46 ADDRESS BY MR. KRUYT ON 



DISCUSSION 



ON 



Mr. Gr. E. V. L. van Zuylen. — As none of the gentiemen pre- 

 sent seem disposed to discuss any of the points raised in Mr. 

 Kruyt's excellent address, may I be permitted to ask the honour- 

 able reader of the address one question as to a matter of detail, 

 viz., how matters stand at present as regards the digging of a can- 

 al through tbe Isthmus of Krah? There were two plans in con- 

 nection witb the isthmus — one to dig a canal through it, and the 

 other to construct a railway for ships across it as has been done in 

 Canada. Is either of tbese plans still spoken of ? ^ 



Mr. Keijyt. — I believe the plans have been given up. Any- 

 thing of this kind would not be in accordance with the interests of 

 England, and as the influence of England there has greatly increas- 

 ed it is not likely that the scheme will be brought into prominence 

 again. There is a Chinese Eaja there who is Penang born and a 

 British subject. He will take good care that nothing happens that 

 can be in conflict witb the wishes of the British. 



Mr. VAN Zuylen. — I ask tbe question, as I imagine that if the 

 canal were dug it would be a matter of no small importance to us. 



Mr. KiiUYT. — I agree with you that it could be of some import- 

 ance to us. 



Mr. P. J. VAN HouTEN. — I should like to ask Mr. Keijyt the 

 following question. "What does the honourable gentleman think 

 about Pulau Web? Can this port attain to any importance? 

 Could it in future be detrimental to Penang and Singapore ? I 

 doubt it myself. It is useless to make of it a coaling-station for 

 Ombilien coals which cannot be employed in every kind of steam- 

 ship traffic. It is necessary therefore to bring in the first place 

 Newcastle and Cardiff coals there suitable for long voyages. This, 

 however, can only be done at a great cost, as transport to Pulau 

 Weh would be dearer than to Singapore, because in the latter port 

 ships would be sure of getting a cargo. This would not be the case 

 n Pulau Weh. I do not therefore anticipate much in the future 



