April 3, 1895. |
nor had given his decision. Can you tell me un- der whose authority the notion was issued? I am sure the members of the Committee would not be parties to misleading the strikers,-Yours very truly,
(Signed) J. H. STEWART LOCKHART.
THE EFFECT OF THE PROCLAMATION,
As far as can be at present ascertained there has been no alteration in the position of affairs since the meeting on Saturday afternoon. The & O. and the C. P. R. Companies were on Satur. day morning amply supplied with cargo coolies, who worked until eleven o'clock. At that hour they became acquainted with the terms of the pro- clamation issued by the committee of mercantile gentlemen, and, goaded by a few shore coolies, they decided to again leave work and await the final answer from the Government. "If the Government does not give way," remarked ona prominent Chinese merchant, "the coolies will not go back,” a statement which proves that the Committee's circular noted as an incentive to the med to continue the rebellion against the law. It is stated that the P. and O. stevedore sumonnced his intention of registering ob Saturday morning, but upon hearing the best news, that the Government were
#1 cer!?
meet the Committee's wishes, he chang mind and refused to conform with the da Mons.
ANOTHER PUBLIC MEETING.
RETIREMENT OF THE COMMITTEE.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
agree
should be here to-day to demonstrate to the what the Government would do because they are strikers that the community is working in per- afraid of the officials, the same as they are afraid foot accord with the Government and that we are willing to continue our exertions on behalf would never dare to interfere or disobey the of the officials of their cwn country, and they of the Government. (Applause). I think it orders of any Government, no matter where: would be ā very great mistake to let this they are. (Hear, hear). Now, gentlemen, 1 meeting terminate now. Before the meeting on thought the whole of last night, and it has Thursday and I might say that has all along been in my mind the whole time, what led to been the desire on the part of the community all this trouble, these strikes, and all these an- it was considered advisable that the shipping fortunate occurrences. community should unite and formulate amongst understanding between the Government and It is all through mis. themselves some scheme that would prove of as- sistance to the Government in quelling what I do understanding is due to the private meetings the Chinese-the Europeans I say. This mis- not consider a strike but a rebellion. (Applause.) between Government officials and the leading A strike in its proper sense, Mr. Chairman and Chinese. I think these meetings ought to be gentlemen, I consider is one in which the employ. held in public so that both the European com- Led have a grievance against the employer at la-munity and the Chinese will know exactly what bour; in this case, it is clearly demonstrated the has taken place between the Government officials strikers have no grievance against their em. ployers. They are satisfied apparently with the my information is correct, the Government and the Chinese. (Applause). As it is now, if wages they are getting and the treatment they ofloisls send for a select few of the lead. receive at the hands of the employers; but being Chinese, or perhaps the District Watche cause a certain number of the Chinese community men's Committee, to consult on some things. see fit to disagree with and become disgusted with Well, when they have met whether when they the laws enacted by our Government, I do not meet is known to the public I do not say-st think we Europeans should countenance any least I have not heard-but when they meet action on their part with that end in view. the Government officials. if the views of the We Europeans have to conform with the laws; Chinese do why should not the Chinese? (Applause). I did credit of the case goes to the head of the
with the officials, th not intend to speak and I do not think I should | department, but on the other hand, if their views had there not been a possibility of the meeting | do not agree with the officials, their views are being declared closed; and I hops anything I disregarded. For example, I read only the other have had to say will be taken kindly and will day when the strike commenced that the have good effect. My company stands prepared District Watchmen's Committee made two sug← to join the other shipping firms in the colony gestions to the Government. A public meeting summoned by the Comin devising some scheme either to bring in for the landlords registered instead of the head One was to have mittee appointed at the meeting on Thursday last eign labour or any other means that will assist coolies, was held yesterday morning in the City Hall. The the Government in putting down this rebellion. the head coolies to register. The second point and after a few months to get Hoa. J J. Keswick presided, and among those (Loud applause). present were-Messrs. E. Mackintosh, St. C.
was to get the Government to measure the floor Mr. HO TUNG-Gentlemen, if you will allow Michaelsen, N. A. Siebs. G. B. Dodwell, D. me I have a few remarks to make. Furthermore, comodate, because the coolies being ignorant of
so as to see how many coolies the floor can aos s Gillies, H. L. Dennys (Committee), Hon. A. if my English is not sufficient to express my MoConachie, Captain_Ramsey, Messrs. C. C. views I hope you will make me every allowance. meant. They think it is a room for one man. I the law did not know what 300 or 400 cubic feet · Platt, JS. Moses, J. D. Hutchison, W. Danby. On Friday last, when the Chinese deputation do not think the Government will take these G. Murray Bain, J. H. Cox, W. Maobean, G. T. came to meet the Committee, it appears to my Vietch. C. Inchbald. G. C. C Master, J. 3. mind that there were only two things to be done. after the views were properly presented to the views, but still before the law was passed, and Enekiel, J. B. Coughtrie C. Palmer, J. Good One was for the Government to be very firm Government and the Sanitary Board, the whole mann. E. C. Ray, D. E. Brown, G, harp, H. and to take all consequences, and the other was Committee might have considered whether their Skött, D. R. Sassoon. R. Shewau, Rev. G. J. to see whether we could modify so as not to Williams, Capt Tillett, Messrs. A. Shelton lose the credit of the Government, but at
views were good or not; whether practicable Hooper, S. G. Bird, W. Mathisen, W. A. Duff, the same time to induce the strikers to ter- regarded and nobody knew until the last or not. But this action was entirely dis- E. Jones Hughes, H. Smith, Ho Tung, J.minate. Wheeley, A. Findlay Smith, S. L. Darby, U. J. nothing would be done before the Governor's largest property owners, and
The deputation distinctly said that meeting. Gentlemen, I think I am one of the Holmes, F. W. Watts, F. Walker, J. Watson proclamation, but unfortunately the Gover-largest business men in this colony; still I have one of the II. E. Wodehouse, C. A. Tomes, Douglas Jones, nor was afloat, and the Colonial Secretary never had the honour of being consulted by the A. H. Rennie, E. Goets, F. Henderson, &o., &c. was interviewed and our suggestions were laid The CHAIRMAN said Gentlenen, the Com | before him. I have no hesitation in saying that
Government. The reasons I do not know; it is mittee have summoned you together in order to if any gentleman here had been here on Friday, man
a mystery to myself. (Laughter), A gentle state that they, having done all that lies in being over anxious at the loss which he had al-day, and said "Now why don't you leading made some remarks to me yester their power to assist in terminating the present ready sustained, he would have come to no conola- Chinese come and help the Government and labour strike, now relinquish all further sion but the one that the Committee and the de-start coolie hongs yourselves ?" It is very easy to responsibility, and hope the Government will putation did come to. The circular was nothing: say that, but you know the leading Chinese be auccessful in bringing the unhappy state of it was merely a publication of what actually took have to study their own business, and consider affairs to a speedy conelusion. The Committee place and nothing more. You see, gentlemen, that by starting coolie houses they would be individually and collectively may see fit to it is very easy to criticise after what has been degrading themselves; besides, they consider they adopt independent action towards terminating done, but when you come and work it is quite a the trouble, but in any case they intend in the different matter. Personally I strongly admire Therefore it is impossible for them to start coolie take away the right of labour from other people. future, as in the past, to give their loyal support the Government for being firm, because I must houses. But, gentlemen, it appears to me that to the Executive. (Applause). Matters now are strongly condemn the strikers, but I have no just where they were, and the only thing to do, hesitation in saying that the Government might kind is for the Government to make the Chines the only thing to stop any future trouble of this 1 fear, is to tire the coolies out, which is have adopted better and more proper prepara and the officials come in closer contact with each long and expensive process. The costs entailed tions, so as to provide the mercantile com- other, bring them closer together and make all are enormous, but as a matter of course the Gov-munity with sufficient labourers. They anti- the meetings public. If they have anything to say, ernment will gain the day in the long run. cipated the strike months ago, and they could let it be said in public and not privately, whether There ought to be laws in the colony making have adopted some better preparations so striking illegal, so that on any recurrence of to avoid the throwing away of thousands of will stop all future misunderstanding or strikes as they are Government officials or Chinese. That such strikes they could be put an end to without dollars every day by the mercantile community. of this nature. I shall be most happy to assist the enormous losses entailed by a process of ex lt is very easy for some haustion. (Applause). The best thing this mest say that the leading Chinese are at the bottom the Committee to terminate the strike, and if any gentlemen to the Government or any gentlemen who may forma ing can do is to leave the difficulties and responsi- of this strike, or that they have been sympathis genleman has any suggestions to make I would bilities in the hands of the Government to deal ing with the strikers. with (applause); and I would repeat that, so far as appeal to you, as successful business men, to
Well, gentlemen, I be very happy to support them and to support this Committee is concerned, its public functions think what benefit or what good the leading
the Government as well. (Applanse) terminate, although it may endeavour to give Chinese derive from this strike, considering the individual and collective private assistance. very heavy losses which they have already (Applause).
sustained. They are not exaggerated, and if you were to go through the figures, I would be able to prove that so: far we have lost, if not more, at least as much as the Euro- peans. I further appeal to the Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, who is in close contact with the leading Chinese, and I wonder whether he can in one instance show that the leading Chinese have not given him the most loyal anp port whenever they have been called upon to do so. You know, gentlemen, Chinese are a very quiet people-the leading Chinese (hear hear); they are law abiding they are afraid of the Government, and would never interfere with
There was a pause of two or three minutes, at the end of which
Mr. D. E. BROWN said-Mr. Chair man and gentlemen, I do not think that at the present juncture of the strike, having as sembled here to-day, we should permit this meeting to be adjourned now. We, I think at least came here today to listen to some further suggestions from the members of the community who were possibly not present at the meeting on Thursday. I think by adjourning now we would very material weaken the hands of the Government, We
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Brown for having proposed that this meeting Mr. SHARP-I am sure we are indebted to Mr. should not be immediately dispersed. We do not meet here simply to go away, and there are one or two things which I think may fairly be ez. pressed for the benefit of all. (Applause). I think we are all convinced that the principal Chinese -the Chinese merchants-have nothing what- ever to do with this strike (applause); that I am sure is well known; but there is another class, colony, and a class which for many years past bas a class of middlemen, a dangerous class in this made itself very injurious here, taking to it- self rights which it does not in any way possess, and exercising authority and power over the humbler classes in Hongkong, a state of things which ought not to be allowed. It
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