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importance than any diseases can possibly be, tor without 
a steadv and reliable and permanent labour supply at a 
reasonable rate we should be unable to harvest our rubber 
or deal effectually with any outbreaks oi disease that may 
occur. The question is such a very, very large one that it 
is impossible for me to deal with it more than in outline. 
Briefly, for the last fifteen or twenty years (and in- 
cidentally' I was chairman of the first informal meeting 
called by the few planters ot Selangor in the year 1890) the 
planters have been trying spasmodically to get some sort 
of legislation wlierebv it would be possible for them to im- 
port labour without the mortification and loss which occurs 
in seeing such labour, imported, remember, with great 
trouble and difficulty, drift away to non-importers ot labour 
such as miners, contractors, and other irresponsible persons. 
The outcome of this work of years has undoubtedly been 
the passing of the present Tamil Immigration Enactment-- 
the composition of the Committee appointed by the Kesi- 
dent- General, to which I have the honour to belong. 11ns 
Committee, with the best intentions, have framed certain 
rules and regulations, their policy being to flood the 
country with labour.” To meet the expense ot doing this, 
the TamiL-employing community is assessed at so much per 
head of working men. This works out roughly at about 
These funds are employed by the labour Community m 
$3 odd per acutal head of the Tamil labour employed, 
various ways, chiefly in obtaining free tickets by the b. i. 
steamers for immigrants from India. By the first rules 
of the Committee it was allowable to recover sums ot money 
advanced in India, speaking from memory Rs. 11 or Rs. 13 
per head; this allowed the kangany to advance a fair sum 
in the villages to intending immigrants which was recover- 
able at this end, thus allowing the immigrant to leave his 
village with a quiet mind, knowing that his parents or wile 
and children would be provided for until such a time as he 
could remit from his earnings. Owing, I believe, to certain 
legal technicalities, it was found that no sums ot money ad- 
vanced in India would be recovered here, and, m vulgar 
parlance, the labour committee was in ‘ the soup.” they 
watered the soup bv substituting what is called a recruiting 
allowance by which boua fide importers of labour, such as 
many of us are, received from the Department the sum of 
$3.50 per head, now increased to $4.50 per head. Now, 
gentlemen, I believe that an immense amount of harm has 
been done by this action, apparently unavoidably, but I have 
pleasure in informing you to-day that the Chairman of the 
