251
[April 8, 189,
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND Mr. D. GILLI—I have listened with very mying “Oh, the Government are a poor lot This can be regarded as no deterrent punishmen great interest to the remarks that have fallen from (Laughter), Well, perhaps they are, but give at all. (Applause). I am afraid there is no justi the Chairman and Mr. Mackintosh. There can be them some practical suggestion. Practical men, Boation for the magistrate having noted other no question that this is a very serious time that practical suggestion. Let us go to the Govern- wise, but it be had been empowered-and per- the colony is passing through at present, but ment and hear what they have to say about it. | haps it might be desirable to obtain some powers whether the line of prosedure that has just been Mr. DoDWELL-I am glad to hear what Cap- -if he had been empowered to have ordered the riven to us by Mr. Mackintosh is a proper one tain Rumsey has brought our attention to coolie to be caned with his clothes off, as we questionable. It is perhaps better that we The Government can do more than we as indi. in school used to be caped with our clothes on- should look a little further into the matter, and Tiduals. As Mr. Mackintosh said, we must have (laughter)-given 29 strokes, and then sent see whether or not we are able to arrive at some a strong combination to meet a strong combins-into the street showing his blue and red back, settlement with the Chinese. There has been tion. If the Government can be persuaded to I believe the strike would have been it no effort to come to some arrangement with the import labour. those who are employers of an end. Much time has been lost. I am very men on strike, No doubt they have an idea that labour will be expected to guarantee to take thankful that the Harbour Master, Captain the Government wish to increase the revenue by their labour from the Government at certain Rumsey, has said what has been on my mind faxing them, by putting on them a poll tax, and fixed rates. But if this strike is affecting for many years, namely, that the leading Chi- by taxing them in various other ways, and I think the colony surely it is the colony that should nese, the men of wealth, the men of standing in if these matters were properly explained to the pay for it and not individuals. Most of us are this place, are answerable for a great deal of our Chiness and their wishes obtained as to what agents only and not principa's. We are work, trouble here. (Applause) Asialios do not love they would like, we should arrive at soms satis-ing for other people, and for other peoples' ships, Englishmen except when they are strong, and factory settlement. To-day I had a conversation and very few of us for our own property, and I as long as they are strong and no longer. with several of the head men who were at the think the loss which would otherwise fall on us Englishmen love the weak; the Chinese docks, and so far as they are concerned they individually should really fall on the colony. love the strong, and I think it would be have no grievance, but they say they are afraid The soolies are not working our ships or
the in the present emergency to consult th to work their lives may be in danger. There is colony. Shipowners will avoid the plice, and the Chinese at all. (Applause). I think it no doubt that they wish to help the people in therefore we must do everything we can to get would be undesirable to import a number Hongkong, but at the same time they do not coolies to take the place of the coolies now on of Japanese at the present time, and especially wish to lose their employment at the docks. Istrike. There are many places from which coolies under our recent enlightenment with regard to questioned them as far as I could to find ont can be got, but the trouble is there would be Japanese, Japanese are Asiaties, and I do not what it was they would like the Company to do great delay. We want to get them quickly. The think the Japanese are very fond of us. Then order that they might not go out on strike. strike has been on four days now and it would oor. It has been suggested that Indians should be They said they had no grievance and nothing tainly be a week or ten days before we could engaged, but the fact is that the Chinese are the they wished to receive from the Company. They get relief from any other parts. My own opinion men we want. The Chinese are the only men en a different footing from the coolies in is that Japan is the best place to apply to for that can carry; Indians and Japanese cannot Hongkong, as the Lodging House Act does not immediate help. I know there are many dif- carry. It is the shoulder that is the power of hoot them, as the docks are not in Hongkong, fioulties in the way, especially at the present the Chinese coolie, and that is what we want so they did not feel the provisions so acutely as time, but it seems to me that to bring Chinese and what we must obtain. I think, sir, that wo the coolies in this place. I would suggest for here would only be putting off the evil day. It might represent to the Government our feeling the consideration of this meeting that a com. we bring Japanese here the Chinese will see upon the matter in regard to the responsibility mittee be appointed to meet a representative that we can do without them. As to what should for this state of things. I am quite sure that Committee appointed by the Chinese and see be done to prevent a recurrence of this, I do these poor men are not the men who are
respon what the grievance is, and if it cannot be righted, not advocate Japanese labour being here per-sible. As the Chairman has stated, they are I think the Chinese are not unreasonable. In manently, but I think Indian labour would be by others. Let it be clearly stated by the Go many cases they are stupid and ignorant, but very useful here. It would be of very great verament that they hold the leading Chinese when the true facts of the case are laid before them service to the colony to have two or three thon-responsible for the state of the place. Thin I bave no doubt they will willingly accept some and Indian labourers here should we at any might seem to our British ideas unsuitable, but little advice and do what is wanted. (Applause). time be involved in war. We know in that case the Chinese will not regard it as unsuitable. Hon. R. M. Romsey.—I must ask the the Chinese would not help as, but the It is entirely in keeping with their system. meeting in the first place to accept my remarks Indians would be of vital assistance to The Government should say, We make you with a certain amount of allowance. I am in an our army and navy. The question now is responsible for this matter and if you do not official position, but as this is a public meeting whether all the employers of labour would be mond we shall take some steps against yon with I have taken the opportunity of appearing at prepared to promise that the whole of the labour regard to it." We have been too lenient in the it, because this is a matter in which it might be they required should be taken from the Govern- past. When I first came to Hongkong every considered-and^I think rightly in my opinion ment importations. If there was a guarantee Chinese coolje doffed his cap and stood on one —that I might have some interest, and I given to the Government surely they might then side to allow you to pass. When do you see a have a very great interest in it. I did not telegraph for labour. I believe that if the poolie do that now? We do not exercise our appen to be here when the meeting opened, Chinese know that the Government is telegraph, undoubted superiority. We must rule by power. bút I heard a few remarks that were passed, ing for labour you will very soon see a different and it is this we must assert in Hongkong, and and the conclusion I came to was that in the state of affairs." (Applause).
by which we must carry the day. (Applause). opinion of the speaker the Government was Mr. GRANVILLE SHARP—I think we are very
Mr. C. S. TAYLOR-The Chinaman is im- it fanit. Well, as I commenced by saying, much indebted to the Government, to the milibued with his own notions of the Govern I have no business to be here in an official tury, and to the police for the measures they ment, and he gains sufficient knowledge of capacity, and it may be that 1 shall have to have taken at this crisis. There is no doubt what our laws to know that so long as he doss answer to my superiors for having the na- ever that it was the best thing that could possibly not break the laws do not interfere with
ancity to address this meeting at all; but I be done, and it has been very well done. The him. But he perhaps does not know that hope that those who are here will understand fall in the temperature of 10 degrees within the an emergency the Government has power that I beg them to allow me to address them in last 24 hours has been greatly in our favour, suspend the law. The present crisis may not be an anofficial capacity-if I can be in the colony Europeans can work at 65 degrees Fahrenheit, regarded by Western nations as an emergency. in an unofficial capacity. (Applause). There is no at 75, at which the temperature was the day but Western nations do not live in Hongkong, question that the position of affairs in the colony before yesterday, they found it very laborious and do not look at the matter in the same light must be a very grave one, but I think it is work. At 85 it will be simply impossible to
as we do. I understand that we meet here to hardly fair that by-issues should be brought into work. Europeans cannot do physical work in the day to advise the Government. I suggest that the question as to what the idea of the Govern- summer in Hongkong, and therefore, however the Government should give notice
e** that unless ment is in attempting to enforce the law relating satisfactory the present position may be, it this strike is finished on Monday we proclaim to the licensing of lodging houses. I do not cannot be permanent. In England strikes con martial law." (Hear. bear, and applause). Dur- think that has anything to do with the question. tinue. There is no law against strikes. I think ing Sunday the Government could make its We are all agreed the coolies have no real our condition in Hongkong is a little dif-arrangements. (App nuse).
rievance. There is something below this. Mr. ferent. The Chinese labourers here do Mr. DENNYS-Mr. Gillies, as I understand Chairman and gentlemen, I say the people we not belong to the British nationality. They him, said that he thought it might be advisable wish to get hold of are the infinential Chinamou are here by invitation and by favour, and to appronea the Chinese representatives of the of whom we have beard a good deal. But when therefore I think there might be some strikers in order to find out what they wanted. the time comes when they can be of some slight difference in the way offences are If the coolies were striking for higher wages practical assistance to the Government, where regarded. The offence of striking might be I for one would say find out what the are they. (Hear, hear, and applause). Business treated in Hongkong differently from striking Chinese want. I have had considerable ex- men in this places know far more about the mat- in London. But in England, at any rate, the perience with the Chinese ter than I do, but I would say, make a sugges- Government has set its foot most firmly upon simply take this stand and say
I say that they to the Govern tion to the Government. No suggestion has been the subject of intimidation and violence, and it ment, If you do not do what we want coolies made at this meeting that I know of, and if you the position had been fully realised on Saturday shall strike, the coaling olies first, then the will permit me. I suggest that there should be when the coolis was caught red-handed in the merchant coolies, then the house boys, and so on, an importation of coolies--coolies who could come violent treatment of another coolis, when he iuclading 'rioksha and chair coolies.'
It begins down here—and why not get 1,000 or 2,000-struck and knocked his baskets off his shoulder, with labour. If that is not found sufficient whatever number might be required—and ask, and threw the bamboo into the sea, I think the shops will be el sed. It is the aim of cer- the Government to find accommodation and pro- case might have been treated differently from tain people to enforce their ideas by threaten- tection for them whilst they are here. Half what it was. I regard, sir, the punishmenting the Government, and therefore I think that the number that came down here could be taken that was inflicted, which no doubt was pre-every Englishman, every European, living in from ship to ship by those who have ships couscribed by Ordinance, as an absolute favour to this colony ought to back up the Government stantly in use, and the remainder might be housed put upon a recalcitrant coolie, who will go to as far as possible during this orisis. (Applause). by arrangement, and allowed out by the Go- gaol to have one quarter of the work and double Mr. DODWELL asked what had been done by vernment. It is no good sitting down and the "chow" to which he has been accustomed the Registrar-General's Ofice.
of the coolies in Hongkong, and if they continue | ing our cargo and this will be a great los carry. a very mistaken attitude for us to adopt
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