126 



We have therefore been reluctantly obliged for several years ta 

 abandon this idea altogether, and to leave the task to the Government,, 

 who alone have the machinery to compel the return of accurate- 

 statistics. 



Under the circumstances we are afraid, that no authoritative 

 statement regarding the present rubber acreage of the Malay Penin- 

 sula will be available, until early Spring, when the Director of 

 Agriculture will have his returns for 1910 ready. 



Believe me, dear Sir, 



Yours faithfully, 

 (Sgd.) H. C. E. Zacharias, 

 Secretary. 



7. HOSPITAL RULES. 



The Secretary read the following letters : 

 No. 3975/1910. 



23rd Tanuar\% 191 1. 



Sir, 



I am directed to address you with reference to Section 18 of "The 

 Estate Labourers (Protection of Health) Enactment, 1910" which reads 

 as follows: — 



"18. The employer shall bear the expenses of the maintenance and 

 treatment in such hospital of every labourer under written contract as 

 long as he remains in such hospital who was at the time of his admission 

 to the hospital or within seven days previously employed on the estate^ 

 and shall not be allowed to recover such expenses from the labourer 

 either by deduction from the wages or otherwise, but shall not, except 

 as may be provided in the contract of such labourer, be required to pay 

 wages in respect of any time during which the labourer is in hospital. 



In the case of a labourer who was employed under a parol agree- 

 ment the employer shall defray the expenses of his maintenance and 

 treatment in such hospital so long as he remains in hospital, but may 

 recover from such labourer the expenses of his treatment and mainten- 

 ance at such rate as the Resident with the approval of the Resident- 

 General, may from time to time prescribe by notification in the Gazette 

 in respect of any period in excess of thirty days during which such 

 labourer shall have remained in the hospital." 



2. The Acting Resident-General would be glad to be favoured 

 with the views of the Association as to the rate to be prescribed under 

 that Section. 



I have, &c. 

 (Sgd) J. R. O. Aldworth, 



Ag. Federal Secretary. 



Proposed by Mr. Gumming, seconded by Mr. Skinner, and carried 

 unanimously that the rate to be recommended to Government be 30 

 cents per diem. 



