489 
2. I am to add that the Resident-General considers 
that planters should adopt measures for the safeguarding 
of an article so valuable and so easily transported as 
rubber. 
I have, etc*., 
(Sgd.) A. R. Venning, 
Federal Secretary, 
To The Chairman, 
IT. P. A. 
Mr. Gumming agrees that the amount of rubber stealing 
going on was immense. Their own coolies were doing it. 
He did not blame so much the coolies, but the man they 
wanted to get at was the man who was inducing them to do 
it. 
Hie motion is then put to the vote and declared carried. 
X. Pbaedial Produce Enactment. Mr. J. Gibson 
proposes the following motion. 
“That the Resident-General be asked to inform this 
Association what the term “latex” in clause 2 of the 
Amended Praedial Produce Enactment means, and that , 
if “latex” be not deemed to cover all known grades of 
rubber, the Resident-General be asked to have the Enact- 
ment amended to cover same.” 
Mr. Parkinson having seconded it, Mr. Skinner pro- 
poses the following amendment : 
“That this Association considers the definition of latex 
to be “any plant juice which contains caoutchouc or gutta 
percha,” but would ask the Resident-General to obtain the 
opinion of the Legal Adviser as to whether this reading 
is correct, and if not, to have the enactment amended to 
cover all grades of rubber ” 
This is seconded by Mr. Gumming. 
Mr. Gibson thereupon withdraws his motion, Mr. 
Skinner’s amendment thereby becoming the substantive 
motion. The latter is then put to the vote and declared 
carried. 
XI. Recruiting in Bengal Presidency. The Hon. 
John Turner wishes to bring up the question of recruiting- 
in Bengal. Three years ago they were reeuriting labour 
from Bengal but the Government of India put a stop to it 
