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left it to them to find out what they wished to he done. If they asked 

 for legislation against secret rebates they brought forward a definite 

 proposal, and would therefore carry more weight. As for the recent 

 increase in rubber freights homewards, it was too early to speak of 

 any effect of that move on the industry. In supporting Mr. Harrison's 

 views, he would therefore propose the following amendment : — 



That this Association views with apprehension the artifical con- 

 ditions of the shipping business prevailing at present in the Colony and 

 its detrimental effect upon the industries of the Straits Settlements 

 and Federated Malay States, and requests that His Excellency the 

 Governor of the Straits Settlements and High Commissioner for the 

 Federated Malay States will take such steps as may be deemed advisa- 

 ble to have the shipping of British Malaya put on a fair and equitable 

 basis by abolishing all secret rebates and by suchother steps as he 

 may deem necessary." 



Mr. Harrison seconded the amendment, and invited Mr. Zacharias 

 to address the Meeting. 



Mr. H. C. E. Zackarias, speaking as a member of the Committee 

 of the Selangor Chamber of Commerce, said that the Chamber looked 

 at the matter from the point of view of the commerce and industries of 

 the State. These depended on Port Swettenham, as did Negri Sembilan 

 and parts of Perak and Pahang. The interests of Port Swettenham 

 and Singapore were not identical. Singapore was complaining of the 

 divergence of trade which was the natural result of the hinterland being 

 developed. Port Swettenham got somewhere about 50 ocean-going 

 steamers last year as against 25 the year before. Port Swettenham was 

 being made more and more use of as far as imports were concerned. 

 Export trade would doubtless follow as soon as rubber assumed large 

 enough proportions. A great step forward had been taken when the 

 Government stipulated that the B. I. boats should call there regularly, 

 and a boat now arrived there every week. The Railway and the P. W. D. 

 got most of their indents direct to Port Swettenham. Business men here 

 had the greatest interest to encourage that to the detriment of Singapore 

 and Penang. They did not wish to pay transhipment charges. Hence 

 they had to make it clear that their interests were not identical with 

 those of the Colony. Naturally, however, the Shipping Ring could not 

 leave out Port Swettenham, and so it was to our advantage, so far as 

 the Shipping Ring was concerned, to fall into line and take the steps 

 deemed advisable to protect our mutual interests. The discussion at 

 the meeting of the Selangor Chamber of Commerce made it clear that 

 the Shipping Rings as such had given us advantages. In the past ship- 

 ping competition had made it impossible for the companies to carry on 

 business on a remunerative basis. Hence they had found it necessary 

 to combine and raise freights. They established regular and accelerated 

 services. The passenger service then was nothing like what it is now. 

 Purely freight lines were now able to maintain regular service and ensure 

 ships from Penang reaching Home in 35 days. Take the old conditions, 

 and you will find that the benefit has not been one-sided. Unfortunately 

 there is a pernicious system mixed up with it — the secret rebate. The 

 shipping companies give a general 10% rebate to every shipper. This 

 does not effect the nublic. It is this 5% secret rebate. The result is 



