280 
He suggests that these Boards consist of the I). 0., the 
District Engineer and two resident planters. 
Mr. Macfadven considers it inopportune to bring up 
this question before the Federal Council is constituted. 
Mr. Mr. W. Duncan thinks it was impossible to dictate 
to Government how to spend its own money. 
Mr. Skinner appears of Mr. Macfadven ’s suggestion 
to keep the matter for discussion in the Federal Council. 
Tie understands that the Federal Council will be formed 
about J ul v . The estimates came up m August, and it 
would he a great pi i stake to bring this matter up before the 
formation of the Council. 
Mr. Smith thereupon withdraws his motion. 
XIV. Limitation or Coolies’ Credits. Mr. Hun- 
ter proposes the following motion standing in the name of 
the Kuala Selangor District Planters’ Association: 
“That the P A. M he approached with a view to ob- 
taming legislation by which the Estate Tamil Coolies 
credit should be limited to $10 recoverable at law. _ 
If this suggestion became law, it would make it impos- 
sible for the Kaugany to practice usury and it would stop 
the Kedai-Keeper getting control of thier labour 1 Tie 
Government had already restricted the coolies credit to- 
wards his employer. Why should it not restrict it towards 
the Kedai-Keeper! . , lc 
Mr Lake Sympathizes, but thinks the motion was class 
legislation with 'a vengeance. The remedy was m the em- 
ployers’ hands. They could pay coolies weekly. 
Mr H F. Browell supports the motion. lie thinks it 
it was class legislation, so was the policy of the Government 
of bringing coolies over free. , , 
Mr E B Prior, does not see how the Government could 
limit the amount of liability which a cooly could contract. 
He was a free man. , . _ 
Mr. Gibson is also in sympathy with the idea but con- 
siders it too crude in its present form to be submitted to 
Government. 
Mr. Parkinson supports Mr. Hunter. 
Mr Harrison savs that Mr. Hunter had hit the nail on 
the head. The non-recovery of recruiting debts was like- 
Iv to land them in serious difficulties. It was an ill -advised 
action, betraying absolute ignorance of the Tamil cooly. 
He and Mr. Gumming would express their opinions strongly 
at the next Meeting of the Indian Immigration Committee. 
The recovery of debt would in future he a matter between 
coolv and kangany. They now had a good opening to re- 
jfe. 
m 
