153 



The Chairman said that it was absolutely necessary to take some 

 steps. The Chinese, where they were employed on estates, had been 

 found very satisfactory, though certainly they were expensive. 



The resolution was carried, and a committee to report was 

 appointed as follows : — 



The Chairman, the Secretary and Mr. N. S. Mansergh, with 

 power to co-opt two others. 



12. PLANT DISEASES, 



The Secretary reads out the following circular, drafted by 

 Mr. Cumming: 



As it is universally admitted throughout the Planting Community 

 in the Federated Malay States that steps should be taken at once for 

 establishing means and ways for combating diseases and pests on 

 rubber, should they arise in a virulent form, it is proposed as 

 preliminary measures : 



1. That advisory committees for each State should be elected 

 by the Planters. 



2. That a request be made to Government that the Director of 

 Agriculture may be allowed to become a member of each Committee 

 ex-officio. 



That the Director of Agriculture be previously consulted as to 

 his willingness to accept this position. 



The above advisory Committees having been constituted it is 

 suggested that they should proceed somewhat on the following lines :- 



3. Prepare proposals for dealing promptly with any disease or 

 pest of a dangerous character that may arise. 



4. Showing the impossibility of foreseeing in what shape or 

 form disease or pest may arise (the sudden inroad of the bee hawk 

 pest on coffee a few years back being a good example) to request 

 Government to pass an Enactment on the lines of the coconut 

 Enactment, with permissory powers of a stringent character. These 

 powers to be permissory, in fact to lie in abeyance till required ; but 

 to be of such a nature that Government can at any time put them 

 into force without any delay on good cause being presented to the 

 Government by the Committees. 



That it will be the duty of the Committees on such case arising 

 to at once inform the Government of the exact nature and outward 

 signs of the disease or pest, etc., etc., as far as they are able. 



To propose means for prevention and eradication, penalties, etc. 



etc., 



