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remedy the state of affair?. He admits that matters have got beyond 
his control and he has also informed me that he has sent in his 
resignation. He has been frequently absent from the estate on other 
business and no one is left in charge who has power to deal with 
emergencies. In these circumstances it is necessary to ask the Council 
to confer powers on the Government to see that this state of things 
shall exist no longer. This is the only the possible way to deal with 
such a case. As I stated before this is only a temporary measure, 
because the Labour Bill will soon be before the Council. 
The Acting Resident of Perak seconded the motion. 
Mr. Parr translated the Bill into the Malay language. 
Mr. H. D. Griffiths: I do not see my way clear to support this 
Bill, and in saying so I think I have quite sufficient reason. The 
Chief Secretary has given us the outline of the Bill, pointing out the 
necessity there is for the Bill to go through. I did not hear the whole 
of his speech, but I gathered enough to understand that the Govern- 
ment consider the proposed measure absolutely necessary. My first 
point of objection to the reading of the Bill is that it has never been 
submitted to us before this meeting. As a rule a Bill is submitted to 
the Unofficial Members and then published in the Gazette. 
By that means a Bill becomes generally known and an opportu- 
nity is given to the people it affects to discuss it. In the present 
circumstances we have not been given the slightest inkling. It has 
been sprung upon us. The Government cannot expect an Unofficial 
Member to study such a Bill as this one in five minutes and pass it. 
It is asking too much. As far as I can see from its working the Bill 
is likely to have far-reaching effects on all employers of labour and 
will affect them, to my mind, in a detrimental manner. It is only fair 
that the people interested — people who employ large forces of labour 
in this country — should be given an opportunity to see the Bill. Why 
are we compelled to make a special Bill ? Would not the Government 
make rules under the present Enactments to deal with this particular 
estate without framing a special Enactment ? I understand the 
Government have instituted a special Labour Department, and I 
suggest this department might deal with the case. The difficulty I 
see if this Bill is passed into law is, that it will be difficult to upset 
it again when we find it does not work properly. 
I think it would be a gracious act on the part of the Government 
to give us time to consider it. If there is danger, as the Chief 
Secretary states, will the Government give us time to bring this Bill 
to the highest pitch of perfection. 
Mr. J. H. M. Robson said : I sympathise with the remarks made 
by Mr. Griffiths. It is very hard for us to be suddenly presented 
with this Bill and be asked to pass it right away. We have not had 
time to consider it in all its bearings. On the other hand, I quite 
sympathise with the Government and should not like to do anything 
