Directory_and_Chronicle_1913 — Page 1428

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

FEDERATED MALAY STATES

1365

that in the export of tin its capital was 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. Since British Protection the royalty on tin has yielded a total of over $60,000,000, and the Federated States have in the same time expended over $44,000,000 in the construction of railways. The profits give a return of over 6 per cent, on the capital expended.

Planting enterprise in the Federated Malay States had not proved very successful, but the introduction of rubber cultivation has completely transformed the agricultural prospects of the country. The prospects of rubber, according to the High Commissioner, are so good that, unless some unforeseen disaster happens, the future is full of promise for those who have taken up this cultivation. Within the last few years great strides have been mide in the planting of Para rubber. The total area now under cultivation is something like 767,000 acres, of which 353,000 acres Were under cultivation at the end of 1911. About 24,00 1,099 pounds of rubber were exported from these States in 1911, valued at $41,475,000 (£5,925,000) against 12,000,000 pounds in 1910 valued at £5,695,000, The sugar estates have done well, and will continue to earn fair profit so long as their machinery and methods of treatment are kept up-to-date. Over 142,000 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. The irrigation scheme in Perak is making but slow progress, but 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, depend upon an adequate supply of labour. To meet the demand the Federated Malay States have endeavoured, hitherto without success, to arrange for a direct line of steamers to carry Chinese labour from Canton to the ports of the Malay States. As regards Indian labour, the Govern- ments of the Colony and the Federated Malay States, supported by the planters, are making every possible effort, by a new system of recruiting and by offering higher wages and other advantages, to secure an adequate supply of Indian labour. agricultural department to foster agricultural interests, encourage the cultivation of new products, to conduct experiments and be a general source of information for planters, has been created, and is doing useful work.

It is estimated that there are in the Federated Malay States about 70,000 children of a school-going age, but only 22,566 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 and the Negri Sembilan forcompelling 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 Eurasians. 420.840 Malays, 13,244 Chinese, and 172,465 Indian. In 1911, there were 108,471 Indian immigrants against 83,728 in 1910. This figure is the highest recorded. The excess of Chinese immigrants over other emigrants in 1811 was 38,033 against 7,794 in 1910. The population shows an increase of 358,404 persons in the intercensal period from 1901 to 1911. The Federal Council was inaugurated on 10th December, 1909.

The imports into the States in 1911 were valued at $66,532,039 (£7,762,071), while exports amounted to $116,280,927 (£13,566,108). The total of imports an i exports com- bined was $182,812,966 (£21,328,179), against a total of $154,17,000 €8,212, 999) in 1910,

Directory_and_Chronicle_1913 — Page 1428

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