ii 7 
« The Committee are of opinion that a small fee for each cooly 
locally registered, the exact amount to be fixed by the Government, 
would be sufficient. 
“The first object of such a department, after having obtained 
a census of all employers and employed in its district, should be to 
enforce local registration of all locally recruited coolies, then to see 
lhat all the numerous small native planters, miners and contractors 
and others comply with various regulations, to which other employers 
of labour are subject ; but which, hitherto, owing to its being nobody’s 
business to enforce, these people have successfully evaded. Later, 
if such a department became well established, it might devote any 
surplus funds towards helping immigration. 
"The Committee also consider that anylsuch labour department 
should control Chinese and Javanese in addition to Indian labour. 
Firstly, because many planters are importing this class of labour and 
require as much protection as those employing only Tamils. 
Secondly, because it could not then be urged against the scheme that 
the Indian cooly was unfairly handicapped. Thirdly, this would 
help to increase funds. 
“ Immediately after the census has been taken would be a parti- 
cularly convenient time to start any such labour department. The 
Committee also are of opinion, that any increase in the poll tax would 
still further add to the burden of those who at present pay it while 
those who hitherto have evaded it would still continue to do so. 
The Lower Perak District Planters’ Association . 
“ At a General Meeting held here on the 4th instant 8 were 
against Mr. Mansergh’s scheme of assessment and 3 were m favour. 
“ I am also instructed to write you that on the following being 
put to the meeting, 'That this Association is of opinion that m 
increased assessment on all Tamil coolies would be fair, if rebates 
were allowed in proportion on coolies from time to time ^recruite 
from India ’- it resulted in 8 being in favour and 3 against. 
Taiping Planters' Association : 
•• At a General Meeting of the Taiping Planters’ Association it 
was unanimously decided to approve of the ^estioii , c* Mr 
Mansergh but that the amount of fee to be levied shou.d be Mo-and 
not $20— per cooly. 
•‘That in view of the fact that recently a kangany oil ^ estate 
was proved to the satisfaction of a Magistrate to be inducing cool.es 
on this estate to give one month’s notice and leave, a , y N „ 
money into their hands to enable them to do so, that the clause N ^ 
98 in the Indian Immigration Enactment of r 9 o 4 b e made to apply to 
ail immigrants and not alone to Statute Imnugrants The idea that 
a man in a responsible position on an estate and rec 1 g 
j 
