135 



to prolong the present state of affairs. I happen to know something 

 about the estate, I think something ought to be done, and that the 

 Government should take steps to do everything necessary. 



Mr. Foo Choo Choon was of opinio:! that the existing law was 

 quite good. If a towkay misbehaved himself the coolies could go ta 

 the Protector of Chinese. 



Mr. E. B. Skinner: I quite agree with what the Unofficial Mem- 

 bers have said about the short notice given. In such a case as the 

 present it is very difficult to express an opinion ; but in view of the 

 urgency of the case I, personally, think this Bill should be passed 

 provided we have the assurance of the Government that only very- 

 urgent cases will be dealt with until the new measure is ready. 



The Chief secretary : It is only because the Government is ad- 

 vised that there is nothing in the existing laws to enable us to deal 

 with the present case that this measure has been introduced. It has 

 necessitated our coming to the Council and applying for this measure 

 which has been considered purely as a temporary one. The labour 

 Code is now in course of preparation. If hon. members give their 

 votes in favour of it to-day we shall not take them as an unqualified 

 approval of the measure we are going to pass. Its provisions will 

 only be applied to cases of a very serious nature and of great emer- 

 gency. I am perfectly willing to give an assurance that I will only 

 enforce it in cases of great emergency. 



The High Commissioner: When I arrived at Kuala Lumpur for 

 this meeting I had no idea this Bill was to be brought before the 

 Council to-day. I did not know there would be any question of 

 emergency. It was only when I arrived that the Chief Secretary 

 showed me the reports that he had about this particular estate. I 

 agreed with him that it was a question of emergency, and Members 

 who have seen the report agree. I am sure that as regards that 

 particular estate it is a question of emergency. 



I agree with what the Chief Secretary has said, as regards the 

 provisions of the Bill being enforced against any other estate; and 

 I will go further and given an assurance that its provisions will 

 not be enforced against any other estate until the Unc;fficial 

 Members of the Council have seen the report upon which we pro- 

 pose to act, that is until we pass a permanent Bill. I consider 

 further this Bill will strengthen the hands of managers of estates. 

 I believe managers are quite willing to help in every way if they see 

 that the Government rules and laws are necessary. But when you 

 get men thousands of miles away they do not see eye to eye with the 

 Government and with the manager. It will strengthen the hands of 

 the managers and lead to Directors at home carrying out what they 

 advise. 



The Chief Secretary said with regard to clause 2 of the Bill that 

 it was practically similar to the one that had been read a second time 

 in the Legislative Council in the Colony. That is so. 



