.
Q. Is it in your agreement that you shall supply them with coolies?
A. No, that is only a friendly matter.
Q. How do you proceed to get them? You have succeeded sometimes and other times you have not ?
A.-I simply ask the office coolie to go outside and get them.
Q. How does he set to work ?
A. He goes amongst his friends.
Q. You don't engage them directly yourself?
A.- No.
Q.--You ask another man and he works through another man?
A.--Yes.
Q. Do you, as a Chinese gentleman, wish to have your coolies registered or licensed ?
A. Yes, I am in favour of that.
K
Q. Why are you in favour of it? Give us your reason.
A.--I think it will keep them in better order.
Q.-You say you are in favour of Chinese employed coolies being registered—are you in favour of a Chinese who employs unregistered coolies being liable to be punished at the Magistracy? For instance, suppose that you or your friend engage a coolie and the Police find out that he is an unregistered coolie, do you think you or your friend should be made liable to a fine of $5 or more because you have engaged an unregistered coolie? Do you understand what I mean?
A. Yes, I understand what you mean. I don't think you should make it compulsory for a man to engage a registered coolie.
Q. What is the good of registration then if some people engage unregistered coolies ?
A.-Look at the matter in this light. Sometimes a friend recommends you a coolie who is unregistered.
Q.-Well then, but why does he not go and get registered, especially as there are no fees?
A.-Oh, you are not to charge the coolies any fee for the licence! I think it is better then for them all to be registered. I am in favour of masters being punished if they engage unregistered coolies.
Mr. Wilcox. Do you think there is any coolie guild in the Colony-any organi- zation or combination ?
A.-I am not aware of that.
Q.-Have you heard anything about a coolic headman being in such power as to be able to limit the supply of coolies in the Colony?
A.-No, I don't think they have that power.
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