Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 949

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to running the ricksha, he would leave; these have been Chin Chew men. My present coolie is a Hakka man, and understands very little Cantonese.

4. Nine Dollars per month.

5.—Seven Dollars per month.

6. Yes, not only coolies, but boys, cooks and other servants.

JOHN A. JUPP, "Ian Mor," Peak Road.

1.-Yes.

2. Not lately.

3.

-

The question of wages was the principal difficulty: until I paid $9.00 a month to each coolie I was unable to procure any. A number of coolies left my employ com- plaining of too much work; they seemed to think that if they carried me to my office in the morning and brought me back at night it was all they ought to be expected to do.

4.-$9.00 a month.

5.-$7.00 to $7.50 a month.

6.-Yes.

H. KUSAKABE & Co., "Edenhall," Lower Richmond Road.

1.-Yes.

2.—Yes.

3.- (1.) There is no place to apply for coolies. (2.) We don't know, our coolies will not stay long.

but

generally

4-$8.00 for one chair coolie when chair is carried by two coolies. $8.00 for ricksha coolie when we employ two coolies for one ricksha, but if one coolie only for a ricksha we have to pay $10.00 for one coolie.

5. We don't know.

6. We hope a system of licensing or registration is introduced, but we are not in favour of making persons liable to a fine, as we are not sure whether all the good coolies will register or not, and probably we can get honest coolies among those who have no licence.

D. R. LAW, "Formosa," The Peak.

1.-It is not an easy matter to secure reliable coolies.

2.—Yes, they come and go as it pleases them.

3.—The great demand and the restless spirit engendered thereby. When employ- ment is easily procured and there is no incentive to behave and retain their situations, the coolies take offence at the smallest provocation (?) and leave first favourable opportunity, very often at much inconvenience to their employers. Were situations difficult to obtain this would disappear. The fact is demand is greater than the sunnlv.

4.-$8.50

5.-$7.50.