Page:EB1922 - Volume 31.djvu/878

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MALAY STATES, NON-FEDERATED—MALTA

follows: tungsten ores, 7,323 piculs (exported); coal, 191,293 tons; gold, 16,402 oz., of which all but 1,096 oz. was from the Raub mine.

The total value of exports in 1919 was $279,135,105 (from Perak, $124,733,232; Selangor, $100,848,202; Negri Sembilan, $42,289,333; Pahang, $11,264,338), the principal articles, in addition to the minerals already mentioned, being rubber and copra. Imports in the same year were valued at $1 18,854,965. One thousand one hundred and twenty-two merchant vessels, including 197 ocean-going steamers, called at Port Swettenham, over 97 % being British. There were 949 m. of railway with 212 stations open at the end of 1919. Connexion was established between the Malayan and Siamese rail- ways in 1918, and a service between Singapore and Bangkok was inaugurated, the journey occupying four days. The length of metalled roads in 1919 was 2,362 m. (Perak, 835; Selangor, 763; Negri Sembilan, 420; Pahang, 344) ; of earth roads, 158 m. ; of paths (other than the smallest), 1,791 m.

The telegraph and telephone system was extended by over 800 m. of line between 1910 and 1919, and in the latter year amounted to 2,372 m., in addition to which the postal and telegraph department of the Federated States had 121 m. of line in Johor. (O. J. R. H.)

MALAY STATES, NON-FEDERATED (see 17.482). (i) Johor (see. 15.475). A British general adviser to the Sultan was lent by the Federated Malay States Government in 1910, and other officers of the same service were seconded to conduct Government departments in Johor. In subsequent years the prosperity of the state was greatly enhanced; the administration was improved, roads and railways were extended, and a trigonometrical survey was undertaken. Town boards were created in Johor Bahru, the capital, Bandar Maharani, and Penggaram (Batu Pahat) , and effected improvements in sanitation, etc.

With increased prosperity came a great increase in pop. ; the pop. according to the census of 1911 was 180,412, but a conservative estimate in 1919 put it at 300,000. In 1919 revenue amounted to $11,002,777 ($=2s. 4d.) and expenditure to $8,223,862, the rev- enue being almost exactly double, and the expenditure more than double, that in 1915. Imports were valued in 1919 at $29,524,700, and exports at $71,279,930. In 1915, 9,197 tons of rubber were exported; in 1919, 27,890 tons, valued at $53,203,400. Copra, areca nuts, tin, tapioca and gambier were the other chief exports. The development of tin-mining dates almost wholly from 1911; it is carried on principally in two fields, Merging and Kota Tinggi.

The new educational system of Johor, in which English is taught concurrently with Malay, appears certain of success. In 1919 there were 71 vernacular schools with an average attendance of 3,058, and the attendance at English schools was 693, the chief being the Bukit Zahara school at Johor Bahru, which has been reconstructed.

The state had in 1919 a military force numbering 590; a detach- ment was employed in the defence of Singapore, 1915-9.

(2) Kelantan. Pop. (1911), 286,751. Revenue (1910), $1,141,- 444; expenditure, $1,065,012. Exports (1919), $5,467,424; im- ports $3,876,679. Out of the total exports, rubber represented a value of $3,577,127. The total value of direct trade, or trade other than with the Straits Settlements and Malay States, was $1,847,115, the export trade being almost wholly with the United Kingdom ($641,515), while imports were from that country, the Netherlands, India and Siam.

In 1912 the agreement between the Sultan and the Duff Develop- ment Co. was determined, and the Government renewed the sover- eign powers previously conceded to the company over nearly two- thirrls of the area of the state. The company retained various agricultural and mineral rights, but mining remained almost unde- veloped down to 1920. In 1919, however, an agreement was made with Chinese interests for the working of a mineral area in the Nenggiri, and a little tin ore was exported from the Bukit Yong concession in the Kamuning district.

A ferry service between Kota Bharu (capital of Kelantan) and Plekbang was reopened in Sept. 1919.

(3) Trengganu. Pop. (1911), 146,920. In 1918-9, when there was a serious shortage of rice and other food supplies, 3,000 persons were reported to have emigrated from northern Treng- ganu to Kelantan, and many villages were abandoned.

After the suzerainty of this and other states was transferred to Great Britain by Siam under treaty of 1909, the Sultan of Trengganu only agreed to the appointment of a British agent with the functions of a consular official. In May 1919, however, he agreed to receive a British adviser and to act upon his advice in all matters of finance and general administration, excepting such as touch the Mahom- medan religion. The state remains in a backward condition, but this important change of regime was willingly accepted, and presages extensive developments and reform.

Revenue and expenditure in 1915 amounted to $183,723 and $183,470 respectively; in 1919 to $762,455 and $756,977. Revenue was formerly obtained almost wholly from monopolies, but these

were retained in 1919 only for gaming, spirits, pawnbroking, and turtle-eggs. This last peculiar monopoly yielded between $5,000 and $6,000. Other former monopolies, such as customs and opium, which were farmed out, yielded greatly enhanced sums under direct Government control.

Complete trade returns for the state are not kept, but imports into the port of Kuala Trengganu were valued at $2,417,645 in 1919, and exports at $1,718,428. Figures for the Singapore-Treng- ganu trade showed a value of $1,911,014 for imports into Trengganu, and of $3,816,670 for exports. The chief exports were dried fish, tin ore, wolfram ore, copra, Para rubber and silk sarongs. The export of tin ore to Singapore was 10,194 piculs in 1918 and 10,580 in 1919; of wolfram ore 10,368 and 9,408 piculs in the same years. The tin- mining industry, in Kemaman district, is chiefly in European and Chinese hands. Wolfram is worked in the same district and in Dun- gun; considerable attention has recently been given to prospecting, and extensive deposits of graphite and magnetite have been located. Complaint was made, however, of the corrupt condition of the land department, and the appointment of a European commissioner of lands was urged. Rubber plantations are mainly in Danish hands; the state is not self-supporting in the principal food crops; agricul- tural development on commercial lines attracts mainly Europeans, Chinese and Japanese; and the fish trade is held by Chinese agents of firms in Singapore. The advance in commercial prosperity it may be observed, has not been conspicuously reflected in improved condi- tions for the peasantry.

(4) Kedah. Pop., 1911, 245,986; 1919 (est'd), 300,000. The influenza epidemic of 1918-9 was exceptionally severe, notably among Malays and Tamils, but less among the Chinese. Rev- enue (1919), $4,941,484; expenditure, $4,282,038.

Complete trade returns are wanting, but the chief exports are rubber, tapioca and sago, tin ore, live stock and poultry, and normally rice. But the general shortage of rice in Malayan and adjacent countries in 1918-9 led to such heavy export from Kedah that in Feb. 1919 it was necessary to prohibit export of paddy, and to control the home distribution and milling. The output of tin ore in 1919 was 11,799 piculs, but this represents a decrease, and the known tin-fields were becoming exhausted. "In the same year the largest-yielding wolfram workings in the British Malay States, at Sintok, North Kedah, were closed down owing to the fall in price of tungsten. The yield of timber from forests under the forest depart- ment was nearly 15,000 tons, but accessible timber was becoming scarce and rising in price, and its want delayed many public works. The export and import of cattle, pigs, sheep and goats continued large though somewhat declining. Cattle and cattle-sales are licensed and registered, and for a better control of the trade with Siam a quarantine station was established for all the British Malay States at Pedang Besar, Perils. Agricultural estates (of which there were 202 of loo ac. or more in 1919) employed 35,673 labourers; most of these lands were under rubber cultivation.

The educational system of this state has notably advanced. Two Government English schools were maintained in 1919, at Alor Star and Sungei Patani, with 294 pupils, mostly Malays and Chinese. There were 60 vernacular schools: average attendance 4,867.

The Public Works Department maintained 314 m. of streets, metalled roads, earth roads, and bridlepaths, and 165 m. of canals in North Kedah.

(5) Perils. Pop., 1911, 32,746; 1919 (est'd), 36,000. Revenue (1919), $294,044; expenditure, $243,885. Copra, tin ore, fish, live stock and paddy were chief exports.

Perlis has not, like other Malay states, neglected its native agricul- tural pursuits in favour of those of greater commercial value, and it escaped the food shortage common to neighbouring countries in 1918-9. The output of tin ore, 1,896 piculs in 1919, was declining; stream tin appeared to be exhausted, and the revenue from royalties on tin ore declined to $15,897 from $26,948 in 1918. The guano hills had ceased to be worked for export. An outcrop of coal at Bukit Arang has been prospected, but the signs of petroleum had not been exploited in 1921. (O. J. R. H.)


MALTA (see 17.507). The constitution, as set forth in the letters patent of June 3 1903, was amended Dec. 30 1909, when two elected members of the Legislative Council were given scats on the Executive Council. For some' time previous to 1919 a scheme was being worked out for the further modification of the terms of the constitution. In Sept. 1919 the Under-secretary of State for the Colonies (Col. Amery) visited Malta and discussed the various projects put forward. On June 12 1920 the governor (Field-Marshal Lord Plumer) communicated the decision of His Majesty's Government to grant a constitution which provided for responsible control by the Maltese of local affairs. The letters patent, promulgated on April 30 1021, came into force on May 16 and provided for the creation of a Senate of 16 members and a Legislative Council of 32-40, elected