398 



9. ENFORCEMENTS OF ENACTMENTS. 



The Secretary reads the following letter : 



The Federal Secretary, F. M. S., 



Kuala Lumpur. nth July, igio. 



Sir, — I have the honor to submit that the staffs of those depart- 

 ments, which are specially charged with matters closely affecting the 

 Planting Industry, do not seem to have been increased in proportion 

 with the growth of the latter. 



I would instance the registration of all Tamil Coolies, which 

 though legally incumbent on every emplo3^er of Tamil Labor, is to 

 all practical intents and purposes a dead letter, since the Department 

 in charge, viz., the Indian Immigration Department, has apparently 

 not got a sufficient number of Officers, to see that the law is carried 

 into effect. 



Similarly the enforcement of the Hospital Rules in the case of 

 large contractors does not seem to have been attempted, notwithstand- 

 ing the notoriously insanitary manner, in which these employers 

 house their coolies. 



/\s a further instance 1 would mention the registration of rubber 

 trees under the Rubber Dealers' Enactment. At present these records 

 are kept at the various Land Offices, although it must be obvious that 

 these Officers have not the time, to check and scrutinize the returns 

 received by them in the manner intended by the Enactment. 



Under the circumstances, the Members of this Association feel 

 that the attention of the Government should be called to the present 

 very unsatisfactory and undignified state of affairs and to submit that 

 the staffs concerned be strengthened by an immediate and adequate 

 increase in the number of officers. 



I have, etc., 

 (Sgd.) H. C. E. Zach ARIAS, 



Secretary. 



The Chairman remarks that steps were being taken already to 

 establish coolie registration offices throughout the F.M.S. 



10. COMPULSORY GRADING OF AGRICULTURAL 

 EXPORTS. 



The Secretary reads the following letter : 



No. 3379 1910. T4thjiily, 1910. 



Sir,— I am directed to inform you that it has been represented 

 that a large amount of the copra exported from the Federated Malay 

 States is of an inferior description, and that it is desirable that some 

 restrictions should be imposed. 



