622 



offered as a reward, the remaining four-fifths being made up by equal 

 contributions of two-fifths each from the Government of the Federated 

 Malay States and the planting community of the Peninsula, and I am 

 to ask you to be so good as to state, for the information of this Govern- 

 ment, what amount will be contributed by the latter body- 



I have, etc., 



(Sgd.) S. McARTHUR, 



Ag. Fed. Secretary. 



September, 15th, 1908. 

 The Federal Secretary, Federated Malay States. 



SIR, — I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter No. 

 3,995 of the 10th inst., reply to which I beg leave to defer until after 

 our next meeting, which will be held on the 5th prox. 



I have, etc., 



(Sgd.) H. C. E. Zacharias. 



Secretary. 



The Secretary also lays on the table a letter received from 

 Mr. Pears offering a remedy. 



The Hon. John Turner proposes that the share of the planting 

 community be fixed at £2,000, since for a really efficient and cheap 

 remedy ridding the Peninsula altogether of the white ant pest, a reward 

 of £5,000 would by no means be excessive. 



Mr. Harrison quite concurred and seconded the proposal to fix their 

 two-fifths portion, as defined by the Federal Secretary, at £2,000. 



He would take this opportunity of informing members that Mr. 

 Pratt had been transferred from the Institute of Medical Research to the 

 Department of Agriculture, and that he was to devote the next six 

 months exclusively to the study of the white ant pest. 



Mr. Turner's proposal was then put to the Meeting and carried 

 unanimously. 



Return of Convicted Absconders. 



9. The Secretary informs the meeting that he has received the 

 following replies on this subject from the four Residents of the 

 Federation : — 



No. 4461/1908. 



Taipeng, 6th August, 1908. 



Sir, 



Referring to your lettter of 29th ultimo regarding the return to 

 estates of coolies on their release from prison, I am directed to inform 

 you that the police authorities will arrange for escorts when possible in 

 cases in which they are asked to do so. 



2. It is advisable that application should be made at the time of 

 conviction if it is desired to have the coolie returned to the estate under 

 escort. The police can hardly be expected to provide escorts unless they 



