339 



If it be possible for your Association to use its influence in 

 establishing some precise and universal system of reckoning ages, it 

 would be of great assistance to all interested in the rubber industry 

 in England and Europe. 



The system we would suggest and recommend would be to 

 reckon the age of the trees from the date at which the stumps are 

 put in the ground, and at the same time to state how long such 

 stumps have previously been in the nursery. 



Yours faithfully, 

 The Rubber Estate Agency, Ltd. 



After discussion it is decided that the Secretary should write and 

 state that the usual practice among members of the Association was 

 to count from the date of planting in the field, and that the Associ- 

 ation much regretted its inability of checking reprehensible practice 

 of unscrupulous outsiders. 



13. ENFORCEMENT OP ENACTMENTS. 



Mr. Munro reads out the following correspondence : 



20ih July, 1910. 



Dear Sir,— At the last Meeting of the Kuala Langat District 

 Planters' Association I was instructed to ask you to be good enough 

 to inform the Association whether any numerical limit of coolies 

 employed entitles an employer of Tamil coolies to exemption from 

 the provision of hospital accomodation ; if so what the limit may 

 be ; and whether exemption may be granted on any other grounds 

 whatsoever. 



Yours faithfully, 



(Sd.) E. Macfadyen, 

 Hon. Sec. K. Langat, D. P. A. 



No. 392/02 Klang, 20th July, 1910. 



Sir, — With reference to your letter of the 20th July, on the 

 subject of exemption for any particular estate from providing 

 hospital accomodation, I have the honor to inform you that the 

 Resident with the approval of the Resident-General may, under 

 section 56 of the Indian Immigration Enactment, exempt any estate. 



2. It is not my practice to advise exemption in any case where 

 the labour force is considerable, the conditions otherwise than per- 

 fectly healthly, and the distance from the nearest Government hospital 

 sufficiently great to place obstacles in the way of prompt and easy 

 transport for coolies in need of treatment. 



I have etc.. 



The Hon. Secretary, Your obedient servant, 



Kuala Langat Dist. P. Ass., (Sgd.) G. A. Smith-Steinmetz, 

 Jugra. Ag. Assist. Supt. of Immigts., F.M.S. 



