Directory_and_Chronicle_1928 — Page 1197

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KELANTAN-TRENGGANU

KELANTAN ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY, THE

Chieftain-W. Graeme Anderson Hon. Secretary-J. A. Robertson

MERCANTILE BANK OF INDIA, LTD.-Kota

Bharu; Tel. Ad: Paradise;

Codes:

Bentley's A.B.C. 5th edn. and Private

C. R. Wardle, agent

RAINNIE & Co., D.C., Import and Export Merchants, Estate Agents, etc.-Tel. Ad: Rainnie; Codes: Bentley's complete phrase, Broomhall's Rubber edn.

D. C. Rainnie, LL.B., partner

L. V. Wolfendale,

Attorneys and Agents for

do.

Union Insce. Society of Canton, Ld.

TRENGGANU

With a territory of about 5,500 square miles, an extensive sea-board and a popula- tion at the 1921 census of 153,092, Trengganu is the least developed of all the Native States. The capital is Kuala Trengganu, where the British Agent was the only Euro- pean resident when the census was taken in 1911. Mr. J. L. Humphreys, the British Adviser, in his report for 1923, stated:-"Although the suzerainty of Trengganu was transferred by Siam to Great Britain in 1909, simultaneously with that of Kedah and Kelantan, an Adviser was not appointed until ten years later (on amendment of Treaty in 1919), and the first executive European Officers were not supplied until late in the following year. The reform of administration is therefore still in an early stage, and the progress attained by neighbouring States cannot yet be hoped for. The grant of a loan by the Government of the Straits Settlements made the year an eventful one for Trengganu. It enabled the State (by resumption of Concessions) to recover control of important natural resources, and to commence expenditure on essential works of development-surveys, machinery, buildings, and roads." A loan of $1,000,000 in June, 1922, and a second loan of $1,000,000 in May, 1925, for development works were granted by the Straits Settlements Government and will have a far-reaching effect on the future of the State.

By an Agreement between His Majesty's Government and the Government of Trengganu, dated May 24th, 1919, His Highness Sultan Muhammad bin Zainalabidin agreed to receive a British Adviser in place of an Agent, whose advice must be asked and acted upon in all matters affecting the general administration of the country. This brings the State into line with the other Protected Malay States, and should help to bring about a new era of prosperity. Telegraphic connection with Singapore was established in March, 1922.

Trengganu lies between latitudes 4 deg. 30 min. and 5 deg. 45 min. North and longitude 102 deg. 15 min. and 103 deg. 30 min. East. There are no trunk roads or railways and the rivers are not navigable beyond a certain point from the sea owing to rapids. There are about 18 miles of metalled cart-road at the capital and 25 miles of roads have completed earthwork. Communication with the interior is by rivers and good native paths. The people are ingenious and, for Malays, industrious, and excel as boatbuilders and fishermen. They also engage in silk and cotton-weaving, and iron, brass and nickel manufactures.

The chief Exports in 1926 were:-Copra, $427,564; dried fish $970,059; areca- nuts, $253,301; tin-ore, $1,167,752; wolfram-ore, $40,369; hæmatite, $349,864; and rubber (para), $2,975,456. A bright future is predicted for Trengganu as a mining country, tin, wolfram, iron and gold having been found.

The

The chief Imports in 1925 were:-Rice, about $1,728,742; cotton stuff, $680,439; tobacco, cigars and cigarettes, $332,262; sugar, $215,335; and petroleum, $146,458. Revenue is raised by means of "farms" and duties on all kinds of exports. State Treasurer returned the revenue at $1,302,008 in 1926 and the expenditure at $1,067,878, the corresponding figures for 1925 being $1,007,282 and $899,475. The total value of exports from Trengganu in 1926 was $8,052,391, against $8,072,696 in 1925; and of imports $5,915,560 in 1926, against $4,556,366 in 1925.