From the Archives (April 11, 1918): Coolie Grievances at Rangoon.

The question of housing Madras and Calcutta coolies in Rangoon while awaiting steamers caused a debate at the Rangoon Municipality yesterday [April 9], all speakers except the President urging that as these coolies were birds of passage of no pecuniary benefit to Rangoon the cost of providing accommodation for them should be defrayed by the shipping company or the Port Commissioners or, as the Hon’ble Mr. F.F. Goodleffe termed it, the paternal Government. The municipality was asked as the result of a Government House Conference and as an urgent measure to construct shelter, cook house and latrines for 2,000 coolies. The shelter was estimated to cost Rs. 15,000 and was to be made of dunny and bamboo with earth flooring. Mr. Goodleffe’s proposition was carried that the Local Government be asked to consider the request of the Port Commissioners to utilise the two godowns at the Brooking wharf for this purpose, the Port Commissioners having previously stated inability to grant this. An alternative proposition was also carried to construct the shelter suggested, on the clear understanding that the municipality should pay the cost.