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mittee would have passed the rule regarding* recruiting 
allowances. 
Mr. Gibson supports the motion, as he thought that 
they should have their own representative, and lie was 
certain that such a course would avoid much friction in the 
future. lie thinks that when a candidate was nominated 
by the Government, his views were apt to be affected. 
Mr. Lake supports Mr. Jarvis, but disagrees with Mr. 
Gibson’s remarks re the Government nominee’s attitude. 
Did they mean to imply, that their elected representative 
should have no opinion of his own at all, but be merely a 
mouthpiece of theirs? 
Mr. Skinner would assure them, that during the time 
that he had served on the Immigration Committee, he had 
always endeavoured to represent the planters' views; but 
surely every man had a right to his own opinions. As for 
the principle of the motion, he was thoroughly in favour of 
it and had much pleasure in supporting it. 
Mr. Jarvis’ proposition is then put to vote and carried 
unanimously. 
XIII. Voting then takes place on Mr. Irving’s motion 
(vide paragraph 8), which, however, is slightly modified, 
viz. 
“That the Recruiting allowance is against the interests 
of the Planting Community.” 
This is carried by 10 votes to 6. 
XIV. Mr. Harrison having welcomed the visitors 
from Malacca, the affiliation of the “Malacca Planters’ 
Association” and of the “Raub District Planters’ Associa- 
tion” is approved of, to take effect from April 1st. 
XV. The Secretary places on the Table: 
a. The Annual Report of the Planters’ Association of 
Ceylon for 1908. 
b. A letter, dated the 16th February, from the Borneo 
Co. Ltd., in re Negri Sembilan Planters’ Association. 
c. A letter, dated January 8th, from Mr. W. K. 
Rutherford. 
XVI. Director of Agriculture. The Chairman 
thinks, that before closing, the members of the Association 
would like to express their appreciation of the efforts of 
Mr. Carruthers, Director of Agriculture — who was on the 
point of departure to Trinidad. He had had many diffi- 
culties to contend against, in organizing and equipping his 
department thoroughly. He would propose that a hearty 
vote of thanks be recorded on their Minutes to the first 
