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Witness. No. I have no means of judging.
The Chairman.-I say, assume that registration came to pass ?
Witness. I don't think it is necessary to assume.
Q.-Suppose that registration is introduced, I suppose that you will admit that it must be universally carried out or not at all, in order to be of
A.-All coolies must be registered of course.
any use?
Q. If registration is introduced, does it not seem necessary that all coolies should be registered?
it
A.—I would rather not express an opinion on that. I don't know anything about
Q.Then if a person offers to engage unregistered servants and is allowed to do
so, don't you think that would impair registration and make it of no effect?
A. Not as regards employers that insist upon registered coolies only.
Q.-But if the object is to register all coolies?
A. Of course, if the object is to register all coolies, then register all coolies.
Q.--If universal registration is to be introduced, then masters who employ unregistered coolies should be punished by a fine, and unregistered coolies who enter employ should be liable to a fine?
A.--That is a question I would rather not have anything to do with. I don't think I am competent to give an expression of opinion on it. It seems logically to follow, but I have not studied it.
Q-Suppose then that an unregistered coolie applies for and actually obtains employ- ment and renders himself liable to a fine, why should not the master who engages him not be liable also ?
A.-As a master, I would object to it as being an interference with my liberty. I don't believe in registration for the reason that it leads to absurd results.
Q.--Assume then that you agree that an unregistered coolie who enters into service or offers his services should be punished, don't you think the master who employs the servant should also be punished?
A.--No, I don't.
Q. Where does the justice come in? I am only putting an imaginary case to you. A.--I would rather not answer that question because it leads to absurd results.
Q.--What am I to take as your main objection to making it penal for masters to employ unregistered coolies?
A. Because I don't want to pay a fine. I don't want to be troubled going to the Police Court.
Q. What is your objection to being made liable to pay a fine? That can't be put forward as an argument.
A.—I should like to employ unregistered coolies if there were any going about, and I don't want to be fined for it.
Q. What is your objection apart from the fact that you don't want to be fined? A.-None whatever, except that it is against liberty.
Q. What liberty?
A. Against my employing any one I like.
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