121 
but only to raise it for those who did not recruit ; in other words, it 
agreed with the proposal passed by the Negri Sembilan Planters 
Association He proposed that the present assessment of should 
remain, but that an extra rate of $8 (making in all $13) be put on 
coolies locally recruited. The next point was one of calculation He 
believed that it had been proposed that it should be found out if each 
coolyhad been recruited or engaged locally. But this was not, he 
considered, feasible. However, there were other ways of arranging 
the assessment and he proposed that the cess of five d °ljars shoifid be 
paid on every cooly imported during the previous year, that the num- 
berof coolies so recruited be deductedifrom the totaljabour force on an 
estate, and that the higher rate should be paid on the balance of coolies 
remaining. This scheme would induce people to import coolies. Th 
planters were, he believed, prepared to pay money if they could retain 
their labour, but the higher rate would prevent those who did not 
import labour from getting the labour brought over by those who did 
import. 
Sir John Anderson pointed out that the proposal put toward 
would mean that the Government would pay very much less. 
pl"th“ if an estate had a total labour force of^OOC^hes and 
im -nor ted 8oo in the previous year, it would pay $5 per head on ttie 
800= $4,000 and $13 per head on the balance °7’ 2 ^°T f^aTbonus of 
a total of $IQ 600 From this would have to be dedu 
eight dollars per head on the 800 coolies recruited during the previous 
year-$6,400 making an actual payment of $13*00 a ™t to 
wereconcerned, it was very anxious to help the pliers m to ma« 
and if possible to come to an arrangement with tom^ j^our ™ ( 
be got into to country somehow, and the Governmen 
it could to co-operate with the planters in the matter, ^gaton* 
payment could be postponed for a long penod, Du ” . b k the 
must have some assurance about 
proposed loan of $1,000,000, or whatever amount m g 
from the Immigration Fund. 
H. E. and the other officials then withdrew. 
Mr. Cummins proposed that the Meeting go into Committee, to 
discuss the proposals they had just listened to. 
On open Meeting being resumed it 
seconded by Mr. Gibson and came una b e formed and the 
sub-committee of four members of the represent atives as it 
Government be asked to appoint as m -j t ^ e merits and 
desired, to join the planting members and consider the me 
details of the various schemes submitted. 
