333 



population of Assam, its remote position, and its 

 difficulty of access for poor people from the popu- 

 lous parts of India, indicate the expediency of 

 having resort to a systematic course of proceed- 

 ing in the importation of labor from other parts 

 of India. But it is not for Government but for 

 those immediately interested in the Tea planta- 

 tions of Assam, to apply themselves to this as to 

 other requirements of their position. If they do 

 so, they may be sure that whatever Government 

 can legitimately do to facilitate their endeavours, 

 will be readily done/' 



Following out the abstract principle argument, 

 and again ignoiing the practical fact that the 

 normal rates of wages in many countries is three 

 or four times greater than in India, the planters 

 were informed that the Sugar planters of Mauritius 

 found it to their advantage to pay \ a month 

 to Indian laborers, and were told that if they would 

 establish au. organized system of immigration and 

 pay equal or less wages, the coolies would doubt- 

 less elect for Tea in preference to Sugar. 

 , Time out of mind did the Tea planters, to the 

 best of their ability, give, general ideas of their 

 wants, and while imploring assistance, at the 

 same time, express their perfect willingness to pay 

 any rates short of such exorbitants rates as would 

 bouleverse the labor market of the whole province, 

 provided Government would simply establish an 



