394 



2. Mr. Malcolm Cumming tluiiik.s the meeting for its good 

 wishes and assures them he would do his best in their interests and 

 for the Rubber Industry generally. 



Before proceeding with the business that had called them here, 

 to-day, he expected they would wish him to say a few words. They 

 would ha\ e either heard or read His Excellency's speech on opening 

 the Agricultural Show and they must be gratified to tind how much 

 of it was taken up by Rubber in pusse, and in esse. They had 

 to record their thanks to the Government for what had been done in 

 the past year in their interests, i.e. the strengthening of the agricul- 

 tural department and the passing of the Rubber Dealers' Enactment ; 

 which although framed to protect their interests, would need 

 alteration and an adequate staff to carry out its provisions. He 

 thought they would all endorse His Excellency's remarks with regard 

 to the loss sustained by the planting community by the resignation 

 of Mr. Gallagher; but they would be gratihed to hear that the agricul- 

 tural department was still further to be strengthened in the near future. 



From what His Excellency had said it would be inferred that six 

 years hence we would be turning out rubber equal to the world's 

 production to-day. If his estimates are realized, this may be so, but 

 they must not forget that the consumption of rubber was said to 

 be increasing in an almost equal ratio, so that he hoped they 

 need not be in despair. 



With reference as to what had been said and written with regard 

 to labour in the F. M. S., there were no doubt many people at home 

 and elsewhere who would infer from nunierous news-paper articles 

 that the planters are an inhuman body of persons. Apart from 

 all moral obligations, it would not pay them, in view of their future 

 labor requirements, to allow any hardship or cruelty and he would 

 most emphatically and publicly deny on their behalf all such 

 allegations. 



That in times of depression it must be acknowledged they were 

 not in a position to study their own health or that of their coolies, he 

 was prepared to admit; bui generally throughout the Peninsula 

 to-day he affirmed that every effort was being made to improve the 

 health of the Asiatic and the European em.ployees and he purposely 

 put the coolies first. 



He must apologize for taking so much of their time and he felt 

 sure they would wish to place on record a very hearty vote of thanks 

 to the Executive of the Agricultural Show for the splendid arrange- 

 ments they had made and their thanks for the hospitality accorded to 

 them in Singapore. 



3. The Minutes of tiie previous Meeting are taken as read and 

 confirmed. 



