ABSTRACT
Mr. Loke Chow Thye is of opinion that padi growing by Chinese in Malaya can be made a success but that financial assistance from the Government is essential as the padi growers are all poor people. The local Chinese are not suitable and padi growers will have to be recruited from China. The members of the Perak Board were generally of the opinion that the Chinese might take up padi planting in the Federated Malay States on the terms set out in the minutes, the land being free of premium and of rent for three years. All the Chinese who immigrate to Malaya come from rice-growing areas. The yield of rice grown by the methods usual in Malaya is so low that it does not provide food for many mouths beyond those of the peasant and his family actually engaged in its cultivation.
