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to prolong the present state of affairs. I happen to know something 
about the estate, I think something ought to be done, and that the 
Government should take steps to do everything necessary. 
Mr. Foo Choo Choon was of opinion that the existing law was 
quite good. If a towkay misbehaved himself the coolies could go to 
the Protector of Chinese. 
Mr. E. B. Skinner: I quite agree with what the Unofficial Mem- 
bers have said about the short notice given. In such a case as the 
present it is very difficult to express an opinion ; but in view of the 
urgency of the case I, personally, think this Bill should be passed' 
provided we have the assurance of the Government that only very 
urgent cases will be dealt with until the new measure is ready. 
The Chief secretary : It is only because the Government is ad- 
vised that there is nothing in the existing laws to enable us to deal 
with the present case that this measure has been introduced. It has 
necessitated our coining to the Council and applying for this measure 
which has been considered purely as a temporary one. The labour 
Code is now in course of preparation. If hon. members give their 
votes in favour of it to-day we shall not take them as an unqualified 
approval of the measure we are going to pass. Its provisions will 
only be applied to cases of a very serious nature and of great emer- 
gency. I am perfectly willing to give an assurance that I will only 
enforce it in cases of great emergency. 
The High Commissioner: When I arrived at Kuala Lumpur for 
this meeting I had no idea this Bill was to be brought before the 
Council to-day. I did not know there would be any question of 
emergency. It was only when I arrived that the Chief Secretary 
showed me the reports that he had about this particular estate. I 
agreed with him that it was a question of emergency, and Members 
who have seen the report agree. I am sure that as regards that 
particular estate it is a question of emergency. 
I agree with what the Chief Secretary has said, as regards the 
provisions of the Bill being enforced against any other estate ; and 
I will go further and given an assurance that its provisions will 
not be enforced against any other estate until the Unofficial 
Members of the Council have seen the report upon which we pro- 
pose to act, that is until we pass a permanent Bill. I consider 
further this Bill will strengthen the hands of managers of estates. 
I believe managers are quite willing to help in every way if they see 
that the Government rules and laws are necessary. But when you 
get men thousands of miles away they do not see eye to eye with the 
Government and with the manager. It will strengthen the hands of 
the managers and lead to Directors at home carrying out what they 
advise. 
The Chief Secretary said with regard to clause 2 of the Bill that 
it was practically similar to the one that had been read a second time 
in the Legislative Council in the Colony. That is so. 
