Sessional_Paper_1931 — Page 157

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(c) Occupations of Non-Chinese.

Apart from Public Administration and Defence and Transport and Communica- tion which show large figures owing to the inclusion of the Navy, Army, Air Force and Mercantile Marine, Professional Occupations absorb the largest number of Europeans present in the Colony. "Clerks, Draughtsmen and Typists" form the largest group of the non-Chinese races generally amounting to 1,655 males, while Commercial, Finance and Insurance Occupations include 933 males. The number of Metal Workers is also proportionately high on account of the ship building yards in the Colony.

Professional Occupations absorb the largest number of non-Chinese females in the Colony; they are mainly nurses, teachers, and members of religious bodies. Clerks and Typists also, as was to be expected, form a large porportion and the next group in point of size is of those engaged in Personal (mainly Domestic)

Service.

(d) Child Labour.

No child of Chinese race under 5 years of age, and no non-Chinese child whatso- ever, was reported as having any gainful occupation. A few Chinese children, however, in the age group 5-10 years are given as following some occupation.

as

The following list, Table 36, shows the numbers in each occupational group for the two age periods 5-10 and 11-13 which have been taken "elsewhere representing what should be the primary school age.

As will be seen from the above Table there is very little child labour at least so far as has been reported: The figures given for fishermen and agricultural occupa- tions are to be expected and do not call for any comment. Similarly, those occupied in Transport and Communication are tabulated under "bargemen and boat- men", that is, they are children living afloat who assist in the work of the boat. Beyond these three items there were only 9 male children under 10 reported as having any gainful occupation.

Female children are sent to work at an earlier age than males and the numbers, therefore, are greater. But in no case are they such as to demand further enquiry.

A full list of the occupations of children appears in Appendix D.

(e) Age Distribution in Occupations.

In view of the smallness of the numbers of non-Chinese, it seems better to confine the consideration of the age distribution of the workers in various occupa- tions to those of Chinese Race only.

(i) Males of Chinese Race.

The proportion, per 1,000 at all ages, of males of Chinese race of each of several age groups is shown in Table 37 for the most important groups of occupa-

tions.