Directory_and_Chronicle_1940 — Page 1560

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PERLIS

The total population at the 1931 census was 49,296 including 39,716 Malays, 6,500 Chinese, 966 Indians and 2,114 others. Of the "others" 1,611 were Thai (Siamese). The population then showed an increase of 23% over the 1921 figures. The estimated population in the middle of 1938 (determined by the balancing equation method) was 55,446 being comprised of 44,360 Malays, 8,103 Chinese, 6 Europeans, 978 Indians and 1,991 others (mostly Thai).

The revenue in the first year of British Protection was $145,026. For the Moham- medan year 1357 (1938-39) the revenue was $747,756 and expenditure $700,190, as compared with $728,531 and $634,483 in the previous year. With the transference of suzerainty a debt of $495,394 was taken over by the F. M. S. The debt has since been paid.

Kangar, the Government Headquarters, is a busy little town of about 2,000 inhabitants. The shop-keepers besides selling sundry goods also export padi-the staple product of the country-as well as ducks and fowls for the Penang market. The chief imports are cottons for native clothing, kerosene, tobacco and sundry odds and ends used by the Malay country people. His Highness the Raja líves at Arau, 6 miles from Kangar, on the main trunk railway from Singapore to Bangkok. In 1910 the State Council abolished the general duty of 3 per cent on imported goods. Till 1932 (A. H. 1351) the only goods on which imported duties were levied were spirits, beer, wine, tobacco, kerosene, petroleum, matches, sugar and cartridges. At the end of 1932 as a result of the Ottawa Conference, additional duties were imposed on a number of articles, the chief of which are cotton goods, milk, perfumery and rubber goods. Articles manufactured within the British Empire are generally entitled to preferential rates of duty. The general duty of 5 per cent on exports has been abolished and replaced by duties on rice, tin-ore, rubber, jungle produce and other specific products. In 1938 14,481,82 pikuls of tin-ore were exported. Many of the limestone hills of Perlis contain caves rich in guano deposits. The chief nature cultivation is padi. Rubber is represented by a few native plantations.

(Note: 1 dollar-2s.4d. I pikul 133 lbs.)

STATE COUNCIL

DIRECTORY

GOVERNMENT

President-His Highness the Raja, Tuan

Syed Alwi, C.M.G., C.B.E. Vice-President-Tuan Syed Hamzah The British Adviser

Tuan Haji Ahmad bin Haji Mohamad Tuan Haji Mohamad Nor bin Haji

Mohamad

Clerk of Council-Syed Alwee bin

Syed Idrus

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS British Adviser-C. W. Dawson, M.C.S. Commissioner of Lands & Mines-Che

Mahmud bin Mat, M.C.S.

Chief Judge-Haji Ahmad bin Haji

Mohammad

2nd Judge-Che Abn Samah bin Haji

Ali, M.C.S.

3rd Juge - Che

Che Abdul Wahab bin Abdullah Collector of Customs & Supt. of Chandu Monopoly-Syed Hussin bin Syed

Safi

Treasurer

Ibrahim

Haji Ismail bin Haji

Chief of Police-Che Matt bin Haji

Kassim

Chief Kathi-Haji Mohammad Nor

bin Haji Mohammad

Asst. Medical Officer-Dr. R. Siva- sambandan, M.B.B. S. (India), D.T. M.. & H. (London)

Executive Engineer-A. L. McClure Gaoler-Che Mahmud bin Haji Mo-

hammad

Co-operative Officer-Wan Ahmad bin

Wan Daud

Asst. Co-operative Officer-Syed Ba-

haldin in Syed Noh Aljumlud. Inspector of Schools-(Vacant) Visiting Teacher-Mohammad Hashim

bin Abdul Rahman

Visiting Teacher, Koran Haji Ismail

bin Haj Mohammad Taib

Clerk of Council-Syed Alwee bin

Syed Idrus

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