The story of Chinese furniture worker unions in Australia
To many, the ‘original sin’ of Australian trade unions was its support for the White Australia Policy. Yet despite the White Australia Policy, the story of Chinese workers and Australian unions is far more complex.
Contrary to the cultivated image of compliance and exploitation, Chinese workers in Australia understood the importance of collective action and solidarity. In both Sydney and Melbourne, Chinese furniture workers, excluded from union membership, formed their own unions and took industrial action to fight for better wages and conditions.
The Melbourne Chinese furniture workers union was formed in the 1880s and strongly fought for their members, waging major strikes. In September 1885, about 300 Chinese workers went on strike to fight for a weekly wage instead of being paid by piece work. By 1888, they had won a minimum wage, a fifty hour week, holidays and union preference.
Union activity continued into the next decade. In May 1897, hundreds of Chinese workers took strike action after employers sought to dismiss workers who (in their view) did not warrant new pay rates under the amended Factories Act. The strength of the union was such that in September 1903, several hundred took co-ordinated industrial action for better pay and conditions. The strike lasted for nearly three months, shutting down the industry.
In Sydney, Chinese workers formed their own union in 1890. The “Sai-ga-Hong” (西家行), as the 400 member strong union was named, called a strike in 1908 in response to factory owners attempting to make workers pay more for accommodation and food. They held out for two months, winning the right to elect their own foremen.
Despite the exclusion they experienced from the wider union movement, Chinese furniture workers understood the importance of solidarity and collective action. During the 1890 maritime strike, in Melbourne, they organised a donation for the strikers and, in Sydney, they (unsuccessfully) tried to affiliated with the Trades and Labour Council in 1908.
This forgotten aspect of labour history is not a phenomenon restricted to Australia. In Canada, Chinese workers formed their own unions and tried to affiliate with local trades and labour councils. In America, Chinese railroad workers were engaged in a huge strike as the transcontinental railway was being built and Chinese garment workers in San Francisco and New York City engaged in industrial action.
Challenging claims about language and culture being barriers to unionisation, it shows there is a universal understanding of the need to come together to achieve change in the workplace.
The Chinese Association and Chinese National Alliance were not entirely successful in mediating conflict within Melbourne’s Chinese community and this damaged its capacity to cooperate on important issues.85 The failure of leadership demonstrated by these outbreaks of violence in the Melbourne Chinese community was related to the changing character of the community, as well as to specific charges bearing on gambling and opium. More and more Chinese furniture factories were being located in the metropolitan areas (Yong 1977:41). Workers employed at these factories, apparently dissatisfied with the ineffectiveness of the Siyi and Kong Chew Societies to represent them in the struggle against anti-Chinese legislation, set up a number of labour guilds to represent their interests more effectively. The ‘Chinese Carpenters Union’ was formed through the merger of two existing guilds—the Chinese Furniture Employers’ Union and Chinese Furniture Employees’ Union.
A new alliance and revolutionary network
In 1905 a new alliance was forged by Chinese cabinetmakers, fruit traders, journalists and missionaries. Christian faith was the foundation of this alliance. NCEA was supported by members of Chinese Christian Union of Victoria and Chinese Times. Furthermore, the introduction of the legislation led to the formation of a union of Chinese carpenters and laundrymen between 1905 and 1907, which staged public meetings and raised the profile of the the leaders of the Chinese carpenters.86 The secretary of the Chinese Furniture Employees’ Union, Harry Louey Pang (雷鵬 Lei Peng, 1873–1937), claimed that his union had 600 members. By 1906 it had 900 members on the books (Nam 1906).
Banner Collage:
L to R, Top to bottom
B13.1912.19933MrsAhSingCanton1870HusbandAhSingCabinetmaker48LonsdaleStMelbourneDaughterKatieSingMelbourne21.10.1907
The Federated Furnishing Trade Societies of Aust - Employment of Chinese in Furnishing Trade.
NAA: A1, 1912/17759 contains returns for 1910-1911 of Melbourne Chinese Furniture Factories
Illustration from the Australasian Sketcher,
Chinese Furniture Makers Little Bourke St. Melbourne1880, A/S24/04/80/69
Ah HimCabinetmakerMelbourne<1902
PhotographYiet(Yet) Quan(Kai) with 4th child Mue Loong Hilda Photo of 5th child born in
Canton and sent to Melbourne Customs as proof*
*See Tales from the Crypt
Meu Loong was a furniture manufacturer at 38-40 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, trading as Quong Lee & Co**. Pictured here in 19XX. He emigrated when he was 22, and married another Cantonese migrant Yiet Kai, who had arrived in the colony with her parents as an eleven year old. They had 4 children here before visitingthe family village in Leong Shan, Canton in 1916, intending to return. A doctor's certificate was sent to Customs from China declaring the name and birth of their 5th child, as required by the Immigration Restriction Act. Despite extending their return certificate to 1925, it lapsed when they remained in Canton.
see Ancestry
**previously 16 Corr's Lane, - 17 Market Lane, Melbourne.
Sands & McDougall's commercial and general Melbourne directoryImprintSands & McDougall, Melbourne, 1910
- La Trobe Place
- Lacey Place
- Lees Place
- Leichardt Street
- Lily Lane
- Louden Place
- Malthouse Lane
- Market Street
- McCormacks Place
- McGrath Place
- McKillop Street
- McNeil Lane
- Melbourne Place
- Merritts Place
- Mint Place
- Mornane Place
- Oliver Place
- Park Street
- Patrick Street
- Pink Alley
- Portland Lane
- Windsor Place
q.v. Lanes and Alleys
http://www.emelbourne.net.au/biogs/EM00826b.htm
Chinatown Streets Database
https://arrow.latrobe.edu.au/store/3/4/5/5/1/public/FMPro1981.html
46 [?] 46 Little Bourke St Little Bourke St Louey, Gib cabinetmaker 1900
11 11 Princess La Punch La Young, Yea cabinetmaker 1900
13 13 Princess La Punch La Ah Chun cabinetmaker 1900
15 15 Princess La Punch La Sho Kee cabinetmaker 1900
17 17 Princess La Punch La Ah Sing cabinetmaker 1900
22 22 Princess La Punch La An Goon cabinetmaker 1900
24 24 Princess La Punch La Foo Woo cabinetmaker 1900
26 [?] 26 Princess La Punch La Lee Gog cabinetmaker 1900
27 27 Princess La Punch
La Hop Wah cabinetmaker 1900
30 30 Princess La Punch
La Lee Seong cabinetmaker 1900
32 32 Princess La Punch
La Ah Moon cabinetmaker 1900
34 34 Princess La Punch
La Hop Shing cabinetmaker 1900
35 35 Princess La Punch
La Ah Wong cabinetmaker 1900
[no data] 56 Little Bourke St Little Bourke St Ah Bow cabinetmaker 1900
[no data] 2 Greville Pl Albert Sq Sang Lee cabinetmaker 1900
120-122 120 Little Bourke St Little Bourke St Kit Cheong cabinetmaker 1900
136-138 136 Little Bourke St Little Bourke St Tock & Co cabinetmaker and store 1900
[no data] 4 Corr's La Corr's La Shang Wah & Co cabinetmakers 1900
[no data] 2 Williams La Waratah Pl Knong Woo cabinetmaker 1900
[no data] 1 Harwood Pl Harwood Pl Let Kee cabinetmaker 1900
[no data] 2 Harwood Pl Harwood Pl Ah Gee cabinetmaker 1900
[no data] 4 Harwood Pl Harwood Pl Hong Kee cabinetmaker 1900
[no data] 5 Harwood Pl Harwood Pl Yow Jong cabinetmaker 1900
7 7 Liverpool St Liverpool St Sun Huong Shing cabinetmaker 1900
53 53 Little Bourke St Little Bourke St Mang Kee cabinetmaker and laundry 1900
1 1 Lee's Pl Lees Pl Louey Way Hay Bros & Co. cabtmkrs 1900
25 25 Crossley St Crossley St Kee Lee cabinetmaker 1900
105 105 Little Bourke St Little Bourke St Tye Shing cabinetmaker 1900
15 15 Little Bourke Pl Little Bourke Pl Fung Lee cabinetmaker 1901
11 11 Princess La Punch La Young Yea cabinetmaker 1901
13 13 Princess La Punch La Ah Chun cabinetmaker 1901
15 15 Princess La Punch La Ah Sing cabinetmaker 1901
Up to
https://arrow.latrobe.edu.au/store/3/4/5/5/1/public/FMProd117.html
to be continued
15 15 Little Bourke Pl Little Bourke Pl Fung Lee cabinetmaker 1902
11 11 Princess La Punch La Young, Yea cabinetmaker 1902
13 13 Princess La Punch La Ah Chunn cabinetmaker 1902
15 15 Princess La Punch La Sue Kee cabinetmaker 1902
19 19 Princess La Punch La Ah Man cabinetmaker 1902
22 22 Princess La Punch La An Goon cabinetmaker 1902
24 24 Princess La Punch La Kee Moon cabinetmaker 1902
26 26 Princess La Punch La Lee Gog cabinetmaker 1902
27 27 Princess La Punch La Hop Wah cabinetmaker 1902
30 30 Princess La Punch La Lee Seong cabinetmaker 1902
32 32 Princess La Punch La Ah Moon cabinetmaker 1902
34 34 Princess La Punch La Hop Shing cabinetmaker 1902
35 35 Princess La Punch La Ah Yep cabinetmaker 1902
56 56 Little Bourke St Little Bourke St On Lee cabinetmaker 1902
[no data] 2 Greville Pl Albert Sq Sang Lee cabinetmaker 1902
136-138 136 Little Bourke St Little Bourke St Tock & Co cabinetmakers and store 1902
12 12 Corr's La Corr's La Tock & Co cabinetmakers 1902
14-16 14 Corr's La Corr's La Wing Loong & Co cabinetmakers 1902
[no data] 1 Williams La Waratah Pl Koung Woo cabinetmaker 1902
[no data] 7 Williams La Waratah Pl Ah Sing cabinetmaker 1902
[no data] 1 Harwood Pl Harwood Pl Let Kee cabinetmaker 1902
[no data] 2 Harwood Pl Harwood Pl Ah Gee cabinetmaker 1902
[no data] 3 Harwood Pl Harwood Pl Hong Kee cabinetmaker 1902
7 7 Liverpool St Liverpool St Lee, Gog cabinetmaker 1902
55 55 Little Bourke St Little Bourke St Mang Kee cabinetmaker and laundry 1902
25 25 Crossley St Crossley St Kee Lee cabinetmaker 1902
57 57 Little Bourke St Little Bourke St Quong Hap Lee cabinetmaker 1902
61-63 61 Little Bourke St Little Bourke St Mang Kee cabinetmaker 1902
71 71 Little Bourke St Little Bourke St Haskins, William cabinetmaker 1902
1 1 Lee's Pl Lees Pl Louey Way Hay Bros & Co cabtmkrs 1902
105 105 Little Bourke St Little Bourke St Tye Shing cabinetmaker 1902
3 3 Healy La Coverlid Pl Quong Lee cabinetmaker 1902
[no data] 4 Harwood Pl Harwood Pl Yow Jong cabinetmaker 1902
56 56 Little Bourke St Little Bourke St Wah Fat cabinetmaker 1915
60 60 Little Bourke St Little Bourke St Toy, Daniel cabinetmaker 1915
62 62 Little Bourke St Little Bourke St Hoong, Sing cabinetmaker 1915
120 120 Little Bourke St Little Bourke St Ah Lee cabinetmaker 1915
136-138 136 Little Bourke St Little Bourke St Tock & Co. cabinetmakers and store 1915
59-63 59 Little Bourke St Little Bourke St Chin Jaw cabinetmaker 1915
105 105 Little Bourke St Little Bourke St Quong Leong & Co cabinetmakers 1915
113 113 Little Bourke St Little Bourke St Quong Mow cabinetmaker 1915
115 115 Little Bourke St Little Bourke St See Shing, George cabinetmaker 1915
119 119 Little Bourke St Little Bourke St Hung Hing cabinetmaker 1915
121 121 Little Bourke St Little Bourke St Sang Loong cabinetmaker 1915
(Vide Period of operation as registered VA475 PROV)
AhMoon24PrincessPlace
SoonKee23-5LittleLonsdaleSt
GHoongT/aGHWahFung69-71LonsdaleSt
KieYou32LeichardtSt
LimOn158LittleLonsdaleSt
LieKee55LittleLonsdaleSt
ChungKee28PrincessPlace
SingMow13NicholasLane
SunOnLoong10-12NicholasLane
EngChong206SpringSt
LeongLowTearMerrit’sPlace
TupYee24PrincessPlace
TyeShing105LittleBourkeSt
AhChew309StephenSt
TingKee306StephenSt
AhFoot167LittleLonsdaleSt
ChungHin311StephenSt
B.AhYen297StephenSt
SunOnLoong10NicholasLane
reject 47/64
ChowKee15PrincessPlace
AhLoy9LeichardtSt
SQWYeeKee20LeichardtSt
AhFatMerritt’sPlaceOffLittleLonsdaleSt
WoKee31LittleCollinsSt
AhKow8LeichardtSt
HepLoongCo5HarwoodPlace
TockCo135-8LittleBourkeSt
QungHieLoong258ExhibitionSt
SinSaug78LonsdaleSt
MowLoongLLeichardtSt
SunWahSing196FerrarStS*
GansGee70LittleLonsdaleSt
FangGoon14LittleLaTrobeSt
SangLeeCo20MarketLane
QuongHing20NicholasLane
hingLoong304StephenSt
HopShing34PrincessPlace
TackSingHaywardLane
WerLee66LittleLonsdaleSt
KoeLee25CrossleySt
ChowKeePrincessPlace
Prosecutions CIF Reports (all working out of prescribed hours unless specified)
1895
AhTip59-61LittleBourkeSt
1896
No Chinese
1897 for 1896
Dec2
AhJon22LeichardtSt
Nov18
TungSing48LonsdaleSt
LumTye13Punch’sLane
BowYee59LittleBourkeSt
AhLet2HarwoodPlace
ChungKee38-40LonsdaleSt
WmAhYoungNicholl’sLane
SunYanLee53LittleLonsdaleSt
AhSin66LittleLonsdaleSt
SumKee214LaTrobeSt
1889
KongFat30LittleCollinsSt
VIC PO Directory1888
Trades
Cabinetmakers via Ancestry
AckGoonLoueyWahCo50.5LittleBourkeSteastMelbourne
ChewNang164ExhibitionStMelbourne
ChuongAh16LittleLonsdaleSteast
CoonSaml22YorkStSMelbourne
FatWong187LittleCollinsSttEMelbourne
FungGayThomasEchuca
GaeyChang204LonsdaleStEMelbourne
GoonKong147LonsdaleStEMelbourne
KieWah22LittlelonsdaleSteastMelbourne
KumChungShingCo140LittlebourkeSteastMelbourne
LeeChung161LittleBourkeSteastMelbourne
LeongSunYee31LaTeMelbourne
LoongYe167BourkeSteastMelbourne
LungMow163ExhibitionStMelbourne
QuangLeeCo164LittleBourkeSteastMelbourne
QuongAckCo121LittleBourkeSteastMelbourne
SingLin137LittleLonsdaleSteastMelbourne
SingSang167BourkeSteMelbourne
SingWar125LittleLonsdaleSteastMelbourne
SlinTock107LittleBourkeSteastMelbourne
TackLoongCo111LittleLonsdaleSteastMelbourne
WarGee161WestwoodPlaceLittleCollinsSteastMelbourne
WingChoryLooryCoWilliamsonStSandhurst
YatAh120LittleLonsdaleSteastMelbourne
YeHingCo146LittleBourkeSteastMelbourne
Melb City Chinese Furniture Makers 1901-15
Hung Yick Hayward Lane
Sun Lee Jone’s Lane
On Lee War Griffin Lane
Louey May Hey Griffin Lane
Chin Kee George’s Lane
Wong Chee Market Lane
Louey Gooey 309 Exhibition St now 14 Bennet Lane
Ah Lee Market Lane
Quong Yick Payne’s Lane
Ah Sheung (CHEN Sheung) Son 19 Daughter 18
1905 26 Punch Lane T/A Hoe Kee (Licensed)
Partner 29 Crossley St
1910 13 LaTrobe St
1911 Sun Mow 7-9 Lonsdale St
Statement
“I left Hong Kong on the 24th year of Quong Sin (1898) and arrived in Melbourne on the first moon of the following year.”
Sun Chung Yick Lonsdale St moved to Little Lonsdale St
T/A Ho Kee Romeo Lane
Yee Wah Kee Little Lonsdale St
HepLoongBros272ExhibitionStMelbourne32HeffernanLaneMelbourne
SunHingKeeCo274ExhibitionStMelbourne
QuongWahPartnerCheeLung56LittleLonsdaleStMelbourne
ChongLoongCoFinnPlaceMelbourne
YeeLin SunKeeCoYeeAckCoLeadingPartnerChinChick216LaTrobeStMelbourne
AhSingCabinetmaker48LonsdaleStMelbourne
TyeShing 32Market Lane & 105 LBS later 19 Punch Lane
YeeWarHie 109-111 LLS
Factory Registration:
Box22 AH+
Andrew Chung & Ah Hoon T/A Andrew Chung 24 Little Leichardt St
1913 10 employees
1914 20
1915 7
1916 11
registration ended 13.4.17Polishing/Cmaking/Machine
AHChong302ExhibitionSt1915-6Employee1referT/ACharlieGong1917+.png
APPENDIX C.
LIST of Chinese Factories registered for 1887.
Ah Yet
Ack Goon
Ah Yook
Ah Wong, Ah Youl and Hock Kem
Chang Goey
Chung Lee
Chung Lee
Gee War
Kong Goon
Kum Chung Sing and Co.
Lin Sing
Ni Gan, James
On Hing
Quong Ack
Shing Sang Lee and Co
Sing Cooey
Tye Shing
Tock and Slin
Sun Lee Loong
Wah Kee and Co
Wah Sing
Ye Hing
Yet Wah
Ye Lung
Address of Business
112 Little Lonsdale-street
51.5 Little Bourke-street east
Williams-lane
175 Juliet-terrace
202 Lonsdale-street
5 Little Bourke-street east
13 Little Bourke-street east Little Collins-street
147 Lonsdale-street 140 Little Bourke-street east
137 Little Lonsdale-street Ironberk
206 Lonsdale.street
125 Little Bourke-street east
16 Market-lane r
63 Little Collins-street
133 Lousdale-street
22 Market-lane
107 Little Bourke-street east
3 5 Latrobe-street east
22 Little ronsdale-street east
125 Little LonsdaleI-street
46 Little Bourke street
21 Cardigan-street Market-lane
Melbourne It PS SO SO OP ft SI if If Sandhurst Melbourne TS 79 IS If SIP Carlton Melbourne
Number of Persons Employed: 20 26 16 10 9 24 13 12 II 19 10 17 16 13 15 6 9 10 17 12 6 15 8 20
25 Furniture Factories, employing 341 hands.
Factory Act Inquiry board 1895 starts p151 29.8.1893
"Yee Quing’s they had a splendid three-story factory at Crossley-street, off Little Bourke-street
How many Chinese are working now as cabinetmakers in the city ?-It is very hard to tell. The last return we have gives 29 factories and 388 employees.
Did the Union win at the time of the Chinese strike ?-I think they did, but it took place at the worst time, when the men had no chance to go anywhere else. The employers made the strike for 20 per cent. and most of the men submitted to a reduction of 7 per cent., and the other 5 were thrown out and that is the cause of the small places that have sprung up."
Some Chinese furniture makers can be found in the following reference book: Fahey, Kevin; Simpson, Christina & Simpson, Andrew, Nineteenth Century Australian Furniture, Daniel Ell Press: Sydney, 1985. Chinese furniture makers can also be tracked in Victorian street and trade directories, especially the Sands and McDougall directories which were published annually. These are available on microfiche in the genealogy sections of the State Library of Victoria. A large number of these directories have been digitised by Archives Digital Books Australia. They may be available in a digitised form in municipal or genealogical society libraries. (Some available on Ancestry: Go to AustraliaNZ then Victoria the Australian City Directories then cabinetmakers). You can look for furniture makers in the trade pages of the directory, the street section and the alphabetical listing of names in the directories. The annual reports of the Chief Inspector of Factories, Work-rooms and Shops, contained in the Victorian Parliamentary Papers, for the years 1897 to 1900 list the names and addresses of Chinese furniture makers among others who were prosecuted for breaches of the Factories and Shops Acts. The reports for these years and subsequent years contain interesting commentary on Chinese furniture making in Melbourne. You can find copies of the Victorian Parliamentary Papers in the State Library of Victoria in hard copy (1900 onwards) at LT 328.94504A and microfilm (prior to 1900) at LTOM 1. (Now digitised: Victorian Parliament site)
VPARL1901No28.pdf
The above figures refer only to the European factories. The Department cannot obtain reliable statistics from the Chinese, and it seems somewhat useless to obtain statistics showing that the minimum wage or more is being paid when it is notorious that nearly all the Chinese are working piece-work. The following is an extract from my last report :—I cannot obtain evidence which would justify a prosecution, but many of the Chinese will admit that they are working on piece-work when talking generally, but stoutly deny it when pressed for particulars. The Chinese employers appear to have agreed to say they pay the minimum wage and the employees to say they receive it, whereas, in fact, piece-work is paid. When employers and employees unite to deceive in this way the Department can do nothing to enforce the law. I had to admit the same thing in my last Annual Report, and I see little chance of being able at any time to compel the Chinese to comply unless the interests of the employers and employees can be divided. Probably to secure the sale of their goods the Chinese must be able to manufacture considerably below the Europeans, and to do that they must pay lower rates.
I have to admit, as in former years, that I know of no means to compel the Chinese to pay the minimum wage. The effects of such competition is probably shown by the following figures :—In 1899 there were 1,103 males employed in the European furniture factories; in 1900 there were 1,104. In 1899 there were 488 males employed in the Chinese furniture factories; in I900 there were 552. Whilst the number of male employees in the European factories increased only one, the Chinese workers increased 64. These figures were supplied in January, 1900. During the year there was a great improvement in trade in European furniture, but I do not think the significance of the figures quoted is altered, as there was probably a corresponding increase in the Chinese furniture trade. I can only hope the Royal Commission will discover some means of dealing with this very difficult question. There were few complaints from the employees in this trade last year, the majority being paid more than the minimum wage. The wages will be found tabulated in Appendix B. Mr. W. H. Ellis reports :—The furniture trade, which is one of the most important in my district, has shown a marked improvement in all branches to previous years--so much so, that great difficulty has been experienced in obtaining sufficient skilled labour to carry on the business successfully, particularly with regard to upholsterers, who could really commitud their own wages. In spite of the increased activity of trade, and the extra demand for all classes of furniture, the prices obtained have not been in proportion. It is a very difficult matter to raise the prices when once they have gone down. The competition amongst the Chinese themselves is quite as keen as it is between Europeans and Chinese, and I am firmly convinced that the European can never successfully compete against them, for various reasons. The Chinese as a rule take to one particular line of the trade, and make that a speciality, viz.—one firm makes meat safes, another kitchen tables, others small chests of drawers, and so on. In doing this they become very expert, and can turn out these articles mach quicker, and of course cheaper. This class of furniture is mostly in &matt(' with the small furniture dealers, who, since the stamping of furniture came into operation, know exactly where to go and purchase the articles they are in want of. They will go from one place to the other to find out where they can purchase the cheapest. Small makers are the curse of the trade. In the majority of cases these men are simply living from hand to mouth, and are of necessity often compelled to sell at whatever price they are offered. Failing a sale they are compelled to take it to the auction rooms, where it is sold for whatever it will fetch; in many instances it is sold at a loss. This class of makers will go from one timber-yard to another to find out where they can purchase the cheapest. The timber they select is of the poorest description, and which would not be looked at by European makers. The skill that they display in adapting it to their requirements is really wonderful. The main thing with them being cheapness, can it he wondered at that the European cannot compete with, them in the manufacture of these ?
VPARL1889No30.pdf
CHINESE FURNITURE FACTORIES. 37. The Amending Factories Act, No. 961, requiring the registration of all places where more than one Chinese is engaged working in any handicraft or in preparing or manufacturing articles for trade or sale, has, as will be seen by reference to Appendix D, brought a few more places under control. In 1887, there were 25 factories registered, employing 341 hands ; in '888, there were 40 factories registered, employing 435 Chinese. The increase in the number of hands (94) does not at all represent the employees in the 15 additional factories, but is to be accounted for by the fact that when it was found that by less than six working together the place would still have to register many of them took work in factories that were already registered. 38. With the exception of two, all the Chinese workrooms are in the city of Melbourne, and are under one inspector (Mr. Ellis). He says, in his report, that a few of the Chinese work by themselves, employing no one, and do not, as a consequence, come under supervision. He goes on to say—" Great difficulty is experienced in making them understand the requirements of the Act, especially in relation to condemned places. They don't mind paying the registration fee, but strongly object to move. The places they occupy are mostly situated at the east end of the city, and are nearly all in a very dilapidated condition. The low rent is, no doubt, a great consideration with them." Every effort has been made to have the workrooms occupied by the Chinese passed by the Local Board of Health under the amended regulations made by the Central Board, but it is most difficult to carry this out. After a place has been condemned as unfit for occupation as a factory, and the occupier made to understand this, he at once disposes of his business to a brother Chinese, forgetting, or, at all events, the new proprietor says he forgot to tell him, that the premises had been condemned. The new man naturally asks for a little time to find another place, and when he sees that official patience is about exhausted transfers to some one else. At the same time, the places they occupy compare favourably with the poorer habitations in the city, and there is not much fault to find with them as far as the Factories Act is concerned. 39. Inspector Ellis reports that the Chinese have participated in the general prosperity of the country during the year, and have been quite unable to meet the demand made upon them. He also says—" There is a very marked improvement in the cabinet work they turn out. Two or three years back almost any one could detect Chinese work, but now many of the shops turn out work that it would take an expert to distinguish from European manufacture. They have a society of their own, the terms of membership being, for makers £3 per annum, polishers 30s. They have two holidays during the year, at which there are feasts, and all who have paid their subscriptions are entitled to attend. No union shop can employ any of their hands more than ten hours a day, but this does not apply to piece-workers. Should any dispute arise between master and man, a meeting is called, and the subject debated, the one who gets the best of the argument gaining the case. All decisions are accepted as final." 40. There would not appear to be any actual increase in the number of Chinese working at furniture making, and so long as the present law against the influx of Chinese exists it is difficult to see how there can be. Indeed, it should rather fall off, as when the Chinese have made a little money they are always too glad to return to their native country.
SOME FURNITURE WORKERS AND BOSSES (Correlate with Factory Registrations and CouchmanS database 1900-1920)
Most slept at work premises:
Some *%s (those possibly in ‘burbs emboldened; Italics = known Boss)
Formation largely hierarchical but some possibly proto-Capitalist???
B13.1912.12639LoueyWingCanton1878Cabinetmaker28CrossleyRdMelbourne12y
B13.1912.16127GuySetCanton1872Cabinetmaker22LiverpoolStMelbourne1896
B13.1912.19933MrsAhSingCanton1870HusbandAhSingCabinetmaker48LonsdaleStMelbourneANDKatieSingMelbourne21.10.1907
B13.1912.19935LoueyBuckCanton1868PolisherHoongYick22LiverpoolStMelbourne1888
B13.1912.20947AhYenCanton1891Cabinetmaker132LittleLonsdaleStMelbourne1906
B13.1912.21810AhLoueyCanton1886Cabinetmaker38LonsdaleStMelbourne1901
.6328LeeHoiCanton1850Cabinetmaker25CrossleyStMelbourne1887
B13.1913.2478ChunHookCanton1861FrenchPolisher119LittleBourkeStMelbourne1888
B13.1916.10060WongLockCanton1868CabinetmakerTilleyStMaryborough
B13.1916.12425WingDangWahGunyah1892CabinetmakerNicholsonStCoburg
B13.1916.25565AhLinCanton1866PolisherTackLoongHaywardLaneMelbourne1893
B13.1916.15941YepMongHongCanton1870Cabinetmaker202LittleBourkeStMelbourneBootmaker1883
B13.1917.7657AhOnCanton1876CabinetmakerChongLoongCoFinnPlaceMelbourne1898
B13.1918.9258ChinAhSleongXX73 Cabinetmaker216LittleBourkeStMelbourne1897
B13.1918.9438QuongWahCanton1862CabinetmakerPartnerCheeLung56LittleLonsdaleStMelbourne1890
B13.1918.13360AhKeeCanton1863 CabinetmakerSunHingKeeCo274ExhibitionStMelbourne1895
B13.1919.10763HongWahCanton1862CabinetmakerHepLoongBros272ExhibitionStMelbourne32HeffernanLaneMelbourne
B13.1919.10880ChungToieCanton1861FruitVegetableHawker215LittleBourkeStMelbourneCabinetmaker1876
12912AhTockCanton1878GardenerCabinetmaker5MarionStFitzroy1897
B13.1919.26267HopWarCanton1871Cabinetmaker9LeichardtStMelbourne1901
q.v.StatDec for Cabinetmaker Co names & addresses
B13.1920.19995FoonKeeCanton1880Cabinetmaker195LittleBourkeStMelbourne1900
B13.1920.26481ShuLoongCanton1871CabinetmakerHoongGoong57LittleLonsdaleStMelbourne12LittleLeichardtStMelbourne1892
B13.1920.26523LoueyGoonYee4.1883Cabinetmaker6MarionStFitzroy1899
B13.1920.26531AhYickCanton10.1865AssistantVegetableDealerQVMCabinetmakerShopSMelbourneWorKee22LittleLonsdaleStMelbourneHongSingLittleBourkeStMelbourne30LittleLonsdaleStMelbourneXXXX
B13.1921.12462ChongKeeCanton1865Herbalist163LaTrobeStMelbourneStorekeeperCabinetmaker1890
Mentioned inA1
AlienRegistrationHarryLoueyPangTaishan_8.9.1872ManufacturerOfFurniture357ExhibitionSt*1912-1916+??834DrummondStNCarlton1888