'The sixteenth annual general meeting of shareholders in the Perak Sugar Cultivation Company, Limited, was held on 'Thursday, 28th November, 1901, at the office of the Company, No. 22,' Kiangse Road. The chair was occupied by Mr. W. Y. Drummond (Chairman of the Company), and there were also present Messrs. W. D. Little, J. H. MeMichael, ©. J. Dudgeon (Directors) id a P. White-Cooper, Hiller, A. E. Jones, J. Buchanan, BE. Hey, G. Taylor, J. M. Harloe, B. F. Fuller (Shareholders), and L. Kerr (Secretary), representing in the total 1,796 shares.
The Chairman stated that they might, as usual, take the Report and Accounts as read, The Directors were very glad meet them again this year with another good report, and especially so because at one time during the year they had really reason for considerable anxiety. From January to March there was a severe @ronght at the Estate and all round the neighbourhood, and this, lasting as it did for three months, had a very prejudicial effect upon the growth of the canes, After the drought, and later on in the season the rain wa' too heavy, and although not injurious to the young growing canes, re-farded the ripening of the older canes, and naturally caused them anxiety for some considerable period. In spite of these drawbacks, however, the Estate showed a satisfactory working, and the by-products had helped out the accounts very well indeed. As regarded expenditure they would seo that the general Hstate charges were heavier this year; this arose through the expenses of engaging several new assistants. The hospital charges were also heavier; as the Company had two Estates now, a considerable distance from each other, they had two hospitals, and thus they also found it desirable to engage the services of a fully qualified medical man. Repairs and Re-newels were also heavier: these included two new boilers and new cane mill rollers, which were very expensive items. Labour account on the other hand.was somewhat less, the reason being that the supply of fresh labour was not good for some months. With regard to Assets, mention had been made in the Report of a new plant called "Crystallisation in Motion" having been introduced. This was a comparatively new process but experiences on a neighbouring Estate and in many other places had proved that this plant was very successful, giving an increased. quantity of ist sugar and improved quality" of 2nd besides effecting a saving of labour ant simplifying work generally. The
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