39 
II. Medical Staff on Estates. 
The Chairman informs the Meeting that the Government had 
under consideration a scheme, whereby they would provide all the 
necessary staff and second same for service oil the various estates, as 
required. This would do away with all the present difficulties the 
planters were labouring under. The Secretary might write in and 
find out, how far this matter had progressed. 
The Secretary is instructed accordingly. 
Mr. Burgess asks for details of the Bailey Memorial Fund. 
The Secretary, being unable to give these particulars without 
reference to his books, is instructed to submit these at the next 
meeting. 
12. Absconding. 
Mr. Jarvis asks whether the Enactment making absconding a 
criminal offence has yet come in force. 
The Chairman understands that the Enactment, as originally 
gazetted, did not meet the views of the Secretary of State for the 
Colonies, and that another Bill is in preparation. 
13. Indian Labour. 
Mr. Harvey enquires whether it is legal for the Indian Immigra- 
tion Department to demand the discharge of a coolie on tendering 
themselves a month’s wages in lieu of notice. 
The Legal Adviser is requested to look into this point and to 
give his opinion thereon. 
Mr. Gibson enquires whether a coolie recruited for an estate 
from India, but who has worked previously dn another estate, is 
considered to belong to the former or to the latter estate. 
The Chairman says that undoubtedly the coolie belonged to the 
estate who recruited him. 
14. Recruiting Commission. 
Mr. Gibson suggests that something be done to remove the 
discrepancy between the amounts paid to kanganies by the various 
estates for recruiting purposes. Some estates paid their kanganies 
as much as three and four times as much as others, and it was found 
these well-paid kanganies stayed at the depots in India and waited 
the arrival of other kanganies bringing coolies forward from up 
country. An equal rate should be authorized by the Immigration 
Committee and thus prevent this anomaly. 
The Chairman recommends that the amount be stated on the 
licence, and that the Indian Immigration Committee be asked to fix a 
maximum commission. 
