Aug. 1, 1899 ] 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTUPJST. 
129 
PRUGKESS IN THE FKDEKATED MALAY 
STATES. 
We envy the Malay States for the 
thoroughly Just and scientific basis on which 
their system of revenue collection is based. 
Beginning cZe )iovo these Administrators were 
able to profit by experience gained in Ceylon 
as Avell as at Singapore. We have before 
us Mr. H. Conway Belfield's report on Lands, 
Mines and Surveys, Federated Malay States, 
for the year 1898, and from it we leai-n that 
the conbined Land Offices of the Federated 
Malay States have once again succeeded in 
amassing a revenue which exceeds former 
records and stands at the satisfactory figure 
of 1637,699. The increase is progressive year 
by year. The credit for this advance is due, 
says Mr. Belfield, to the excellent progress 
made by the States of the Negri Sembilan 
and Pahang, the older States of Perak and 
Selangor having been both imsuccessfnl in 
attaining the totals achieved in the previous 
year. There is one principal reason, how- 
ever, why the returns of the two latter 
States were no higher than as recorded, 
which so completely eliminates any sug- 
gestion of deterioration of revenue that it 
is well that it sliould be mentioned at once : 
"It is found in the determination of the 
Grovernment of Perak and Selangor to res- 
trict in some measure the alienation of min- 
ing land, so as to reduce the number of 
speculative pm-chases, and prevent as far as 
possible the locking up of lands for lengthy 
periods. The difference in the amounts of 
purchase money thus realised is far greater 
than the actual decrease of the revenues in 
each State, and is more than sufficient of 
itself to account for the whole of the fall- 
ing off. The revenue derived from the re- 
current and, therefore, more important 
items, such as Rents on Agiicultural and 
Mining Lands, shew solid improvements." 
The following particulars of the quantity 
and value of tin exported are of interest. 
They are furnished by the Warden of Mints : — 
Year. 
Tons. 
Pikuls. 
Price. 
Value. 
1894 .. 
23,552 . 
. 395,681 
$ 
... 39 .. 
15,047.748 
1893 .. 
23,866 . 
. 400,956 
... 35 .. 
14,853,507 
1896 .. 
22,811 . 
. 383,227 
. 351,945 
... 32 .. 
12,339,909 
1897 .. 
20,949 . 
... 36 .. 
12,701,695 
1898 .. 
19,703 . 
. 331,007 
... 43 .. 
14,177,101 
We read that " the Survey branch. Lower 
Perak, measured up 36 town lots and one 
agi'icultural estate of 262 aci'es, and ran 74 
miles of traverse. The district branch of the 
Survey OfSce sustained a severe loss in the 
unfortunate accidental death of the District 
Surveyor, Mr. Draycott, Vv'ho was drowned 
in the Pei^ak river on the 11th October, in 
consequence of a collision between the steam 
launch in which he was travelling and the 
ss. 'Canton.' I had inspected Mr. Draycott's 
office shortly before that da.te and had had 
pleasure in expressing to the Resident my 
high opinion of the value of his work. His 
death has deprived the Government of the 
services of an experienced and hardv/orking 
officer." 
With regard to Ula Langat, we read :— 
As a considerable portion of the agricultm-al 
land of this district has been devoted by the na- 
tives to the cultivation of collee it is .satisfactory 
to observe that the precarious condition of this 
indiistry has not caused diminution in the amount 
ot Land Rents collected, wliich, thougli they did 
not reach the estimates, were nevertheless better 
than in the previous year. The total credited was 
$7,028%50. As in many other places, receipts on 
account of Forest Products also sliew increases 
attributed by the District Officer to improved super- 
vision, whicli lias been possible since the Forest 
Kangers were relieved of the demarcation Work, 
For Kuala Selangor, we read : — 
There is little to report in connection \vitli tlie 
European owned estates ; upon two of them the 
planting of colT'ee is being continued, and planters 
have generally acted similarly to those in other 
districts in turning their attention to experiments 
in other forms of cultivation. The Selangor Coco- 
nut Oil Mill Company's factory is now in working 
order, and oil has been produced. It will be neces- 
sary to largely supplement the supply of locally 
.grown nuts by purchases elsewhere. 
In respect of Registration ot Titles, Minino- 
and even Land Enactments, Ceylon is, we 
suspect, behind the Malay States. This is how 
Mr. Befield winds up Jiis very voluminous 
and able Report: — 
The Land Enactment came into operation at the 
commencement of the year in all the States, and 
has, upon the whole, worked satisfactorily. Since 
its provisions have been submitted to the test of 
practice certain minor points have come to light in 
which it will be possible to effect improvement 
but it has, I tJrink wisely, been decided to defer 
amendment until the law as it now stands has 
remained in oper.ition for a longer period. Land 
Officers would have fourid it much more easy to 
work the Enactment had it been possible to pub- 
lish the Land Rules during the year. 
The Registration of Titles "Enactment was 
brought into force in Perak and slightly amended 
in Selangor during the year, and has worked 
smoothly. It was considered that the time had 
not yet arrived to enforce its piovisions in the 
other two States. 
The new Mining Enactment, which is much 
wanted, was discussed in detail at a conference 
of Residents presided over by the Resident-General 
at Kuala Lumpur, and formed the subject of 
prolonged correspondence. At the time of writing 
it has not yet come into force. 
In preceding paragraphs of tliis report I have 
spoken of Settlement Officers and their work 
and have attempted to emphasize the importance 
of their employment in all districts in which 
demarcation work is in progress. 
A great deal isnov.' being done every day through- 
out the States in the way of measuring up native 
holdings, but that is only one stage of this im- 
portant work, and I am anxious that it sliould 
be more generally recognised than it now is that 
that work only becomes of value when it is ac- 
companied and attested by the examination of 
the Settlement Otiicer. I trust that more general 
recognition will be accorded to this matter in 
the immediate future. 
I may perhaps be permitted to close this report 
with an expression of the genuine Scitisfaction 
Avhich is felt by the Land Officers of the Malay 
States and myself at the really remarkable pro- 
gress in the collection of Land Revenue which 
has been a feature of the administration of these 
States from the commencement of Federation to 
the present time. The improvement has been 
effected concurrently with the institution of radical 
changes of system, and the introduction of laws 
and regulations novel to the officers who were 
called upon to enforce them ; that results such 
as those recorded have been attained not only 
speaks volumes in favour of the changes made, 
but testifies to the assiduous manner in which 
officers have studied the new procedure, and to 
hearty and well sustained efforts on their part 
to do their best for the Department by earnest 
application and constant personal industry. 
