212 



2. He will, however, submit your letter to the consideration of 

 his Excellency the High Commissioner. 



I have, etc., 

 (Sgd.) E. C. H. Wolff, 



For Federal Secretary, 



No. 562/1908. 2Wi February 1908. 



Sir, 



In continuation of my letter of even number dated the 1st 

 February, 1908, I am directed to inform you that His Excellency the 

 High Commissioner is of opinion that the question of any further 

 reduction of quit rent of lands cultivated with products other than 

 rubber may stand over for the present. 



I have, etc., 

 (Sgd.) E. L. Brockman, 



Federal Secretary. 



VII. The Secretary presents the accounts as audited by Messrs. 

 Gunn & Co. 



Proposed by Mr. J. Gibson, seconded by Mr. H. M. Darby, and 

 carried unanimously, that the accounts be passed. 



VIII. The annual report having been read by the secretary, 

 Mr. Harrison thought they could congratulate themselves on the forma- 

 tion of this central body. The report before them contained already the 

 record of some fairly useful work. All the more was it to be regretted, 

 that in their early history friction should have arisen between them 

 and the Rubber Growers' Association in London, and he instanced two 

 occasions, on which the latter body had been directly antagonistic to 

 themselves, viz., the Indian Immigration Fund Enactment and the 

 Employee Circular of the R. G. A. In their letter to Lord Elgin on 

 the Immigration Cess they had practically ignored the existence of the 

 P. A. M. With regard to the famous circular, he regretted that so 

 much prominence had been given to it. He could not but think it 

 was never intended seriously. He had conversations with various 

 gentlemen largely interested in the industry, and they all condemned 

 the circular. At a time when the tide of prosperity showed signs of 

 turning, it was important that all interested in rubber should work 

 hand in hand. The interests of those on the spot and those in England 

 were identical. The R. G. A.'s letter to Lord Elgin stated that the 

 men on the spot were paying more attention to their own interests 

 than to those of their employers. Such a statement ought never to 

 have been made. The fall in rubber values was anticipated here 

 sooner than it was in London, and action was taken to reduce ex- 

 penditure and curtail extension forced upon us. The fall is the best 

 thing that could have happened. It has made us put our house in 

 order and realize that such enormous profits could not continue. 

 Though the rubber industry is not likely to give those returns which 



