208 THE RUBBER INDUSTRY 



and 15 cents for women. With the cost of rations 

 added, this means the equivalent of 40 cents for men 

 and 26 cents for women per diem, plus the cost of 

 importation, amounting to not less than 92 dolars 

 distributed over three years and a sum of 5 dollars 

 for repatriation. This brings the actual value of a day's 

 work to 54 cents for men and 40 cents for women. 



The Tamil coolie is free to obtain such daily wages 

 as he can bargain for, but the rate varies in every dis- 

 trict, and often even on neighbouring estates. On an 

 old-established and popular estate, such as Linggi, the 

 average rate for men is 27 cents, and 22 cents for women. 

 Tappers receive 30 cents and 25 cents. On Devon 

 Estate, only thirty miles distant, men are paid 45 cents 

 and women 35 cents, with higher rates for tappers. In 

 the Klang district the average rate paid is 30 cents for 

 men and 25 cents for women, with 33 cents and 28 cents 

 for tappers. In fact, the rate paid depends very largely 

 on the management of the estate and the reputation it 

 has in Southern India. Taking an average on a number 

 of estates employing Tamil labour in the Federated 

 Malay States and the Straits Settlements, the daily 

 rate isapproximately 38 to 40 cents for men and 33 to 

 35 cents for women, including the amount of the 

 assessment for the Indian Immigration Fund. 



Malay labourers receive 45 cents for men and 35 cents 

 for women as a general rule. Occasionally higher rates 

 are paid when the demand for labour is urgent. 



Chinese labourers ask a higher wage than any 

 other nationality. It varies from 60 to 90 cents per 

 day, and in some cases even a dollar is paid. When 

 calculating contract work, the usual custom is to allow 



