164 



The Chairman considers that this correspondence 

 covers the same ground, as the next item on the agenda, 

 and before inviting discussion, therefore calls upon Mr. A. 

 Irving to propose the motion, standing in his name, viz. 



''That the proposed rebate as per notice published in 

 the "Malay Mail" dated Penang 10th December, 1908, is 

 against the interest of the planting community in that it 

 stipulates that no advances incurred prior to their arrival 

 on the Estate may be deducted from coolies." 



Mr. Irving believes it was generally agreed that it was 

 quite impossible to recruit at from $2 to $3 per head, and 

 therefore they would be the losers under the new scheme. 

 He contended that the coolies under advances were more 

 satisfactory and worked better than others, while employ- 

 ers had a better hold over them than in the cases of men 

 free of debt. And there was another point that must not 

 be overlooked s the coolies, if deprived of the usual advances 

 from the estates, could always get the money elsewhere; 

 while if such advances were not put through the estate 

 books, it would lead to crimping. It was impossible to land 

 coolies here under $5 per head, and therefore estates lost 

 $2 per coolie, whereas previously they could recover ad- 

 vances. The matter of the change had been forced upon 

 them by the Immigration Committee without planters being 

 represented, and his Association felt great dissatisfaction 

 with regard to it. 



He would therefore formally propose the motion, 

 standing in his name. 



Mr. J. Gibson, in seconding the proposition, points out 

 that now the money was to be advanced by the kangany, but 

 not charged to the estate. Looking at the matter from the 

 coolie's point of view, the speaker said that the coolie 

 thought that he would have to refund not only the debt, 

 but interest besides. Previously he had confidence in the 

 planter. Now, however, the kangany would not give the 

 coolie to understand that the whole amount was not recover- 

 able, and therefore the law would defeat its own ends. It 

 was grand-motherly legislation in the extreme, and of a 

 type calculated to interfere with private enterprise. More- 

 over, if the coolie now found himself in an unhealthy loca- 

 lity, he would go away, as he had no responsibility. Per- 

 sonally he had never experienced any difficulty in getting 

 coolies to recognise their obligations, but without advances 

 the planters had no hold over them. He hoped that when 

 their Oh airman went back to the board, he would use his 

 weight in having the matter put right, and he appealed to 

 those at the meeting to give him their support, 



