402 



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, " 



Yours faithfully, 

 (Sgd.) N. C. S. BOSANQUET, 



Hon. Sec, K. D. P. A. 



Mr. Darby, in formally proposing this motion, says that the 

 present Bill is anything but equitable, and especially points out the 

 injustice of making estates in the F. M. S. and S. S. pay the same 

 amount of cess. The S. S. for instance were still without any export 

 duty, which bore heavily on F. M. S. Estates, although the latter were 

 mulcted also in a variety of other charges, such as for hospital and 

 drainage. In his case, with an output of 200,000 lbs., of rubber, he 

 had to pay about 2j cts., on every pound for labour cess, hospital and 

 drainage assessment. His real motive, however, in bringing forward 

 the motion was to elicit from the Chairman a statement of what the 

 intention of the Government was as regards a rebate of the cess. 



Mr. Browell seconds the motion. 



Mr. Harrison considers the proposer very ill-advised to bring this 

 matter forward at the present time. The Immigration Fund Scheme 

 had only worked for about six months, but already it was clear that 

 it had proved an unqualified success. Speaking for Selangor, he knew 

 that this State was already simply flooded with labour. 



That, as the Bill stood at present, there was an inequitable inci- 

 dence, was recognized by everybody, and it was likewise settled that 

 some rebate would be granted. But when, how much, and in what 

 form this rebate would be given it was impossible to say at this time. 

 The accounts for even the first quarter had not yet been completed, 

 but he might tell them that the F. M. S. P. and P. W. D. for that 

 period alone had contributed more than $30,000. 



To clamour for an abrogation of the Bill, he considered absolutely 

 fatal. Their position was all right now, but let, for instance, Ceylon 

 start on similar lines, and the Peninsula would be as badly off again 

 as ever it was. If Ceylon put their house in order, they would prove 

 far more attractive a country to prospective emigrants from Southern 

 India that ours could ever be. The only chance they had, was to keep 

 constantly well ahead in their attractions and facilities, and ensure 

 that absolutely sure and constant flow of labour into the Peninsula, 

 on which the future of agriculture in these parts depended. 



Mr. Parkinson thinks that, since it is settled that the measure 

 will be altered at the end of the year, the present discussion is dis- 

 tinctly premature. 



Mr. J. Gibson disagrees with the last speaker and thinks that, if 

 they are to make their voice heard, they must start discussion in 

 good time. 



Mr. C. L. Gibson reminds the meeting that this Asssociation has 

 already been told by Government that the whole subject is entirely 

 in the hands of the Immigration Committee. He takes it that all that 



