139 
Sembilan  may  tollow  suit.  We  fullv  recognise  the  desirability  ot 
a local  Association  in  Negri  Sembilan,  but  confidently  look  to  the 
individual  planters  and  other  labour  employers  in  that  State  lor 
continued  support. 
We  are  pleased  to  be  able  to  report  that  tour  gentlemen  from 
Perak  have  expressed  their  desire  to  join  the  U.NITKD  Pl.ANTERS’ 
AssOCI.ATION.  and  trust  that  many  others  may  soon  copy  their 
example. 
Labour. — On  the  whole  the  supply  of  coolies  from  India  has  not 
been  maintained,  and  complaints  of  shortage  are  to  be  heard  on 
all  sides.  There  are  various  reasons  for  this.  A good  paddy  sea- 
son in  India,  the  heavy  fall  in  exchange  and  consequent  increase 
in  the  cost  of  living,  higher  wages  offered  by  other  countries,  and 
a rapidly  growing  demand  for  the  services  of  the  Tamil  coolie 
wherever  his  employment  is  permitted  by  the  Indian  Government, 
all  provide  an  explanation  for  the  inadequate  supply  in  the  Malay 
Peninsula.  I he  Governor  in  Council  has  just  stated  that  the 
F.  M.  S.  during  the  past  year  have  paid,  as  forfeit  to  the  British 
India  Cpmpany,  the  .sum  of  844.000,  the  equivalent  of  4,000  tickets 
unused,  against  the  guarantee  to  which  a Ic.igthv  reference  was 
made  in  your  last  annual  report.  Two  labour  conferences  have 
been  convened  by  the  Government,  one  in  Penang,  and  one  more 
recently  in  Singapore.  At  these  all  classes  of  Tamil  labour  em- 
ployers were  represented,  your  Chairman  attending  on  behalf  of 
the  Coffee,  Coconut,  and  Rubbc^r  interests  of  the  F.  M.  S.,  and  it 
has  been  finally  decided  that  a monopoly,  as  regards  professional 
recruiting,  will  be  granted  to  the  Madura  Company,  Negapatam, 
the  wages  offered  ranging  from  35  cts.  to  45  cts.  subject  to  exchange 
fluctuations,  and  according  to  the  locality  in  which  the  coolie 
recruit  will  have  to  work.  These  Conferences  were  arranged  with 
the  double  object  of  ascertaining  the  views  of  planters  and  other 
unofficial  employers,  especially  with  respect  to  wages,  and  so  of 
avoiding  the  risk  of  friction,  attendant  upon  possible  Government 
competition,  and  also  of  considering  *a  scheme  for  putting  the 
whole  question  of  recruiting  upon  a sound  basis,  which  emanated 
from  Messrs.  O’SULLIVAN  and  Hill  as  the  result  of  a visit  which 
these  gentlemen  have  recently  paid  to  India.  It  should  be  clearly 
undenstood  that,  whilst  no  professional  recruiting  will  be  permitted 
except  through  the  Madura  Co.,  the  Kangany  system  will  not  be 
interfered  with  in  any  way.  It  may  be  that  the  offer  of  wages,  so 
much  higher  than  those  ruling  at  present,  will  compel  the  employ- 
ers of  Kanganies  to  raise  their  rates  also,  but  that  has  yet  to  be 
seen,  especially  it  recruiting  by  professionals  is  practically  to  be 
confined  to  Indentured  labour,  and  there  was  a remarkable  con- 
sensus of  opinion  amongst  the  various  delegates  that  the  wages 
at  present  paid  are  quite  insufficient  to  attract  the  Tamil  coolie,  in 
any  numbers,  to  this  country.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  if  the 
Rubber  industry  is  to  achieve  the  success  which  is  at  present  fore- 
shadowed, the  importation  of  very  large  numbers  of  coolies  in  the 
near  futuie  is  distinctly  indicated.  It  will  not  do  for  planters  to 
wait  until  their  trees  are  actuallv  readv  to  tajL  and  then  look  round 
