302 



We understand that the Governor General of Netherlands India 

 is now prepared to grant permits to recruit Javanese. Applications 

 so far received will be considered on their own merits and according 

 to the date presented. Arrangements will be made wherby all 

 permits granted will not be able to exceed in recruiting over 1000 

 coDlies per month. After the permits already presented have become 

 exhausted, then those permits now going in will be taken in rotation 

 and according to the date received. 



We learn that pemits have already been received applying to 

 recruit 25,000 coolies and if the above arrangements are enforced 

 then it w'lW take over 2 years for the permits already applied for to 

 become exhausted, and we think therefore the chance of obtaining 

 Javanese labour is a very poor one. 



Yours faithfully, 



Kennedy & Co., 



Secretaries, 



Messrs. Singapore, 19th May, 191 1. 



The Planters* Association of Malaya, 

 Kuala Lumpur. 



Dear Sirs, 



We are in receipt of your^favour of the loth Ma}^ 1911, and beg 

 to thank you for your enquiry for Javanese labour. We have sub- 

 mitted same to our Batavia branch and shall communicate with you 

 again as soon as a reply is to hand. 



Yours faithfully. 

 Per Pro. Behn, Meyer & Co., Ltd., 



E. ASBENZ. 



At this point the Chairman says that as the correspondence is 

 evidently long he proposes that the Meeting should consider it under 

 its headings accordmg to the agenda. 



2. INDIAN LABOUR. 



The Chairman says that the meeting had heard the Government's 

 reply in regard to quarantine expenses. Since the last meeting he 

 had received a telegram from various District Associations down on 

 the coast asking him if he could meet their representatives on the 

 previous Sunday. They had met, the meeting being due to a rumour 

 having got about that recruiting was to stopped, and steamers would 

 take no more coolies from India owing to the Quarantine Camp 

 being full. The matter was discussed very fully, the result being 

 that he was asked to go and see the Chief Secretary. He had been to 

 see him on the Monday. There had been certain correspondence 

 since, but he (Mr. Skinner) would ask the meeting to into Com- 

 mittee as he did not wish it made public. 



