CO129-515-7 Recruitment of Chinese labour for Sarawak 7-12-1928 - 8-4-1929 — Page 23

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was as many as 900

any one time, but now I am. informed

that only 200 are under direct treatment. A "card" system

of indaxing the patients has been enforced, and patients on

being regarded as cured are given a blue eard, without which

they are not allowed to leave the Colony. The present Chief

Medical Officer, Dr. Plácido Huertas, has laboured very ener»

getically for the past eighteen months, and a distinct

improvement in the health conditions of the Island are te

be noticed.

4. I have the honour to deny most definitely that

"alavery" in any form exists in the Island, on the Flantations

or elsewhere, The Goverment is only too anxious to attract

native labour from the African mainland, and any planter

guilty of ill-treatment of his hands is severely dealt with.

At the present time the Goverment is endeavouring

to bring Chinese labourers from the Canton district, and a

Commission is at present visiting the Far East with this

object. It remains to be seen if their efforts will meat

5.

with sucGOUN

I have, etc.,

(Signed) C.V. CHEV,