402 
either locally or from India, and not on their total labour force. And 
that the P. A. M. be asked to approach Government to have this 
amendment made before the Bill becomes permanent at the end of 
the current year,” 
Yours faithfully, 
(Sgd.) N. C. S. Bosanquet, 
Son. Sec., K, D. P. A. 
Mr. Darby, in formally proposing this motion, says that the 
present Bill is anything but equitable, and especially points out the 
injustice of making estates in the F. M. S. and S. S, pay the same 
amount of cess. The S. S. for instance were still without any export 
duty, which bore heavily on F. M. S. Estates, although the latter were 
mulcted also in a variety of other charges, such as for hospital and 
drainage. In his case, with an output of 200,000 lbs., of rubber, he 
had to pay about 2f cts„ on every pound for labour cess, hospital and 
drainage assessment. His real motive, however, in bringing oiwar 
the motion was to elicit from the Chairman a statement of what the 
intention of the Government was as regards a rebate of the cess. 
Mr. Browell seconds the motion. 
Mr. Harrison considers the proposer very ill-advised to bring this 
matter forward at the present time. The Immigration Bund Sc leme 
had only worked for about six months, but already it was deal that 
it had proved an unqualified success. Speaking for Selangor, he knew 
that this State was already simply flooded with labour. . 
That, as the Bill stood at present, there was an inequitable inci- 
dence, was recognized by everybody, and it was likewise settled that 
some rebate would be granted. But when, how much and m what 
form this rebate would be given it was impossible to say at this time. 
The accounts for even the first quarter had not yet been eompkted. 
but he might tell them that the F. It S. B. and P. W. D. for that 
period alone had contributed more than $30,000. 
To clamour for an abrogation of the Bill, he considered absolutely 
fatal Their position was all right now, but let, for instance, Ceylon 
qtart' on similar lines, and the Peninsula would be as badly off again 
as ever H ms « Ctoyton house “ order ' U f y f W0U i 
far more attractive a country to prospective 
Tndia that ours could ever be. The only chance they had, was to Keep 
constantly well ahead in their attractions and facilities, and ensuie 
that absolutely sure and constant flow of labour into the Benin , 
on which the future of agriculture in these parts depended. 
Mr Parkinson thinks that, since it is settled that the measure 
will be altered at the end of the year, the present diseussio 
tmctly piem^ disagrees w ith the last speaker and thinks that, if 
they^e to mate their voice heard, they must start discussion m 
‘“Tc. L. Gibson reminds the meeting tbst this Assertion bss 
