1248
FEDERATED MALAY STATES-PERAK
The annual export of tin from these States is valued at over $60,000,000. As a natter of fact, the value of 627,815 piculs exported in 1918 was $94,562,012 against 620,518 piculs valued at $74,884,063 in 1919. The Government has not overlooked the fact that in the export of tin its capital is being reduced, and it has made an effort to supply another and more useful investment by the construction of railways with part at least of the revenue. The Federated States have expended over $123,681,858 in the construction or purchase of railways. The profits give a return of nearly 2.67 per cent. on the capital expended.
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Planting enterprise in the Federated Malay States for many years had not proved very successful, but the introduction of rubber cultivation has completely transformed the agricultural prospects of the country. The area now in possession in estates of 100 acres and over is 650,000 acres, of which 450,000 acres were under cultivation for rubber at the end of 1918. About 106,453 tons of rubber were exported from these States in 1919, valued at, approximately, £22,225,910 against 78,225 tons in 1918 valued at £13,563,893. Sugar has practically gone out of cultivation. Over 150,000 acres of land are un ler coconuts, for which the soil and climate of these States are peculiarly well suited; and the cultivation of rice is only a question of irrigation and labour. In 1918, 423,225 piculs of copra, valued at £356,211, were exported against 447,717 piculs, valued at £600,434, in 1919. The success of every form of agriculture and of all the efforts of the Government to develop the country by means of railways, irrigation, and other great public works, depends upon an adequate supply of labour. The Governments of the Colony and the Federated Malay States, supported by the planters, by a new system of recruiting and by offering higher wages and other advantages, have succeeded in securing an adequate supply of Indian labour. agricultural department to foster agricultural interests, encourage the cultivation of new products, to conduct experiments and to be a general source of information for planters, has been created, and is doing useful work.
An
It is estimated that there are in the Federated Malay States about 70,000 children of school-going age, but only about 32,000 of these attend any recognised school; while many live in places far removed from any school-house, it is a fact that education has no great attraction for Malay parents, or Malay children, who might contribute by far the largest number of scholars. The Government offers every reasonable encouragement, and there is even a law in force in Selangor, the Negri Sem- bilan and in Perak for compelling the attendance of children who live within reasonable distance of a school, while scholars are allowed to travel free of charge on the railways. The population of the Federated Malay States was ascertained at the census of 1911 to be 1,036,999 (725,062 males, 311,937 females). Of these, 3,284 were Europeans, 2,649 Eura- sians, 420,840 Malays, 433,244 Chinese, and 172,465 Indians. In 1919, there were 71,000 Indian immigrants against 45,000 in 1918. The excess of Chinese immigrants over emigrants was only 217, whereas in 1916 there was an excess of Chinese emigrants over immigrants of 14,982. The population showed an increase of 358,404 persons in the inter- censal period from 1901 to 1911; and was estimated at 1,315,700 in 1919.
The imports into the States in 1919 were valued at $118,854,965 (£13,866,412), while exports amounted to $279,135,105 (£32,565,762). The total of imports and exports com- bined (including bullion) was $397,990,070 (£46,432,174), against a total of $319,010,717 (£37,217,917) in 1918. The increase in 1919 is partly accounted for by an increase in values, but, generally, there was an increase in trade.
PERAK
Perak, the premier State of the Federated Malay States, is on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula, and lies between Kedah on the north and Selangor on the south. The coast-line is about 90 miles in extent; the greatest length of the State, in a north and south direction, is 150 miles, and the breadth, in an east and west direction, 90 miles. It is estimated to contain 7,875 square miles; that is to say, it is about the size of Yorkshire and Lancashire together. The soil is suitable for the cultivation of rubber, rice, coconuts, coffee robusta, spices of all kinds, and grasses from which essential oils are extracted.