240 
They send me down a poor class of coolie and then they complain 
of the large percentage of rejections. Just now, too, the Natal and 
Fiji agencies have increased their commission and are taking 
numbers of coolies recruited for us. The Natal and Fiji recruiters 
pay our men cash down for coolies and they find the system very 
profitable. We have, of course, no remedy except the cancelling 
of the recruiter’s licence and that does more harm than good. Also, 
some clever man among them has pointed out that, when the Straits 
commission was agreed upon, it included two classes of coolies and 
that now we only accept class I, the commission ought to be raised. 
From their point of view I suppose that this is only just. 
I have also to regret that the batch of 40 coolies I expected has 
been passed for Natal, but as they were to be given me by a Natal 
recruiter I can do nothing. 
For the next shipment I have been promised certainly 75 coolies 
and, as I also intend going to Madras for four or five days to see 
what I can do with the people there, it is possible we may get 
them. 
Yours truly, 
A. DAVIES. 
Mr. Boyd asked if the Government was getting many coolies.? 
The Secretary replied that the Government was not getting all it 
wanted. 
The Secretary read the following letter from Mr. CLAYTON : — 
Indian Immigration Office, 
Penang , 27M February , 1906. 
Sir, — I have the honour to call your attention to the fact that, 
although the numbers of indentured immigrants coming over from 
India have diminished, yet “free” coolies are still coming in con- 
siderable number. 
It has occurred to me that your Association might like to try the 
experiment of using some of the free tickets supplied to you for 
“free” as well as Indentured coolies. 
I would not recommend that any coolies who have not passed the 
medical examination at the Nagapatam depot should be imported 
but I am prepared, should you so desire, to request Dr. FOSTON to 
examine any coolies that your representative in India may present, 
and pass them through the depot whether they are coming as Inden- 
tured coolies or as “ free” coolies. 
The usual fee of rupee 1, per head, will be paid for the examina- 
tion of these coolies, and the ordinary precautions in the way of 
indentification marks will be .taken to prevent substitution. 
I have the honour, etc., 
L. H. CLAYTON, 
Acting Superintendent of Indian Immigrants . 
The Secretary, 
Malay Peninsula Agricultural Association. 
