59 



rates per acre by the help of chetties that the people were unable 

 to pav interest and this broke up their homes. 



I have, etc., 



T. H. HILL, 



Protector of Labour, F.MS 



PS. — Since writing foregoing, by your instructions I went ove • 

 the gardens under Mr. STANLEY Arden'S charge. I formed a high 

 opinion of his developed capacity and look upon him as a valuable 

 servant to the Government and am prepared to back this expression 

 of opinion by a report should you desire it. 



T. H. H. 



The Resident-General, F.M.S. 



British Residency, 

 Xo. 6344/1903. Selangor, 18th December, 1903. 



Encouragement of Agriculture among Natives. 

 Sir — 



1 have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No 

 7259, of the 7th November, 1903, covering a letter by the Super_ 

 intendent of the Government Experimental Plantations on the sub. 

 ject of the encouragement of agriculture among native cultivators 



2. This subject is one which the Governments of these States 

 have always shown every desire to foster and more than one pro- 

 posal, having for its object the development of native cultivation, 

 has received consideration and material assistance sometimes in 

 the form of remissions of rent and sometimes by the grant of loans 

 without interest. 



3. The proposals now put forward by Mr. Arden are, as far as 

 I am aware, new, free from many of the objections attendant on 

 the forms of assistance referred to above, and likely to achieve the 

 desired object. The extension of coconut cultivation in the Kuala 

 Selangor district consequent on the establishment of oil mills in 

 that locality, at any rate, proves that the natives are prepared to 

 avail themselves of the benefits of a ready market, and there is no 

 reason to suppose that other forms of manufacture would not equal- 

 lv encourage the cultivation of other kinds of agricultural produce. 



4. The form in which effect can best be given to Mr. ARDEN'S 

 proposals is a more difficult question and one in which I do not 

 think it possible to lay down any hard and fast rules. 



For the present it seems to me it will suffice if the Government 

 accept his proposals and notify the public by advertisement on the 

 lines of the recent notification issued from your office to encourage 

 the introduction of new forms of agriculture, that the Government 

 are prepared (i) to consider proposals for the establishment of any 

 industry which will utilise agricultural products suitable for native 

 cultivation, and (2) in the event of their meeting with the approval 

 of Government, to assist in their establishment and maintenance 



