117 



*' Thc Committee are of opiaion that a small fee for each cooly 

 locally registered, the exact amount to be fixed by the Government, 

 VFould be sufficient. 



"The lirst object of such a department, after having obtained 

 a census of all employers and employed in its district, should be to 

 enforce local registration of all locally recruited coolies, then to see 

 that all the numerous small native planters, miners and contractors 

 and others comply with various regulations, to which other employers 

 of labour are subject ; but which, hitherto, owing to its being nobody's 

 business to enforce, these people have successfully evaded. Later, 

 if such a department became well established, it might 'devote any 

 surplus funds towards helping immigration. 



"The Committee also consider that anylsuch labour department 

 should control Chinese and Javanese in addition to Indian labour. 

 Firstly, because many planters are importing this class of labour and 

 require as much protection as those employing only Tamils. 

 Secondly, because it could not then be urged against the scheme that 

 the Indian cooly was unfairly handicapped. Thirdly, this would 

 help to increase funds. 



"Immediately after the census has been taken would be a parti- 

 cularly convenient time to start any such labour department. The 

 Committee also are of opinion. that any increase in the poll tax v^ould 

 still further add to the burden of those who at present pay it w^hile 

 those w^ho hitherto have evaded it would still continue to do so." 



The Lower Perak District Planters' Association : 



" At a General Meeting held here on the 4th instant 8 were 

 against Mr. Mansergh's scheme of assessment and 3 were in favour. 



" I am also instructed to write you that on the following being 

 put to the meeting, * That this Association is of opinion that an' 

 increased assessment on all Tamil coolies would be fair, if rebates 

 were allowed in proportion on coolies from time to time recruited 

 from India it resulted in 8 being in favour and 3 against." 



Taiplng Planters' Association : 



" At a General Meeting of the Taiping Planters' Association it 

 was unanimously decided to approve of the suggestion of Mr. 

 Mansergh but that the amount of fee to be levied should be $iO~and 

 not $20— per cooly. 



** That in view of the fact that recently a kangany on an estate 

 was proved to the satisfaction of a Magistrate to be inducing coolies 

 on this estate to give one month's notice and leave, and to be paying 

 money into their hands to enable them to do so, that the clause No. 

 98 in the Indian Immigration Enactment of 1904 be made to apply to 

 ail immigrants and not alone to Statute Immigrants. The idea that 

 a man in a responsible position on an estate and receiving a high rate 



