239 



MALAY PENINSULA AGRICULTURAL 

 ASSOCIATION. 



GENERAL MEETING IN PENANG 



EFFECT OF RUBBER BOOM ON LABOUR. 



A general meeting of the members of the Malay Peninsula 

 Agricultural Association was held yesterday at the Sugar Estates 

 Office, No. 5, Weld Quay. The Hon. John Turner presided, and 

 there were also present Messrs. T. BOYD (Vice-President), G. 

 Stothard, D. Ritchie, A. Crawford, J. Sargant (Secretary), 

 and M. H. Graham. 



The Minutes of the previous general meeting were read and ap- 

 proved. 



The first item on the agenda was to pass last year's accounts. 



It was explained that the small loss in recruiting was occasioned 

 by the cessation of emigration while, at the same time, the establish- 

 ment expenses had to be kept up. 



Mr. Boyd proposed that those who had had coolies last year pay 

 $1.50 per coolie, as an extra charge to make up the deficit. 



Mr. Boyd's suggestion was agreed to. 



The Secretary said that the Association had to pay to the 

 Madura Co. a commission of 2\% on the free passage tickets given 

 by the Federated Malay States Government. They would have to 

 make that charge now for all coolies that were received last year 

 and sent to estates in Perak. 



Mr. Stothard then move that the accounts for the year ended 

 on 31st December last be passed. 



Mr. Boyd seconded, and the motion was agreed to. 



The next item was to consider whether the recruiting fee should 

 not be raised. 



The Secretary read the following letter on the subject : — 



Negapatam, 

 February ijtk, 1906. 



The Secret ary^ 



Malay Peninsula Agricultural Association. 



Dear Sir, — I am in receipt of your letter of the 3rd instant. 



I again have to regret the small number being shipped by this 

 steamer. It is partly due to the Madras people sending no coolies 

 and partly to the large number who refused to emigrate after arriv- 

 ing at the depot. In all 18 coolies refused to emigrate. I am 

 having a lot of trouble with the recruiters as they are most dissatis- 

 fied at present. 



