270 



Batn Caves, May 13th, 1908 



Dear Sir, 



At the last meeting of the Planters' Association of Malaya, in 

 Kuala Lumpor, Mr. Skinner stated with regard to coolies recruited 

 under old licenses, that on applying to the Superintendent of Immi- 

 grants he was refunded $10 a head, the passage money they had been 

 charged coming over from Negapatam. 



Acting on this information I sent in an application for eight 

 coolies' steamer fare who had been recruited and sent over under old 

 licenses. I beg to attach reply received. It seems curious that some 

 fares should be refunded and some not. 



I am, etc., 

 (Sgd.) A. J. Fox, Manager. 



(Enclosure.) 



Sir, Penang, 29th April, 1908. 



I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter, dated 

 April 27th, on the subject of free passages. 



2. Free passages can only be issued according to the rules made 

 by the Immigration Committee and published in November last. 



3. A copy of these rules is enclosed, from which you will see 

 that licenses granted by the Residents before the end of 1907 can only 

 be recognised up till March 31, 1908. 



4. If therefore you have Kanganies now in India recruiting for 

 you under old licenses, it would be well for you to obtain new licenses 

 for them as soon as possible. If you have not full particulars of the 

 descriptions of these men, you should forward to me licenses filled in as 

 far as possible which I can send on to India. 



5. The next meeting of the Immigration Committe will be held 

 in about 2 months time and I will bring this question up then, but by 

 that time I imagine all Kanganies will have been provided with 

 proper licenses. 



I I have, etc., 



(Sgd.) L. H. Clayton, 



Superintendent of Immigrants, 



Straits Settlements & F. M. S. 



The question of a refund in the case of coolies coming over under 

 the old licenses and having to pay $10 passage money was further 

 discussed. 



Mr. E. B. Skinner pointed out that they had not got a very strong 

 case, as they had been given warning in a notice which appeared in the 

 local press. 



