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generally carried into effect, viz., Sec. 91 of tlie Labour 
Enactment Gen. 1904, and Sec. 33, III of the Indian Im- 
migration Enact. 1904. 
I am further to add that the members of this Associ- 
ation are quite satisfied with the tenour of the law, as it 
stands, provided it is carried into effect ; but would respect- 
fully submit that an additional rule be issued, enjoining the 
Prison Authorities to give timely notice direct to the em- 
ployer in question regarding the exact date of release from 
gaol of convicted absconders. 
(Sgcl.) II. 0. E, Zachaeias, 
Secretary . 
Kuala Lumpur, P. M. S. 
22 nd December, 1908 . 
Sie, — I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your 
letter dated the 14tli December, 1908, on the subject of the 
return to their estates of coolies who have been convicted 
of absconding and have served a term of imprisonment, and 
to state that the Kesident-General trusts that your fear 
that the existing laws are not generally carried into effect, 
may prove on further inquiry to be unfounded. 
2. I am to add that employers are presumably aware 
of the periods of imprisonment to which labourers in their 
employment are sentenced, and that they have only to make 
a note of this to enable them to adopt suitable measures in 
connection with the release of their employees. 
(Sgd.) M. S. H. McArthur, 
Ay. Federal Secretary. 
To The Secretary, 
The Planters’ Association of Malaya, 
Kual a Lumpur . 
Mr. F. G. Harvey says he had ascertained that all they 
had to do was to represent the matter to the magistrate, 
and the coolies would then be sent back to the estate. 
Mr. Hunter cites a case where such return of coolies 
had cost the estate $9. 
Mr. C. E. S. Baxendale thanks that the alternative was 
to send up a kanganv. 
Mr. Lake agrees that that could be done, but pointed 
out that they did not know when the coolies were being- 
released. 
