FEDERATED MALAY STATES
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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 completely transformed the agricultural prospects of the country. The area now in possession in estates of 100 acres and over is 1,641,620 acres, of which 1,234,895 acres were under cultivation for rubber at the end of 1922. About 128,461 tons of rubber were exported from these States in 1922, valued at, approximately, $74,686,458, against 94,522 tons in 1921 valued at $67,432,585. Owing to the slump in the rubber industry, production was restricted in 1921. Sugar has practically gone out of cultivation, but the Government is endea- vouring to revive the industry by offering land on special terms. Over 161,650 acres of land are under 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 1922, 928,619 piculs of copra, valued at $8,745,565, were exported, against 608,340 piculs of copra, valued at $7,569,701 in 1921. 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 of the Federated Malay States, supported by the planters, have succeeded in securing an adequate supply of Indian labour, by a new system of recruiting and by offering higher wages and other advantages. An Agricultural Department to foster agricultural interests, to encourage the cultivation of new products, to conduct experiments and to be a general source of information for planters, is doing useful work.
In the Federated Malay States there are approximately 40,000 children attending English and Malay Schools conducted or supported by the Government. In addition to these schools there are a number of Chinese vernacular schools supported by the Chinese themselves. In the three western States there is a law compelling the attend- ance of Malay children who live within reasonable distance of a school, In recent years there has been an increased demand by Malays for vernacular and English education. All scholars at schools under the supervision of the Education Department are allowed to travel free of charge on the railways.
The population of the Federated Malay States was ascertained at the census of 1921 to be 1,324,890, compared with 1,036,999 in 1911. The male population increased in the 10 years by 27.7 per cent. and the female population by 53.4 per cent. Of the total 5,686 were Europeans, 3,188 Eurasians, 510,821 Malays, 494,548 Chinese and 305,219 Indians. The returns for the bigger towns are as follows, the figures in parenthesis relating to 1911:-Kuala Lumpur, 80,356 (46,718); Ipoh, 36,872 (23,978); Taiping, 21,839 (19,556); Seremban, 17,264 (8,667); Kampar, 12,335 (11,604); Klang, 11,656 (7,657); Telok Anson, 10,858 (6,927).
The imports into the States in 1923 were valued at $88,801,843, while exports amounted to $191,009,452. The total of imports and exports combined (excluding. bullion) was $279,811,295, against a total of $213,782,666 in 1922.
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DIRECTORY
PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT OFFICERS
High Commissioner-H.E. Sir LAURENCE NUNNS GUILLEMARD, K.C.B., K.C.M.G. Chief Secretary to Government-Hon. Sir William George Maxwell, K.B.E., C.M.G. British Residents-
Hon. Lieut.-Col. C. W. C. Parr, C.M.G., O.B.E. (Perak)
Hon. Mr. O. F. Stonor (Selangor)
Hon. Mr. E. C. H. Wolff (Negri Sembilan) Hon. Mr. H. W. Thomson (Pahang)
THE FEDERAL COUNCIL Official Members
President-H.E. the High Commissioner
(ex-oficio)
Hon. the Chief Secretary to Government
H.H. the Sultan of Perak, Paduka Sri
Sultan Iskandar Shah, K.C.V.O., K.C.M.G,,- ibni Idris
H.H. the Sultan of Selangor, His Highness
Sultan Ala'Idin Sulaiman Shah, K.C.M.G.,. ibni Al-Marlium Raja Muda Musa