ig6 THE RUBBER INDUSTRY 



public works may be placed at not less than 150,000 at 

 the end of 1912. Recruiting in India is being carried 

 out actively, and only a few days ago 300 men from 

 various estates left for India for recruiting purposes. 

 The Superintendent of Indian Immigration stated that 

 he fully expected a large increase in the number of 

 Tamil coolies during 1912-13. 



The method of recruiting Indian coolies for work on 

 the Malay rubber estates is best explained by the fol- 

 lowing notice, issued by the Superintendent of Indian 

 Immigration for the Malay Peninsula: 



THE TAMIL IMMIGRATION FUND 



For years previous to 1907 there had been continual 

 complaints from employers importing Tamil labour that 

 coolies imported by them were attracted away to the 

 service of other employers who paid no portion of the 

 expense of importation. 



The Immigration Committee, appointed by the 

 Government in that year, recommended that the cost 

 of the importation of Tamil labourers should be distrib- 

 uted amongst all those who employed them ; and the 

 Tamil Immigration Fund Enactment, based on the 

 recommendations of the Committee, was subsequently 

 passed. 



Under this law an assessment on the amount of 

 work done by their coolies is levied upon all employers 

 of Tamil labour, and the proceeds are paid into a fund 

 styled the Immigration Fund. Employers are required 

 to send in to the Superintendent of Immigrants, 

 Penang, on printed forms which may be obtained from 



I 



