PERAK
1307
Matang, a sub-district of Larut, contains many large rubber estates and a con- siderable fishing industry exists on its coast.
I
The large districts of Batang Padang and Upper Perak are as yet less developed than the rest of the State. The railway runs through the Batang Padang district six miles from the headquarter town of Tapah, for which the station, Tapah Road, is some seven hours from Penang. A metalled cart road has been completed to Grit, the headquarters of the Upper Perak district.
The population of Perak in 1911 was 494,057 as compared with 329,665 in 1901. It included in 1911 217,206 Chinese, 199,034 Malays and other natives of the Archipelago, 73,539 natives of India, 1,396 Europeans and 845 Eurasians. In 1915, the mean popula- tion was estimated at 556,647. The Chinese form the labour force of the tin mines. and the Tamil natives of India the labour force of the plantations, but it is noticeable that large numbers of Tamils are now employed in the mines. The Malays engage in native cultivation and various other pursuits.
The Federated Malay States Railway runs through the whole length of Perak from Parit Buntar on the Penang (Province Wellesley) border to Tanjong Malim on the Selangor border. Branch railways run from Taiping to Port Weld and from Tapah Road to Teluk Anson, thus connecting the coast with the interior. There are over 909 miles of excellent roads, and telegraph and telephone lines throughout the State.
The revenue for 1915 amounted to $20,984,822, against $19,338,374 in 1914, and the expenditure to $21,732,144 against $28,361,921 in 1914. At the end of 1915 the balance of assets at the credit of the State was $28,449,767. The total value of the trade for 1915 amounted to $98,814,445, an increase of $10,873,544 in spite of a decrease of $4,929,578 in imports. Statistics were as follow:-
Imports Exports....
1914 .$ 28,940,809 59,000,092
1915
$ 24,011,231
74,8 3 214
The output of tin in 1915 amounted to 466,634 piculs and the value to $36,476,602 compared with 479,754 piculs and a value of $35,473,650 in 1914. The labour force was 94,865 as against 96,740 in 1914. Of gold the output was 1285 ounces, valued at £4,950. Wolfram increased from 609.23 piculs to 817.40 piculs.
Agriculture had another successful year. Under coconuts there were over 72,000 acres. Practically the whole delta between the Bernam and Perak rivers has been alienated for culiivation, and in a few years this vast plain, which was dense jungle a few years ago, will present an unbroken field of coconut palms. Of the 317,997 acres alienated for rubber, 166,248 were reported to be opened, and 91,069 acres to be producing in 1915. The total export for the year was 16,663 tons as against 11,040 in
1914.
COUNCIL OF STATE
DIRECTORY
GOVERNMENT
His Highness Paduka Sri Sultan Abdul Jalil
Nasruddin Makhtarain Shah, Presdt. The British Resident, The Hon. Mr. R. G.
Watson, C.M.G.
The Secretary to Resident, Oliver Marks The Raja Bendahara Raja Alang Iskandar Raja Chulan bin Ex-Sultan Abdullah Raja Harun-el-Rashid bin Sultan Idris The Orang Kaya Besar, Haji Abdul Raof The Orang Kaya Menteri, Wan Muhammad
Isa
The Orang Kaya Kaya Laksamana, Inche
Hussein
The Orang Kaya Kaya Sri Adika Raja,
Wan Muhammad Saleh, I.S.O.
The Orang Kaya Kaya Stia Bijaya di Raja,
Abdul Shukor
The Orang Kaya Kaya Panglima Kinta,
Ché Wan
Towkay Chung Thye Phin
Do. Foo Choo Choon
Asst. Sec. to Resident, Clerk of Council
RESIDENT'S OFFICE
Resident Hon. Mr. R. G. Watson, C.M.G. Secretary to Resident-Oliver Marks Asst. Secretary-M. Rex
Resident's Clerk-J. M. Rozells Office Assistant--S. Ariacuddy (acting) Chief Clerk-S. Ariacuddy
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