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7. Mukim of Batu. — I do not know for certain of any good padi land in this 
mukim not yet taken up. There is suitable land in the neighbourhood of Messrs. 
Hill & RathboRNE’s Lease No. 815, but I cannot say at present whether it is in- 
cluded in that Lease. The proprietors have been called on to show their boundaries. 
8. Mukim of Ulu Klang, — The only suitable land available, to my knowledge, 
in this mukim lies to the right of the Genting Bidei Road, and may be about thirty 
or forty acres in extent. The distance from any market is considerable, and the land 
is at present covered with thick jungle. It would probably be difficult to find settlers 
to take it up. 
9. Mukim of Ampang. — There is an area of about thirty acres to the left of the 
Ampang Road, about a mile from the new reservoir, but nothing should be done in this 
neighbourhood until the completion of the water-works now under construction. 
10. As regards the encouragement of cultivation of these vacant areas, I am 
of opinion that the best and only legitimate method is a low assessment. 
It is always impolitic to artificially foster the cultivation of inferior soil, and 
the vacant land of this District can only be so described, so far as padi-planting is 
concerned. First class padi land in this District yields only three hundred gantangs 
per acre. This would be regarded as a very poor crop in the padi districts of Pro- 
vince Wellesley and Krian, where a return of at least six hundred gantangs per acre 
is always looked for from the best land. 
Dholl and ragi are alike unknown in this district. 
11. I am told by Tamils of whom I have made enquiries, that dholl requires a 
high sandy soil such as is not to be found ip the neighbourhood. 
Ragi, I believe, can be grown under the same conditions as padi itself. 
12. The great obstacle to the scheme propounded is one much felt in this and 
other inland Districts of the State, and to which the small land-holder in the Colony is 
seldom, if ever, subjected. I allude to the complete subordination of agricultural to 
mining interests. 
13. By section 23 of the new Land Code, a reservation is made in favour of 
Government of all mineral rights, with full liberty to work the same, land-holders 
receiving compensation for surface damage only. 
14. This is necessary for the protection of the Government against the cus- 
tomary holders themselves, but the Government should be chary of exercising its 
right of resumption under this clause. 
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15. I have above ascribed the progress of padi-planting in the Setapak mukim 
to the discouragement, until recently, of mining enterprise in the neighbourhood. 
16. During the latter part of last year, however, an application (Chinese 
Secretary 1 Tt~)j was ma -de by Towkay Ah Ye6k for permission to acquire for 
mining purposes some of the best padi land, held under customary title in Setapak, 
and his application was favourably entertained. 
}!• hhe occupiers of this land are one and all reluctant to surrender their 
holdings, and decline to allow themselves to be provided for elsewhere. It is impos- 
sible to overrate the diffidence which has been inspired by this threatened resumption. 
It is, in my opinion, the most severe blow that can be dealt to the scheme of cus- 
tomary tenure so far as this District is concerned. I trust that it may be understood 
that 1 am not seeking to criticise the action of the Government in the matter. 
18. 1 merely desire to point out the impossibility of encouraging small agricul- 
turalists in a mining district, unless a certain area of land, permanently reserved from 
the encroachment of miners, is to be set apart for them. Security of title has always * 
been found the first essential to the creation of a class of peasant proprietors, and 
until this is given, it appears to me futile to consider the question of assisting them 
in any other way.. 
I have, &c., 
L. P. EBDEN, 
Collector of Land Revenue , 
Selangor 
Ct 
