Directory_and_Chronicle_1930 — Page 1369

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FEDERATED MALAY STATES

The Protected States comprise four Residencies, namely, Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Pahang. These have been federated since July 1st, 1896, and the administration is presided over by a British Officer styled the Chief Secretary to Government, who is subject to the High Commissioner to the Malay States, who is also Governor of the Straits Settlements. Each State has its own Resident and the native rulers retain their titles and dignity. The Federal Offices are at Kuala Lumpur, Selangor. The Federal Council was inaugurated on December 10th, 1909.

The record of these States is one of progress and prosperity. The States have over 1,000 miles of railway in the Malay Peninsula (paid for out of current revenue), yield- ing good income; they have 2,671 miles of metalled roads, 105 miles of unmetalled roads, 1,951 miles of bridle roads and paths; and the wire mileage of telegraphs and telephones is 17,297 (of which 5,196 miles of wire is in underground cables). Water- works, wharves, hospitals, prisons, schools, and many other public buildings have been constructed, while the Government of Perak has carried out an important scheme of irrigation at a cost of about £200,000. The principal sources of revenue and prosperity are the alluvial tin deposits, which, at the present price of the metal, can be worked at considerable profit, and the plantation rubber industry, the country producing one-third of the world's supply of rubber. Tin has been worked in the Malay States for centuries and the F.M.S. have been for many years now the largest producers of tin ore in the world. The deposits worked are for the most part alluvial but the country also possesses lode deposits.

As the richer and more easily worked deposits are becoming worked out, greater use is being made of machinery and labour-saving devices. Capitalists have already realised the attractive possibilities of these fields and a number of companies have been formed systematically to work these lower grade deposits.

The Government has not overlooked the fact that in the export of tin its capital is 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. The Federated States have expended over $200,000,000 in the construction or purchase of railways.

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 approximately 1,650,000 acres, of which 1,250,000 acres are under cultivation for rubber. Sugar has practically gone out of cultivation, but the Govern- ment is endeavouring to revive the industry by offering land on special terms. Over 215,000 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 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 pro- ducts, 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.