44 
ENCOURAGEMENT OF RICE-CULTIVATION IN THE 
MALAY PENINSULA. 
Minute by the Colonial Secretary. 
1. The reports which have been furnished in compliance with the 
Circular issued by the orders of His Excellency the Governor in December, 
1891, though containing much that is of interest are scarcely sufficient as 
a basis for a specific line of policy for the encouragement of rice-cultivation. 
2. Though very detailed information was not actually called for, it 
would have been satisfactory had District Officers attempted, by careful 
calculations, to satisfy themselves and to prove to Government that the mea- 
sures which they propose can be safely recommended on sound economical 
principles. The first condition of successful agriculture is of course that 
it must pay. No Government is likely to undertake or promote the cul- 
tivation of rice, as a rich proprietor in Europe may grow grapes or pine- 
apples, in order to have the produce, regardless of its cost. It is considered, 
I notice, by the Acting Resident of Perak (Mr. Treacher) that the State 
may look to be indirectly compensated for a large expenditure on works of 
various kinds by : — 
(a) An accession of population. 
(b) The retention in the State of the large sums now spent on 
imported rice. 
How far such an expectation may be justified must be a matter of 
conjecture, 
3. Mr. Treacher having expressed in general terms his concurrence 
with the recommendations of the District Officers in Perak, it will be de- 
sirable to summarise here what those recommendations are. For the most 
part they are only general and are unsupported by statistics or estimates 
of any kind, and it yst remains to have a complete scheme to be submitted 
for some particular district. 
4. Special State expenditure is recommended in respect of : — 
(a) Roads or bridle-paths. (Krian, Matang, Lower Perak.) 
(b) Irrigation works. (Ulu Perak, Lower Perak, Kinta, Batang 
Padang, Kuala Kangsa.) 
(c) Distribution of seed. (Krian.) 
(d) Free passages or assisted passages to immigrants from foreign. 
countries. 
(e) Remission of land-rent for three years. (Lower Perak, Selama.) 
(f) Maintenance of immigrants on guaranteed work for six months 
after arrival. (Lower Perak, Matang.) 
(g) Drainage. (Matang, Lower Perak, Krian.) 
(h) A State experiment of rice-farming on a large scale. 
(i) Exemption of abandoned padi-land from rent for one year 
if taken up by “natives of the State.” 
(j) The erection of husking machinery by Government. 
(k) The establishment of a Government model farm. 
(l) The introduction of Chinese settlers of the farmer class, with 
their wives, at the expense of the State. 
