Directory_and_Chronicle_1934 — Page 1422

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SELANGOR

This protected native State, containing an area of 3,150 square miles, lies on the western coast of the Malay Peninsula, and is bounded by the protected native States of Perak on the north and of Negri Sembilan on the south, extending inland to the mountains in the centre of the peninsula, which divide it from Pahang and Negri Sembilan.

The Government consists of the Sultan, advised by the British Resident, and assisted by the State Council. The State is divided into the following six districts :-- 1. Kuala Lumpur, the central district, where the Residency and principal Government Offices are situated, and which also contains the richest tin mines that have yet been developed. 2.--Klang. This district contains the Sultan's residence and also Port Swettenham, the principal port, which lies at the mouth of the Klang river. 3.-Kuala Langat, an agricultural district. 4.- Kuala Selangor, containing the most important fisheries in the State. 5.-Ulu Langat, an inland mining district on the borders of Negri Sembilan. 6.-Ulu Selangor, a district adjoining Perak, containing much valuable mining land.

Each district is under the charge of a District Officer, from whom the Native Penghulus (in charge of the mukims into which each district is sub-divided) receive instructions. The Police Force consists of 30 gazetted and superior officers, 971. subordinate police officers and men, and 69 detectives.

**The population of Selangor in 1884, when the first census was taken, was 46,568 ; but at the last census, in 1931, the returns gave a total of 533,197, of whom 241,351 were Chinese, 122,868 Malays, 185,924 natives of India, 2,723 Europeans, 2,137 Eurasians and 8,194 others.

The principal industries of the State, and those from which it derives the largest portion of its revenue, are alluvial tin mining and rubber cultivation.

In addition to its rich mineral resources, the State possesses large tracts of land well adapted for agricultural purposes, and the free importation of Indian labourers into the Protected Native States rendered it possible for European planters to obtain cheap labour and to open estates on a large scale. Small plantations of coffee, coconuts and pepper have been successfully conducted; rice and other products. of the Peninsula under native cultivation are doing well in various parts of the State; and, to encourage pioneer planters, grants of land have in recent years been made, on special terms, for the planting of African oil palm and nipah palm. But the principal agricultural product here, as in the other Malay States, is rubber. 746,112 acres of land were alienated for agricultural and building purposes by the end of the year 1932, comprising 500,184 acres under rubber, 110,849 acres under coconuts, 5,880 acres under coffee, 33,824 acres under padi, 25,169 acres under African oil palm and 27,414 acres under cultivation by native small-holders. The value of rubber exported in 1932 was $14,883,568.

The principal exports are tin, rubber, tapioca, canes, copra and spices. The principal imports are machinery, cotton piece goods, rice, oil, tobacco and tea. The principal import duties are on opium, spirituous liquors, matches, petroleum, motor spirit, tobacco and alum, while export duties are payable on minerals, agricultural products, ivory, fish, horns and hides, a few kinds of jungle produce and guttapercha. There were 51,293 acres alienated for mining-tin, chiefly at the end of 1932. Tin and tin ore exported amounted to 136,611 piculs in 1932 as compared with 247,076 piculs in 1931. The value was $9,423,935 in 1932 as compared with $14,726,694 in 1931. The Malayan Collieries, Ltd., turned out 277,848 tons of coal against 398,212 tons in 1931. The quality of the coal is reported to be excellent. A branch railway has been constructed to the mine.

There is frequent and regular communication, by means of coasting steamers,. between the Straits Settlements and Selangor. From Kuala Lumpur the chief town on the mainland, a system of cart and bridle roads extends to the boundaries of Perak,, Negri Sembilan and Pahang. Branch lines of railway now extend in all directions, and the main trunk line passes through Selangor.