305 



5. CHINESE LABOUR. 



The Secretary reads the following correspondence : — 



The Secretary, Singapore, 9th May, 1911. 



The Planters' Association of Malaya, 

 Kuala Lumpur. 



Dear Sir, 



You are doubtless aware of the attempts to institute the system 

 of importation of free Chinese coolies into the Straits Settlements and 

 Malay Peninsula. In most quarters we understand this movement is 

 being favourably considered and we now write to ask you if you will 

 kindly lay this letter before your Directors at their next Meeting. 



This Company has been for some time actively engaged in the 

 importation of indentured labourers "from China and have their own 

 Depots both in Hongkong and Singapore. The Company's Managing 

 Director is in Hongkong and personally attends to and supervises the 

 recruiting of the coolies. The Depot here is under the supervision of 

 Europeans, and, we may add, is the only depot as far as we are aware, 

 chat is not owned and controlled by Chinese. 



It occurs to us that if the free labour movement matures, as 

 appears very likely, it will be necessary for your Association to have 

 ■Official Agents in much the same way as the Madura Co., at Nega- 

 patam looks after the Tamil labour that is exported from India. We 

 are well acquainted with the whole form of procedure for sending away 

 ■coolies as regards medical examination, shipping and looking after 

 any Kanganies that may be sent to Hongkong. In Singapore we 

 could arrange for the distribution of the coolies and could house them 

 in our depots^ if necessary, until shipment can be arranged. 



We shall be glad to hear from you after your Directors have 

 given this matter their consideration. 



We are, dear Sir, 

 Yours faithfully, 

 for the KiTLANG Co., Ltd., 

 for the Paterson Simmons & Co., Ltd., 

 C. W. Darbishire, 

 Director, 



Secretaries. 



The Secretaries, llth May, 1911, 



Kitlang Co., Ltd., 



Singapore. 



Dear Sir, 



I am in receipt of your favour of 9th instant, for which I thank 

 you, and will lay same before my Association at their -next Meeting 

 which is to be held in July. 



Believe me, &c., 

 C. St. G. Wheeley, 



Secretary. 



