546 



sions of the law regulating such introductions and the descendants 

 of such Indians : — 



Estimated number, 31st December, 1899 ... ... 60,756 



Arrived during the year ... ... 5,435 



Births ... ... ... 1,429 





6,864 





Died during the year 



... 1,030 





Left the Colony 



065 







1,695 



5,169 







65>925 



Of this total the following is 



the classification : — 





Men. 



Women. Children. 



Total 



Free Indians ... 17,008 



8,659 I8-843 



44,510 



Indentured Indians... 13,211 



5,332 2,872 



21,415 



30,219 



13,991 21,715 



65,925 



(/) Read letter P. O L. No. 316/02 from the Protector of La- 

 bour, Federated Malay States, to the Honorary Secretary, 

 United Planters' Association, covering a letter from the 

 Superintendent, Straits Settlements Emigration Depot, 

 Negapatam, regarding Canganies travelling to India from 

 the Straits in other steamers than those of the British 

 India Steam Navigation Company, and giving the names 

 of some Canganies who had recently done so ; also ex- 

 tract from a letter which had passed between Dr. Foston 

 and Messrs. the Madura Company on the subject. 

 The Chairman said that he did not see any reason why Canga- 

 nies and coolies should not go over in other steamers, especially 

 when they have occasionally to wait some days in Penang for a 

 British India boat, and he did not think that the fact that State- 

 aided passages were arranged for by the Government with the 

 British India Company for coolies coming from India was any 

 reason why these people should be compelled to go to India by 

 British India boats. 



The Company presumably agreed to the reduced rates because 

 they believed that the magnitude of the Government guarantee would 

 prove a source of profit to themselves, and he (the Chairman) con- 

 sidered that if there be a question of employers being under any 

 obligations to anyone, it is clearly to the Government, and not to 

 the British India Company. The meeting unanimously took this 

 view of the matter and the Honorary Secretary was asked to reply 

 to the Protector of Labour accordingly. 



4. Mr. E. R. Salisbury, of Gapis Estate, Perak, was elected a 

 member of the Association. 



5. General correspondence — 



(a) Read letter from J. V. Brenchley in answer to a letter of the 

 Chairman's asking for information about rubber cultiva- 

 tion in Mexico. 



