164 
The Chairman considers that this correspondence 
covers the same ground, as the next item on the agenda, 
and before inviting discussion, therefore calls upon Mr. A. 
Irving to propose the motion, standing in liis name, viz. 
“That the proposed rebate as per notice published in 
the “Malay Mail” dated Penang 10th December, 1908, is 
against the interest of the planting community in that it 
stipulates that no advances incurred prior to their arrival 
on the E «,ate may be deducted from coolies. ” 
Mr. Irving believes it was generally agreed that it was 
quite impossible to recruit at from $2 to $3 per head, and 
therefore they would be the losers under the new scheme. 
He contended that the coolies under advances were more 
satisfactory and worked better than others, while employ- 
ers had a better hold over them than in the eases of men 
free of debt. And there was another point that must not 
be overlooked : the coolies, if deprived of the usual advances 
from the estates, could always get the money elsewhere; 
while if such advances were not put through the estate 
books, it would lead to crimping. It was impossible to land 
coolies here under $5 per head, and therefore estates lost 
$2 per coolie, whereas previously they could recover ad- 
vances. The matter of the change had been forced upon 
them by the Immigration Committee without planters being 
represented, and hi’s Association felt great dissatisfaction 
with regard to it. 
He would therefore formally propose -the motion, 
standing in his name. 
Mr. J. Gibson, in seconding the proposition, points out 
that now the money was to be advanced by the kangany, but 
not charged to the estate. Looking at the matter from the 
coolie’s point of view, the speaker said that the coolie 
thought that he would have to refund not only the debt, 
but interest besides. Previously he had confidence in the 
planter. Now, however, the kangany would not give the 
coolie to understand that the whole amount was not recover- 
able, and therefore the law would defeat its own ends. It 
was grand-motherly legislation in the extreme, and of a 
type calculated to interfere with private enterprise. More- 
over, if the coolie now found himself in an unhealthy loca- 
lity, he would go away, as he had no responsibility. Per- 
sonally he had never experienced any difficulty in getting 
coolies to recognise their obligations, but without advances 
the planters had no hold over them. He hoped that when 
their Chairman went back to the board, he would use his 
weight in having the flatter put right, and he appealed to 
those at the meeting to give him their support. 
