§ 29. Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the heavy taxation burdens on rubber plantation companies in Malaya, even to the extent of 300 per cent. increase since the inception of the rubber regulation scheme; and whether he will suggest to the local government the desirability of reducing this burden in view of the assistance such a step would give to the prosperity of the country?
Mr. M. MacDONALDRepresentations on this question have been received by the High Commissioner for the Malay 1086 States and at the Colonial Office. My hon. Friend will no doubt have seen an announcement in the Press this morning that the cess on rubber exported from Malaya is to be reduced from 1st July from 1 cent per pound to 0.7 cent per pound. Other matters connected with this matter are still under consideration.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs it not the case that the rubber regulation scheme was brought into being for the purpose of enabling the rubber companies to pay reasonable wages to the natives and to their white assistants, and that, instead of that, the proceeds have all been mopped up in taxation; and will he use all the pressure he can to get that taxation down, under what has always been a very extravagant Government?