240 



They send me down a poor class of coolie and then they complain 

 of the large percentage of rejections. Just now, too, the Natal and 

 Fiji agencies have increased their commission and are taking 

 numbers of coolies recruited for us. The Natal and Fiji recruiters 

 pay our men cash down for coolies and they find the system very 

 profitable. We have, of course, no remedy except the cancelling 

 of the recruiter's licence and that does more harm than good. Also, 

 some clever man among them has pointed out that, when the Straits 

 commission was agreed upon, it included two classes of coolies and 

 that now we only accept class I, the commission ought to be raised. 

 From their point of view I suppose that this is only just. 



I have also to regret that the batch of 40 coolies I expected has 

 been passed for Natal, but as they were to be given me by a Natal 

 recruiter I can do nothing. 



For the next shipment I have been promised certainly 75 coolies 

 and, as I also intend going to Madras for four or five days to see 

 what 1 can do with the people there, it is possible we may get 

 them. 



Yours truly, 



A. DAVIES. 



Mr. Boyd asked if the Government was getting many coolies.? 

 The Secretary replied that the Government was not getting all it 

 wanted. 



The Secretary read the following letter from Mr. CLAYTON : — 



Indian Immigration Office, 



Penang, 2jth February, 1906. 



SlR, — I have the honour to call your attention to the fact that, 

 although the numbers of indentured immigrants coming over from 

 India have diminished, yet " free " coolies are still coming in con- 

 siderable number. 



It has occurred to me that your Association might like to try the 

 experiment of using some of the free tickets supplied to you for 

 "free" as well as Indentured coolies. 



I would not recommend that any coolies who have not passed the 

 medical examination at the Nagapatam depot should be imported 

 but I am prepared, should you so desire, to request Dr. FOSTON to 

 examine any coolies that your representative in India may present, 

 and pass them through the depot whether they are coming as Inden- 

 tured coolies or as "free" coolies. 



The usual fee of rupee 1, per head, will be paid for the examina- 

 tion of these coolies, and the ordinary precautions in the way of 

 indentification marks will be taken to prevent substitution. 



I have the honour, etc., 



L. H. CLAYTON, 



Acting Superintendent of Indian Immigrants. 



Tne Secretary, 



Malay Peninsula Agricultural Association. 



