42 ADDRESS BY ME. KEUYT ON 



sions (where also changes in administrative matters, and decentra- 

 lisation are being prepared) a remarkable instance although upon 

 a small scale, of administrative and financial decentralisation which 

 works successfully — a central Government with central revenues 

 and budget for the whole Colony, with tliree Municipal adminis- 

 trations for Singapore, Penang and Malacca, and the five separate 

 Governments of the Protected States, besides the State of Johor, 

 which is independent as regards administration and where every- 

 thiug also goes as well as one can wish. 



Still neither here all is perfect, and complaints occur. The 

 Settlements complain that the Protected States do not contribute 

 directly to the Colonial Treasury, although they enjoy the advan- 

 tages which are derived from the order of things that has been 

 called into existence through the agency of the Straits Settlements. 



This is still less the case with Johor. It is probable that these 

 States will, after some time, either be incorporated in the Colony, 

 or will form with it a federation. Circumstances, too, such as the 

 recent complications between France and Siam, may soon lead the 

 way (which is already prepared) to the annexation of the Siamese 

 Malay States, from Kedah to Mergui and Tringganu with Kelantan 

 all of which are rich in gold and lead. In a speech to the Legis- 

 lative Council in Singapore in 1887, Sir Feederick Weld, while 

 discussiDg the policy of the last years, said: — "This policy will 

 *' extend itself from Burma southwards, and from Pahang north- 

 awards until in includes the whole Peninsula and embraces also 

 "those dominions which are now nominally under Siam." 



Other parties, for instance, in Penang, insist upon a further 

 separation in matters of administration, so that the contributions 

 of one Settlement towards the central Treasury may be employed 

 more in and for that Settlement than is the case at present. Out 

 of the central revenues are paid the expenses for salaries and pen- 

 sions of officials, the cost of the military garrison, the expenses of 

 Justice and Police, the medical service, education, harbours, coast 

 lights and beacons, roads and bridges outside the Municipality, 

 gaols, hospitals, schools, Government buildings, Colonial vessels, 

 etc., etc. Penang pretends that Singapore, the lion town, also 

 gets the lion's share, much m.ore than is proportionate to her con- 

 tributions. Thence in Penang a cry for Home E-ule. It may be 

 seen from this, that however much decentralisation there may be 

 there will be always parts which consider themselves placed in a 

 disadvantageous position with others. 



