I62 



I agree with paragraphs 4 to lO but not with paras I to 3 as I 

 think that an increase of the existing uniform assessment to $10 per 

 cooly and the payment of recruiting allowances would give more 

 satisfactory results. 



Sgd. L. H. Clayton, 



Mr. Gumming explains the proposals to the meeting. The com- 

 mittee had increased the maximum assessment to $3 as a guarantee 

 that any sums which the Immigration Committee might borrow 

 would be repaid. Government was willing to grant loans, but wanted 

 to be assured that the Fund would eventually repay them. Under 

 the present Enactment no alteration in the assessment could be made, 

 and it was advisable that the Immigration Department should have 

 power to alter it. A.t present the finances did not justify a larger 

 recruiting allowance than $5. The surtax was introduced as the thin 

 end of the wedge, whereby local recruiters would be got at eventually 

 It was only a small tax, but it was a matter of principle, and the idea 

 was to raise it eventually to such a sum as would deter local recruit- 

 ing. The exemption of Government was agreed to as being only fair 

 in view of the Government subsidy to the B. 1. S. N. Co. 



The position was a difficult one. Although opinions differed as 

 to whether they were on the right lines — ^many thought they were 

 better off before Government stepped in — still there had arisen that 

 Government interference, and he thought, under the circumstances, 

 they ought to give their approval to these resolutions. The subsidy 

 to the B. I. S. N. Co., out of which arose that interference, would 

 shortly expire, and then, he thought, would be the time for the 

 planters to decide whether they wished to free themselves from inter- 

 ference. 



Mr. J. Gibson was prepared to support the resolutions only on 

 the understanding that they were not permanent. Planters had not 

 benefited from Government interference. The Enactment had been 

 tried and founding wanting. The vicissitudes of tropical agriculture 

 were many and advancing taxation would soon be very serious to the 

 industry. 



Mr. H. L. Jarvis inquires how it would be possible to break 

 iiway from Government. 



Mr. Trotter thinks that the differ ential treatment, which local 

 recruiters are to "^redeive, will be much too slight a one, to be felt 

 at all. 



Mr. A. B. Milne said it was a question not so much of ^getting 

 labour but of keeping it. The scheme did not appear to do enough 

 as regards the latter. 



Mr. E. B. Skinner said that the only money that would have 

 to be borrowed would be to pay the $4.50 recruiting allowance for the 

 second half of 1910. The tax would cover the rest. No ordinary estate 

 that recruited labour would have to pay the surtax. They had gone 

 into the matter thoroughly, and were convinced that the figures wers 

 correct. 



