CO129-594-4 Lands and Survey Policy Directive 21-2-1945 - 1-12-1945 — Page 13

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should be alienated in accordance with the provisions of the

F.M.S. Land Code and Mining Enactment, respectively.

(8)

The pre-war policy of Malay Reservations in operation

in the F.M.S. should be adopted throughout the Union to the

extent to which it may be found expedient.

(9)

The needs and conditions of life of the Aboriginal

tribes, particularly relating to lands, should be kept in view.

(10) The Department of the Commissioner of Lands of the

Malayan Union should comprise the following Sections:-

(a)

Lands

(b)

Mines

(c)

Geological Survey

with Technical Directors in charge of Sections (b) and (c).

(11)

To advise the Commissioner of Lands for the Malayan

Union there should be a standing consultative Committee

comprising representatives of Departments principally concerned

with land policy, and unofficials chosen for experience and local

knowledge rather than as representative of any particular

interest.

(12)

A Committee should be appointed locally to report

on the desirability of the process formerly known as conversion

whereby owners of agricultural land were permitted to make profit

and until such by disposing of the mineral rights in their lands;

Committee has reported and the policy has been decided upon, no

conversion of agricultural land to mining should be permitted.

IL Geological Survey

·

It is not intended to create a separate Geological

Survey Section of the Singapore Lands Department, but that the

Geological Survey Section of the Malayan Union Lands Department

should also serve the needs of the Island of Singapore.

III. Surveys

There should be a single Survey Department for the

Malayan Union and Singapore constituted on pre-war lines under a

Surveyor-General.