Mr. EDMUND HARVEYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonics whether the result of the inquiries he has instituted as to the mortality amongst pullers of double rickshas in the Straits Settlements; and whether any table can be produced to show the age of pullers in Singapore, the number of years they have followed their trade, and their comparative mortality in relation to other occupations?
Mr. HARCOURTI have received a dispatch from the Governor of the Straits Settlements in which he informs me that provision for the gradual abolition of1520W double rickshas has been included in a Municipal Bill, which is now or will shortly be before the Legislative Council; but I have not yet received any report on the rate of mortality. I do not think that it would be possible to prepare such a table as is suggested in the second part of the question.