THE PLANTATION 69 



Another system is to carry out clearing and other 

 operations by contract among villagers in the 

 district an excellent arrangement, especially if 

 the men adopt the American plan that is, all work 

 under the man directly employed by the planter. 



Having finished their contract, he and those who 

 have helped him go elsewhere and work for another 

 planter on similar lines. This system of intelligent 

 labour co-operation enables the planter to deal 

 directly with one responsible native, who can 

 stimulate the activity of his co-workers better than 

 any European could ever hope to do. 



In British North Borneo and elsewhere the 

 planter frequently agrees to a price per tree with 

 the natives, for which they clear the land, plant 

 the trees, and hand them over when they are about 

 three years old. During this period the natives 

 are allowed to draw a reasonable amount on 

 account, and the balance is paid when the trees are 

 finally examined and the transaction completed. 

 From the planter's standpoint this is also a satis- 

 factory arrangement, because the natives perform 

 all the work of clearing, developing the seed nuts, 

 planting out, subsequent maintenance, protection 

 from pests, etc., while he pays only for trees 

 delivered in a sound, productive condition. On 

 the other hand it pays the natives, who grow what- 

 ever they choose between the trees for their own 

 use. Moreover, while the system provides them 



