Sessional_Paper_1907 — Page 984

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The Hotels, Boarding Houses, &c., in the Colony have given up the sterling basis and thus the prices of living have increased. The Government, too, draws Crown Rents, taxes, hospital fees, and postal charges in dollars. Thus every month our salaries are being steadily decreased while other charges are being increased, even down to a 10c. richsha ride which little more than three years ago was less than two pence but is now more than two pence-halfpenny.

We submit that a bachelor Government Servant cannot live and hope to save anything for his passage home under $300 a month, while a married Civil Servant of necessity requires much more. As it is a Junior Assistant is receiving less than $200 a month. Thus not only is an unfair bar put upon marriage but the Civil Servants have to eke out the means of livelihood from private sources. Most of the large Hougs and business firms in the Colony have made allowance in the shape of bonus, compensation, or some form of immediate relief for circumstances which are entirely exceptional and which if unrelieved will become intolerable.

To His Excellency

We have, &c.,

T. K. DEALY.

E. RALPHS.

A. W. GRANT,

A. H. COOK.

R. J. BIRBECK.

G. P. DE MARTIN.

R. E. O. BIRD.

H. L. GARRETT.

Enclosure 6 a.

HONGKONG, 26th November, 1906.

Sir MATTHEW NATHAN, K.C.M.G.,

Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hongkong, ýe.

The humble petition of the undersigned European members of the Staff of the Harbour Department praying for immediate relief in the matter of their personal emoluments sheweth :

:

That in January, 1903. when the Sterling Salaries Scheme generally came into force, the average rate of exchange for that month was 1s. 7d. to the dollar as against 2s. 33d. for this month in January 1903, £10 equalled $126.32 and $100 plus exchange compensation totalled $189.47, whereas at the present time £10 equals only $87.27 and $100 plus ex- change compensation totals only $130.90 meaning a decrease or reduction of over 14% in either case.

That whilst in consequence of the continued rise in exchange, petitioners' monthly income from the Government is thus considerably less month by month, their house-rent and the cost of most of the necessaries of life, such as eggs, beef, &c., &c., are not reduced.

That having been placed in such a situation and having no means of pecuniary assist- ance petitioners venture with due respect to solicit His Excellency to give this, petitioners' prayer, early consideration and to take such steps as to His Excellency seem reasonable at an early date.

And petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.

E. JONES.

E. J. MEUGENS.

WILLIAM A. CRAKE.

WILLIAM RUSSELL.

JAMES MACDONALD.

MURDOCK MCIVER.