373 



Mr. dimming says that the question had not been 

 brought up by the planters at all. The Madura Company 

 had always treated the Kangany employers with great con- 

 sideration. They had won the confidence of Kanganies, 

 and there had never been any question of their squeezing 

 the coolies. Their charges might look high, but there was 

 no doubt that they did work which did not appear in the bill, 

 helping coolies up country, and so on. Therefore he 

 thought it would be a great pity for them, wanting a regular 

 supply of labour, to upset the Madura Co. If later on it 

 were necessary to cut down expenses, they could do so, when 

 the labour conditions were on a firmer basis. 



Mr. Gibson endorses Mr. Cumming's remarks. He had 

 made it a point to ask every one he met, and he had heard 

 not a single complaint. The telegram costs were the only 

 charge which seemed heavy, but he had a talk with Mr. 

 Mansfield, of the Madura Company, (who was at present on 

 a visit to Selangor), and he had learnt that they had 

 arranged a code which would reduce expenses. The Com- 

 pany's correspondence alone was enormous. The kanga- 

 nies and coolies all spoke very highly of the Company. 



Mr. Lake agrees and mentions that if a kangany had 

 to appear in Court, the Company made arrangements for 

 him to be defended. Pie would like to know to whom they 

 would have recourse if the Madura Co. refused to reduce 

 their charges. 



Mr. Skinner says that the question probably arose 

 through a letter which he wrote last year to the Super- 

 intendent of Immigrants asking if there was any chance of 

 the Madura Co. reducing their charges. The Superinten- 

 dent replied that it would be no good unless the planters 

 were prepared to run an agency of their own and all plan- 

 ters would have to promise not to support the Co. This of 

 course, they would not do. He also had had a conversation 

 with Mr. Mansfield and he was convinced that the Co. was 

 doing everything in their power to help them. 



Mr. Zacharias produces the code referred to and ex- 

 plained that in any word could be given the name of the 

 Estate and the number of coolies out of the boat. Messrs. 

 Hampshire & Co. would get the cable and would send out 

 postcards. The whole charge would be $1, inclusive of 

 everything. 



Mr. Cumming proposes that in reply the Superinten- 

 dent of Immigrants be informed that the Association do 

 not think it necessary to interfere with the Madura Co. 



