40 ADDEESS BY MR. KEUTT ON 



dustry, while formerly jungle produce was collected and exported 

 by them on such a large scale that it degenerated into depredation. 

 In Perak, for instance, the export of gutta had to be forbidden to 

 prevent the further destruction of the gum trees. In Perak and 

 Kedah there is an old population settled there centuries before 

 Europeans came. In Selangor and Sungei Ujong, and especially in 

 the Negri Sembilan, much younger settlements are to be found. 

 They are chiefly from Java, Borneo, Celebes, the highlands of Pa- 

 dang, Batta, Koriutji, Jambi and elsewhere in Sumatra. Two-thirds 

 of the Malay population of these States were originally Nether- 

 lands Indian subjects. In the beginning of the 18th century a set- 

 tlement of Bugis from Goa in Celebes established themselves in 

 Selangor. 



If agriculture is to be extended as in the case of mining, labour 

 must be imported, chiefl}^ Chinese and Kling, and this is the great 

 difficulty. The Groverument accordingly spares no pains to meet 

 the planter and assist him in this respect. However, as long as the 

 tin mines last, the Chinese will prefer that kind of work, just as 

 is the case with tobacco on the East coast of Sumatra. 



The Grovernment of the Straits Settlements depends directly, as 

 we have seen, upon the Mother-country, and is carried on by a 

 Governor appointed by the Queen, supported by a Legislative and 

 Executive Council. The majority of the members of the Legisla- 

 tive Council — the ''Official members" — are so by virtue of their 

 position. They form the Executive Council. The unofficial mem- 

 bers, who form the minority, are private individuals, and are partly 

 nominated by the Government and partly elected by the Chambers 

 of Commerce. All bills, all important Government measures, as 

 well as the budget, are laid before the Council and dealt with, and 

 must, after approval, be sanctioned by the Government of the 

 Mother-country; although the official members nearly always vote 

 with the Government, and the opposition can thus have but little 

 influence in any other direction, still its existence has this indis- 

 putable advantage, that all Government matters are treated, dis- 

 cussed and decided upon publicly, and this compels the Govern- 

 ment to consider carefully what it brings forward, and abstain 

 from everything that will not stand the test of publicity. 



Young officials, after passing an examination in England, are 

 sent out as "Cadets" to the Straits, and are there employed in 

 most of the Government positions, except legal, military, and some 

 technical ones. The Judges come from other places. The Colony 



