A Meeting of Protest Against Registration: 16 Hours Daily on Poor Pay At a meeting of the Foreign House Servants Union on Wednes day night more than 200 members were present, and Pao Chen-tung presided.
Pao, in his report, said that certain foreign ladies were about to approach the Council with a view to having servants registered. The latter, he said, were greatly alarmed and were surprised to know that these same foreign ladies were Christians who advocated love, justice, social unity, ete. "We have always respected these ladies, but now that they are trying to have registration of servants enacted, we cannot recognize this and will oppose it.""
Another member said that since China opened her ports and entered into communication with foreign nations, about 80 years ago, the Chinese working for foreigners had always done their best and had been loyal to the utmost degree. "We work on an average 16 hours a day and what we earn is insufficient' for the upkeep of our families. Another thing, the cost' of living in recent years has increased considerably, in some case by 100 per cent. Some employers who have consciences have increased our salaries by ten per cent. in order to meet the cost of living. The average wage of the house-servant to-day is $20 but this sum is not enough to keep three people."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.