Planters’ Associations did not see their way to join it. ■ However after 
a great deal of correspondence it was unanimously decided at a meet- 
ing of planters held at Ipoh on October 19th, 1907, to form an Associ- 
ation to consist of delegates from all District Associations in the Malay 
Peninsula to be called the Planters’ Association of Malaya. At a sub- 
sequent meeting held in Kuala Lumpor on December 1st, 1907, this 
was confirmed and the U. P. A. of M. P. was dissolved and the P. A. 
M. formed with Mr. R. W. Harrison Chairman and Mr. Zacharias as 
Secretary; your Association being represented by your Chairman and 
Secretary and Messrs. Harvey and Hamerton. Your Committee trust 
that the formation of such a very strong body to watch the interests 
of the whole planting community will be received with satisfaction by 
the Association. 
Estate Hospital Accommodation. With reference to the number 
of beds to be provided which was fixed at 4 per cent of the number of 
coolies employed, the Managers of several Estates were notified by the 
District Surgeon that 2 per cent of beds would be sufficient for the 
Estates in this District. However the Superintendent of Immigrants 
wrote that the 4 per cent of beds were to be provided. The matter 
was eventually left to the decision of the Inspector General of Hos- 
pitals, Straits Settlements, who visited and reported on the matter ; 
however no official report of the decision of the Inspector General 
of Hospitals has yet been received by your committee but it is believed 
that a differential scale for the number of beds necessary is to be 
recommended. Two hospitals are being erected in your district, one 
at Bukit Rajah Estate to accommodate coolies of the east end of the 
district and one near the 9th mile on the Kapar Road to accommodate 
coolies of the west end of the district. This latter includes three 
Estates in the Kuala Selangor Association District. The erection of thi 
hospital is in the hands of a committee appointed by your Associations 
consisting of your Chairman, Messrs. Harrison. Hickey, Harvey, 
Hamerton and Scott. An agreement has been drawn up and a copy is 
being sent to each Estate contributing to the hospital. The funds for 
the erection of the building are being raised by an assessment of $1.50 
per acre on the opeued area of the Estates. The erection of the build- 
ings is now well in hand and the whole of the work is estimated to be 
completed by the 25th of June, 1908. The appointment of medical 
attendance is receiving the attention of your Hospital Committee. 
Tamil Immigration Fund Bill. This Bill has been tentatively put 
in force by Government on the recommendation of the Immigration 
Committee for the purpose of providing free passages for Tamil coolies 
from India to this country. The Government is providing a sum of 
$ 320,000 for three years, while the planter is to be taxed at the rate 
of $1,25 per quarter for each labourer over 14 years of age in his 
employment. Your Committee consider that this is a very unfair tax 
on the older properties which have already an ample labour force. 
At a meeting of planters held at Kuala Lumpor on September 2nd, 
1907, to protest against this unfair taxation an amendment was passed 
and forwarded to Government, asking that the tax should only be 
imposed upon the coolies actually recruited during any year whether 
locally or from India. The amendment was not accepted by Govern* 
