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67. You think there should not be any more interference with your factory than with a European laundry?—The Chinese do not complain of interference. 68. There is no cutting of prices?—No, the Chinese have all the one price. 69 You feel, however, that you could not carry on within the prescribed hours of the Act ? —I am quite sure of it. 70. Mr McLaren.] You say they generally start at 7?—They generally light the copper-boiler, and start washing the clothes. 71 How many hours does it take to get through the washing? —About two hours, but, of course, it largely depends upon the quantity of clothing they have got to wash. Sometimes they have only about ten shirts on a Monday morning, and that would not take long. 72 The average is about two hours?—Yes. 73. And five hours drying? —Yes. The stoves are very small, and they are used mostly for heating the irons for the ironing. 74. Does it mean they start the heaviest part late in the afternoon ?—Yes. 75. And what hours do they work into the night? —Some of them work until 10. Where there is only one man working he is struggling to make a living, and naturally his hours are longer 76. In these laundries where they employ labour, are they the larger laundries?—A little larger Of course, if there were not a little more trade in the case of the others they could not carry on. They are in different streets, and some are busier than others. 77 Up to what hour at night do they continue?—Some close very early and some close a little later 78. Are there any European laundries in Auckland run by one person?—Yes, there is one in Grey Street open till all hours of the night. 79. Do they employ labour? —Yes, there are three girls. I think, just near the Town Hall. I do not know their names. 80. Are these fitting hours for women to be employed—until midnight?—l do not think so, in the case of women. 81 Is there any special reason why the Chinese laundries should be exempted from these restrictions with regard to hours ?—The Chinese have to keep open to suit people who attend work of different classes, and they must wait until these people come home. They do not bring their clothes down until 7 or 8 o'clock, and they must get enough to carry on business. 82. How do the European laundries get over it?—lhey have depots throughout the city and suburbs, and send around carts. After the clothes are washed they are delivered. There are fruit-shops, booksellers' establishments, and all sorts of businesses which are used as depots for these factories. 83. Is it not possible for the Chinese to make the same conditions? —No. They have not got the amount of money that European laundries have, to engage all these shopkeepers to act for them. 84. The Chairman.] With regard to the European laundry in Grey Street, do you say that you have seen the girls working late at night ?—Yes, at all hours. 85. Of course, they can get permits to work overtime? —The shop is lit up, and the work is going on inside. 86. Frequently?—Yes. 87. Mr Eraser ] Are you a practical laundryman yourself?—No, I am an interpreter, but I do a lot of work for the people in that business. Louis Lock examined. (No. 2.) I The Chinese Consul.] Could you give some idea as to the number of men and shops in Wellington? —There are thirty-two shops and laundries in Wellington. 2. How many men, roughly speaking?—About sixty-nine—l think sixty-two now 3. How many shops are there in which there are four men employed? —Only one. 4. How many have three? —I think about six. 5. And the rest have one or two?—Yes. 6. How many have two, roughly speaking?—l think, seven or eight have two in Wellington. 7 Has the number of Chinese laundrymen been increasing during, say, the last two years?— Getting less. In my laundry, where I have always employed five men, now I have only got three. 8. Is there any reason for the number decreasing?—There is not enough work there; the work is decreasing. 9. Are the Chinese laundrymen in Wellington partners?—l think most of them are partners. 10. How many have got employees?—About three or four, where wages-men are employed. II Do you charge less or more than the Europeans?—Here is the price-list [handed in]. 12 Is this the list that applies to all the Chinese laundries in Wellington?—Every shop has got the same price—6d. for a shirt, and 2d. for a collar 13. What kind of laundry-work do you get, mostly —collars, cuffs, table-linen, dining-room linen, or bedroom linen? —Mostly soft shirts and collars, from people who are living on their wages. 14. From whom do you get clothes to wash? What class of people? Hotels, boardinghouses, or factories?—Chiefly from people who bring their clothes to be washed to the laundries—mostly, working-people. 15. Can you tell the Committee why this Bill will affect you very much—if all the Chinese and European laundries are treated in the same way? The European laundries have eight hours and three quarters a day, and you also get the same amount of time? Are you satisfied from your own experience that there are any reasons why this should not apply to the Chinese?-—Our laundries