153 
The Chairman said that it was absolutely necessary to take some 
steps. The Chinese, where they were employed on estates, had been 
found very satisfactory, though certainly they were expensive. 
The resolution was carried, and a committee to report was 
appointed as follows : — 
The Chairman, the Secretary and Mr. N. S. Mansergh, with 
power to co-opt two others. 
12. PLANT DISEASES, 
The Secretary reads out the following circular, drafted 
Mr. Cumming: 
As it is universally admitted throughout the Planting Community 
in the Federated Malay States that steps should be taken at once for 
establishing means and ways for combating diseases and pests on 
rubber, should they arise in a virulent form, it is proposed as 
preliminary measures: 
1. That advisory committees for each State should be elected 
by the Planters. 
2. That a request be made to Government that the Director of 
Agriculture may be allowed to become a member of each Committee 
ex-officio. 
That the Director of Agriculture be previously consulted as to 
his willingness to accept this position. 
The -above advisory Committees having been constituted it is 
suggested that they should proceed somewhat on the following lines 
3. Prepare proposals for dealing promptly with any disease or 
pest of a dangerous character that may arise. 
4. Showing the impossibility of foreseeing in what shape or 
form disease or pest may arise (the sudden inroad of the bee hawk 
pest on coffee a few years back being a good example) to reques 
Government to pass an Enactment on the lines of the coconut 
Enactment, with permissory powers of a stringent character, 
powers to be permissory, in fact to lie in abeyance till required , but 
to be of such a nature that Government can at any time put them 
into force without any delay on good cause being presented to 
Government by the Committees. 
That it will be the duty of the Committees on such case 
to at once inform the Government of the exact nature an ou 
signs of the disease or pest, etc., etc., as far as they aie a e. 
etc., 
To propose means for prevention and eradication, penalties, e 
