165 
Mr. Lake reminds the meeting, that the whole measure 
was only a tentative one, and that there was perhaps there- 
fore no" need at present for them to pass any resolution 
regarding its merits. The point, however, which they 
should strongly drive home, was the non-consultation of 
this Association by the Immigration Committee. 
Mr. F. G. Harvey believes himself in the minority, but 
he heartily supports' the action of the Immigration Com- 
mittee. What was $2 or $2.50 per head (the amount of the 
loss represented) if spread over a number of years, and 
especially witli the labour problem placed upon a sound 
and satisfactory footing? He considered it a shame, that 
coolies brought into this country should have their pay 
deducted, especially as they came here to benefit the 
planters. In conclusion, he was of opinion that the land- 
ing of a labour force here free of debt would be one of 
the finest things possible. 
Mr. Duncan supports the last speaker, on the ground 
that the best interests would be served by following a free- 
from-debt system. 
Mr. E.'B. Skinner also supports Mr. Harvey, stating 
that there was nothing a coolie hated so much as being 
under advances. 
Mr. Parkinson is of opinion that the kangany would 
charge the coolies, whether they were under advances or 
not, and there would be no check from the estate books. 
The planters might find next that they were paying $10 per 
coolie. But it was the principle that was at stake with the 
Immigration Committee. 
Mr. Lake says that if they got the country flooded with 
coolies, the latter would have nowhere to go to in the event 
of them leaving their employment. If the kanganies were 
told that they would be dismissed if they made advances, 
the trouble would cease. 
The Chairman considers that the coolies lived in a sys- 
tem of debt, and would go on so living. One of the first 
things that struck him when he first came to this country 
was the infinitely better way in which labour was managed 
here, with regard to it& financial side, than in Ceylon. 
There they had a vast floating debt that would have to be 
written off some day. He hat? seen small children brought 
up and told that they represented $200 or $300. With the 
new Rule in force, he was sure, they would soon see gangs 
of coolies going about the country with debts of $40 to $50 
per head. If planters like to give advances, he did not 
think that the question of legality would come in at all 
1C 
