547 
Resolved that the letter be forwarded to the “Agricultural 
Bulletin” for publication. 
(£) Read letter from Mr, C. E . .S . Baxendale to the Chairman 
regarding the Burmah Experimental Gardens and the 
planting of a large acreage of Para rubber, and suggest- 
ing that a question might with advantage be asked in the 
House of Commons. Also the Chairman’s reply, suggest- 
ing that Mr. Baxendale should attend the meeting. But, 
. as Mr. Baxendale was not present, it was decided to let 
the question stand over in the meantime. 
(r) Read letter from Air. Salisbury, Gapis Estate, Perak, to the. 
Honorary Secretary, United Planters’ Association, com- 
plaining of the high rate of freight charged on the Perak 
Railways on all kinds of coffee--cherry, parchment, or 
clean coffee-— and stating that he is being charged M % 
duty on copra, on: a newspaper quotation, and not upon 
: the rate at which it is actually sold. 
The Chairman said that there were cases in Selangor where duty 
had been charged on coffee when the price Was under .fig, and 
that the duty so charged had been refunded; as regards this, no 
doubt the Perak Government would do the same, if a precedent 
was given He suggested that Air. Salisbury should refer the mat- 
ter, of duty on copra to Mr. C. Meikle, who is very much interested 
in coconut cultivation, and see what could be done, 
Air. Meikle said he thought the Government should be approach- 
ed in the matter of allowing coffee in the cherry or parchment to 
be sent by railway at the lower grade of charges, for inferior goods, 
and that he thought it was very unfair that duty on copra should 
be charged at the newspaper quotation when the local price was 
so much lower. 
Resolved that the Honorary Secretary write to Mr, Salisbury 
and give him the particulars of refund of the duty on coffee in 
Selangor, and suggest that he should communicate with Air. Aleikle 
and bring the question up again at a later meeting. 
\d) The Chairman reported that the Honorary Secretary had 
received a draft for £3 7 s. 8 d. from Alessrs. Sanderson 
} and Co., London, being the balance due on the Aden 
shipment of coffee. 
6. Coconut Beetle , — The following resolution was proposed by 
Mr. E. V. Carey and seconded by Air. C. R. Aleikle: 
“ That in view of the alarming spread of the coconut beetle pest 
the Government be asked to appoint a special European Inspector 
in each State, whose duty it shall be to see that the provisions of 
Enactment V. -of 1898 are strictly enforced. 
- “That in the opinion of this Association, it is essential that all 
trees -which have been badly attacked shall be deemed to be 
^beyond' recovery ’ and forthwith uprooted, split up and burned, 
unless the owner can satisfy the Inspector that such trees have 
been regularly attended to in the past and are at the time of 
inspection free -of beetle. 
