430 Coco-nuts The Consols of the East 



conjunction with the Borneo Planters' Asso- 

 ciation, recently sent a special commissioner, 

 or representative, to China to establish a 

 labour recruiting agency. Finally this was 

 done, and the commissioner, Mr. Riddell, was 

 placed in charge. Coolies are also obtainable 

 from Java, where there is a large redundant 

 population, for the Chairman, on his recent 

 visit to that island, ascertained that the Govern- 

 ment there would place no obstacles in the 

 way of the immigration of coolies and settlers 

 to North Borneo. It should be borne in mind 

 that British North Borneo a,nd the Federated 

 Malay States are the only countries to which 

 the Java Government make this concession. 

 A certain quantity of local labour is available, 

 and, we should imagine, supplies of Filipinos 

 should be obtainable if Manila fibre was 

 planted. 



Taking the labour question therefore as 

 settled, and an adequate supply assured, the 

 low price of land in North Borneo and its great 

 possibilities as a coco-nut producing centre 

 must, we imagine, once capital is forthcoming, 

 place it on a parity with the Philippine Islands, 

 already one of the three chief exporting centres 

 as regards coco-nut products. With its estates 

 in skilled hands, and a clean slate to start 

 with, Borneo acre for acre ought to do best, 

 whether only coco-nuts are planted, or mixed 

 estates, . say, coco-nuts inland from the shore, 

 then a belt of catch crops, and a stretch of 



