396 



The Secretary having reported a very serious shortage in the funds 

 at his disposal, Mr. C. L. Gibson remarks that the Perak P. A. are 

 moving in the matter and hope soon to have their collections together. 



It having been pointed out that the Ceylon Government are 

 spending £1,200 on this Exhibition, the meeting resolves to submit to 

 the Governments of the S. S. and F. M. S. that their contribution do 

 equal this sum, and that Government lend, for decorative purposes, 

 museum and other specimens characteristic of the Malay Peninsula, 

 such as native manufactures, trophies, etc. 



Benevolent Fund. 



III. Mr. J. Gibson submits the report of the Select Committee 

 on the Constitution of the Benevolent Fund and the proposed Rules 

 drawn up by them. (Vide Appendix). 



Resolved that these Rules be printed and circulated, and be 

 brought up at the next Meeting of the Association. 



The Liquob Qtestiox. 



IV. Mr. Valpy, in introducing a motion to prohibit the consump- 

 tion of liquor other than unadulterated toddy and beer to Tamils, 

 enumerates the objections that might be made against such a measure. 

 It was race legislation, certainly, but such existed already, as for in- 

 stance the Gaming Enactment, which specified Chinese as a race as the 

 only persons permitted to gamble at the Farmers' establishments. As 

 for improving the quality of the gin and " port wine " sold at present, 

 there was the difficulty of analysis, and consequently of detecting and 

 punishing evasion of the law. A further objection had been made by 

 pointing out that the D. O. had already discretionary power to create 

 new and cancel old licenses ; but to deal with this question by admi- 

 nistrative rather than legislative measures seemed too vague to be 

 really and universally effective. As for limiting the liberty of the sub- 

 ject, they should remember that the taste was an acquired one, and 

 that before their arrival in this country none of their Tamil coolies had 

 ever known gin. There would of course be a certain loss of revenue, 

 but the improvement in the health of the coolies would be most marked, 

 and police and legal charges considerably reduced, as 99 out of 100 

 quarrels of their coolies- be they of a criminal or merely civil nature — 

 originated at the gin-shop. Both the State Engineer and the State 

 Surgeon of Selangor had written to him heartily approving of the 

 proposed measure, and he had no doubt that it would also receive the 

 unqualified support of the Government of Madras. Tinkering with 

 the question by merely restrictive measures, as to area, quality and 

 such like, was of no use, and he urged the meeting to pass the resolu- 

 tion as it stood. 



Mr. Parkinson seconds the motion and suggests that the words be 

 added " and that no liquor be sold to Tamils on credit." 



Mr. Browell supports the motion and the amendment, and informs 

 the meeting that in his district Chinese liquor shops always insist on 

 cash, but that Tamil licensees usually give credit, sometimes for more 

 than a year. He knew that this credit system was the cause of many 

 coolies bolting. 



