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Planters' Associations did not see their way to join it. However after 

 a great deal of correspondence it was unanimously decided at a meet- 

 ing of planters held at Ipoh on October 19th, 1907, to form an Associ- 

 ation to consist of delegates from all District Associations in the Malay 

 Peninsula to be called the Planters' Association of Malaya. At a sub- 

 sequent meeting held in Kuala Lumpor on December 1st, 1907, this 

 was confirmed and the U. P. A. of M. P. was dissolved and the P. A. 

 M. formed with Mr. E. W. Harrison Chairman and Mr. Zacharias as 

 Secretary ; your Association being represented by your Chairman and 

 Secretary and Messrs. Harvey and Hamerton. Your Committee trust 

 that the formation of such a very strong body to watch the interests 

 of the whole planting community will be received with satisfaction by 

 the Association. 



Estate Hospital Accommodation. With reference to the number 

 of beds to be provided which was fixed at 4 per cent of the number of 

 coolies employed, the Managers of several Estates were notified by the 

 District Surgeon that 2 per cent of beds would be sufficient for the 

 Estates in this District. However the Superintendent of Immigrants 

 wrote that the 4 per cent of beds were to be provided. The matter 

 was eventually left to the decision of the Inspector General of Hos- 

 pitals, Straits Settlements, who visited and reported on the matter ; 

 •however no official report of the decision of the Inspector General 

 of Hospitals has yet been received by your committee but it is believed 

 that a differential scale for the number of beds necessary is to be 

 recommended. Two hospitals are being erected in your district, one 

 at Bukit Rajah Estate to accommodate coolies of the east end of the 

 district and one near the 9th mile on the Kapar Road to accommodate 

 coolies of the west end of the district. This latter includes three 

 Estates in the Kuala Selangor Association District. The erection of thi 

 hospital is in the hands of a committee appointed by your Associations 

 consisting of your Chairman, Messrs. Harrison, Hickey, Harvey, 

 Hamerton and Scott. An agreement has been drawn up and a copy is 

 being sent to each Estate contributing to the hospital. The funds for 

 the erection of the building are being raised by an assessment of $1.50 

 per acre on the opened area of the Estates. The erection of the build- 

 ings is now well in hand and the whole of the work is estimated to be 

 completed by the 25th of June, 1908. The appointment of medical 

 attendance is receiving the attention of your Hospital Committee. 



Tamil Immigration Fund Bill. This Bill has been tentatively put 

 in force by Government on the recommendation of the Immigration 

 Committee for the purpose of providing free passages for Tamil coolies 

 from India to this country. The Government is providing a sum of 

 S320,000 for three years, while the planter is to be taxed at the rate 

 of $1.25 per quarter for each labourer over 14 years of age in his 

 employment. Your Committee consider that this is a very unfair tax 

 on the older properties which have already an ample labour force. 

 At a meeting of planters held at Kuala Lumpor on September 2nd, 

 1907, to protest against this unfair taxation an amendment was passed 

 and forwarded to Government, asking that the tax should only be 

 imposed upon the coolies actually recruited during any year whether 

 locally or from India. The amendment was not accepted by Govern- 



