THE  TROPICAl 
AGRICULTURIST. 
[Apkil  r,  1896. 
678 
CUOi.lLS  AND  ('ONTllAri’.S. 
The  planters  of  Selangor  have  been  in  iking  very 
strong  representations  to  the  Governor  of  the  Straits 
Scttlomcnts  on  the  Labour  Question.  Their  greatest 
grievnice  is  iho  fact  that,  under  existing  regulations, 
labourers  can  leave  the  service  of  their  employers 
at  a month  s notice  without  settling  their  liabilities, 
unless  bound  by  written  contracts  of  sen  ice.  it  is 
admitted  that  employers  have  their  civil  remeJ\ , 
but  they  urge  that  as,  in  the  majority  of  cases, 
coolies’  assets  are  nil,  it  is  useless  for  employers  to 
try  to  recover  advances  through  tlie  Civil  Coui  t. 
They  submit  that  there  can  be  no  injustice  in  mak- 
ing it  compulsory  for  coolies  to  either  pay  or  work 
off  their  advances.  'The  address  proceeds : — 
It  is  claimed  that  written  contracts  obviate  thi.s 
difficulty,  but  we  are  of  opinion  that  such  contracts  are 
utterly  opposed  to  the  spirit  of  free  operations  as 
binding  the  labourer  to  work  fur  a fixed  period  ex- 
ceeding a mouth,  and  we  know  that  they  are  ex- 
ceedingly unpalatable  to  the  coolies  themselves.  Wc 
would  have  our  labourers  free  to  leave  us  at  a mouth’s 
notice  if  they  choose,  and  if  we  cannot  so  identify  our 
interests  with  theirs  as  to  make  it  to  their  obvious 
advantage  to  stay  with  us  ; but  we  ask  that  this  free- 
dom with  regard  to  their  movements  should  be  con- 
tingent upon  the  proper  settlement  of  their  just 
liabilities,  and  we  quote  the  instance  of  Ceylon  where 
this  piiucijrle  is  most  strongly  insisted  upon  by 
planters  and  recognised  as  equitable  by  the  Ceylon 
Government.  We  sincerely  trusi  that  Your  Excellency 
will  seo  fit  to  meet  our  views  in  this  connection  before 
the  new  Labour  Code  becomes  law. 
Sir  Charles  Mitchell’s  reply  was  not  very  encoura- 
ging to  the  writers.  Whilst  sympathising  wdth  the 
difficulty  experienced  by  planters  in  being  unable 
to  compel  tneir  labourers,  if  engaged  on  verbal 
monthly  contracts,  to  either  work  or  pay  off 
their  advances,  HE.  held  out  no  hope  what- 
ever that  the  relief  asked  for  w'ould  be  granted. 
He  contended  that  the  case  of  Ceylon, 
which  had  been  quoted  as  a precedent,  was 
no  precedent  at  all,  that  Government  always  having 
had  trouble  over  the  labour  question.  And  he  as- 
sured the  deputation  that  the  matter  had  been  tho- 
roughly threshed  out,  and  that  the  law  officers  of  the 
Colony  were  very  strong  against  connecting  the  ele- 
ment of  criminality  with  breach  of  verbal  contracts 
of  service. 
It  is  needless  to  say  that  this  particular  matter  has 
been  a subject  of  peculiar  difficulty  in  British  North 
Borneo.  The  local  industry  chiefly  affected  is  wood- 
cutting, and,  unfortunately,  only  certain  races  care  to 
undertake  that  sort  of  work.  Tamils  will  not  do  it, 
and  but  few  Chinese,  while  Japanese  are  equally 
averse  to  it  if  required  to  reside  at  any  distance  from 
the  settlements.  Banjeresc,  Sooloos,  and  others 
belonging  the  Malayan  races  are  alone  willing  to 
make  to  their  homes  in  the  jungle  for  the  necessary 
periods.  But  though  excellent  woodmen  they  are 
careless  and  absolutely  unprincipled  as  regards 
money  matters.  They  keep  no  accounts,  and  will 
deny  the  receipt  of  advances,  food,  Ac.,  &c.,  in  the 
most  barefaced  manner,  in  spite  of  absolute  proof 
that  they  are  speaking  untruths. 
To  the  suggestion  that  but  very  small  advances 
should  be  given  and  that  the  labourers  should  not 
be  allowed  to  run  into  debt,  employers  rejoin  that, 
under  such  conditions,  labour  is  unprocurable.  They 
say  that  a large  advance,  and  the  certainty  of  always 
getting  food  and  money,  no  matter  whether  the  debt 
be  paid  off  or  not,  is  the  only  arrangement  which 
tempts  the  shiftlesi  native  to  sacrifice  his  indepen- 
dence and  undertake  regular  work. 
'There  is  a good  deal  of  truth  in  this  assertion,  but 
employers  themselves  might  do  much  to  break 
down  a bad  system  if  they  would  agree  to  work  in 
concert.  Wore  it  thoroughly  understood  that  nohudi/ 
would  advance  more  than  a small  sum  easily  repay- 
able, and  fix  a fair  limit  to  the  amount  of  food  and 
cash  advanced  during  each  month,  from  which  there 
would  be  no  departure  by  anyone,  much  of  the  diffi- 
culty would  disappear.  Nothing  seems  more  strange 
to  those  familiar  with  complaints  by  and  ag.iinst  wood- 
cutting labourers  than  the  fact  that  no  two  mon 
seem  to  eat  the  same  amount  of  rice  or  receive  the 
the  same  anionut  of  cash  during  any  given  mouth. 
Were  some  such  arrangement  as  above  indicated 
made,  it  would  immensely  simplify  the  work  of 
Magistrates  and  others  who  have  to  decide  the  nu- 
merous dilfereuces  aiisiiig  between  employer  and  em- 
ployed. Concei  ted  actiou  however  would  he  neces- 
sary to  carry  this  out,  and  ilie  question  is  whether 
that  can  or  will  he  adopted.  — A'rif LA  North  ISonieo 
JJr.rulJ,  Feb.  lb. 
THE  KELANl  TEA  GAKDEX  COMFANY, 
UMITED. 
'JTie  lir.st  general  meeling  of  the  Kelani  'Tea 
Garden  Company,  Limited,  was  held  on  12tli 
iMarch  at  the  registered  olHce  in  Baillie.  Street. 
Air.  11.  Creasy  presided,  and  tlie  others  pre.sent 
were  Alossrs.  G.  J.  Jameson,  W.  Sliakesiieare, 
II.  AI,  Waldock,  and  AV.  Seale. 
Tlie  notice  calling  tiic  meeting  rva-s  read  by 
Air.  Jameson, 
'I'Hli  KEPOKT 
for  tlie  past  lialf-year  was  taken  as  read.  It  i.s 
as  follows  : — 
A CUE.A.GE : 
282  acres  in  full  bearing. 
G do  ravines  and  swamps. 
5 do  gr.iss. 
21)5  do  reserve  and  jungle  mostly  available 
— for  'JAa. 
583  acres. 
Of  the  reserve  37  acres  are  in  course  of  being 
planted,  and  it  is  intended  to  open  up  to  100  acres 
during  the  year. 
The  Directors  have  jileasure  in  submitting  to  the 
Shareholders,  the  accounts  of  the  Company  for  the 
past  six  months. 
The  Crop  secured  amounted  to  85,675  lb.  realizing 
1136,298  -12,  or  an  average  price  of  42'35  cents  per  lb., 
as  against  an  expenditure  (exclusive  of  items  under 
Capital  Account  and  Profit  on  Eice)  of  E20, 821-97, 
or  an  average  cost  of  2T30  cents  per  lb. 
'The  balance  at  credit  of  Profit  and  Loss  account 
after  making  provision  for 
Depreciation  on  Buildings  and  Alachi- 
nery 
Preliminary  expenses  in  the  forma- 
tion of  the  Company 
Stationery  and  Postages,  Ac. 
Auditor's  fee  and  management  ex- 
penses ..  ..  ..  ],550  00 
112,702  67 
3,088  78 
71  10 
Less  ’Transfer  P'ces  and  Interest 
7,415 
98 
r.i 
14 
Total  ..  E7,317  61 
amounts  to  E8,255'bl,  which  sum  the  Directors  re- 
ennmend  being  dealt  with  as  follows: — 
E5,000  to  a fund  for  extension  purposes. 
E3,255'84  to  next  account. 
'The  Estimated  Crop  for  1896  is  180,000  lb. 
The  appointment  of  Directors  and  Auditor  will  rest 
with  the  meeting.  Causon  A Co., 
Agents  and  Secretaries. 
On  the  motion  of  Air.  8i;.\LE,  seconded  by  Air. 
Sii ake.si’E.\j;e,  tiie  report  was  adojited. 
On  the  motion  of  Air.  AV'aldock,  seconded  by 
Air.  Se.\li;,  tlie  retirin'^  Direetor.s  ivere  re-elected. 
On  tlie  motion  of  Mr.  .Se.vle,  seconded  by 
Mr.  Sh.vke.si*eaj;e,  Air.  E.  AV.  AA'aldock  was 
elected  as  Auditor  at  K.50  for  each  audit. 
AVitli^  a vote  of  thanks  to  the  cliair,  nioieil  by 
Air.  A\  .VLDOCK,  the  meeting  terminated, 
SA  TREE  IN  TEA  CULTIAATION. 
TO  THE  Emron. 
bir.  In  your  i.ssuo  of  December  appeared  an  account 
of  Dr.  Watt's  (the  Eeporter  on  Economic  Products 
to  the  Goverumciit  of  India)  recent  visit  to  Assam 
for  the  purpose  of  investigating  tea  blights,  Ac.  In 
this  account  1 noticed  th.it  Di.  Watt  claims  to  have 
made  a discovery  ot  no  small  importance,  which 
