(87)
Mr. Wilcox. We have only heard of one person, a doctor, paying eleven dollars. That is the highest.
ning.
The Chairman. The average is about eight-and-a-half.
Witness. That is a reason why they come out to take the rest of the ricksha run-
Q. What is the reason?
A. If they can get an unregistered ricksha to take a man down to Jardine's Bazaar, they take it.
Q.-Yes, but the average wages is $8.50 just now, and why do you want it up to $11 ?
Mr. Badeley.--What he says is that the wages just now are inadequate. Does he mean to say that the wages they are paid as private chair coolies are not enough to live on?
A. Yes.
The Chairman.That is absurd. I pay my coolies a good deal less than you want, and they live perfectly happy.
rent.
Mr. Wilcox.-Private coolies get their quarters and they don't have to pay any
Witness. I know that.
The Chairman. Tell him that we think nine, ten and eleven dollars is too high.
Witness. If I promise to take it on any cheaper, I can't get better men from Chu- chau. Good men would not come.
Q. If the whole thing were in your hands, there should be no difficulty at all?
A.-I want to get good men.
Q.-Exactly; we all want good men, but surely we can get good men without paying all that for them?
A. Formerly food cost two and three dollars a month, now it is five dollars.
Q-But the rise in wages has covered that?
A.-If I can't get such wages as I ask, and I go home to get men, the elders will say to them: "Better stay at home. There is no use going to Hongkong to work so hard for so little."
The Chairman.-Ask him if he will give us a memorandum in Chinese showing us the whole of his scheme. We will have it translated, and tell him that his scale of wages should come down to at least eight, nine, and ten dollars a month.
Witness.-I ask your Honour to let Ngan Sung help me to draw up this scheme.
Mr. Badeley. You can come up to my office if you like.
The Chairman.-We will give him all the help we can.
Mr. Wilcox.-What steps are taken to keep up wages in Hongkong of coolies generally?
A.-Which kind of coolie do you mean?
Mr. Wilcox. Any coolie-cargo coolies or chair coolies.
The Chairman.-Put it this way. Is there anything to prevent them raising the wages? Is there any society or combination for raising the wages?
A.-Last year they had, but not this year.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.