352 



" That in the opinion of this association the terms of assesment of 

 the Tamil Immigration Fund Bill at the present time are not equita- 

 ble, and should be amended so that the employers of labour should pay 

 only on the number of coolies actually recruited in any one year either 

 locally or from India, and not on their total labour force ; and that the 

 P. A. M. be asked to approach Government to have this amendment 

 made before the bill becomes permanent at the end of the current 

 year." Mr. Hamerton seconded. 



Mr. Bosanquet objected to Mr. Darby's resolution and proposed as 

 an amendment, " That this association objects to the Immigration Bill 

 as being against the interests of planters and estates in general and 

 would like to see the tax removed altogether." Mr. Wilson seconded. 



After considerable discussion the motion was put to the meeting 

 and Mr. Darby's resolution was carried. 



Hospitals. The chairman proposed that the future management 

 of the hospitals be left in the hands of the committee. Mr. Hickey. 



Seconded. Carried. 



Subscriptions. The Chairman proposed that the annual subscrip- 

 tion be fixed at $10 per vote. Carried. And that a sum of $50 be 

 placed with The Planter's Benevolent Fund. Mr. Wilson thought it 

 would be to more advantage if details of the fund were procured before 

 any subscriptions were sent. The matter was allowed to stand over. 



The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chair at 6 08 



p. m. 



A. C. S. BOSANQUET, 



Hon. Secretary. 



MECHANICAL PREPARATION OF LATEX. 



Prize Offered by London Firm. 



London (via Penang), June 25. 



Messrs. Gow, Stanton and Wilson, Limited, the well-known Lon- 

 don produce brokers, have offered a cup, valued at twenty-five guineas 

 for the most economical and complete process for the preparation of 

 plantation para from latex. 



The prize will be open to exhibitors at the forthcoming Rubber 

 Exhibition in London, in September next. 



