45 
5- As to the manner in which the State is to be reimbursed for the 
expenditure upon all or any of these schemes, the reports are mostly silent. 
One gentleman, however, who has apparently not studied the subjects of 
population and labour, or the conditions under which rice is cultivated in 
other countries, is sanguine enough to declare, in somewhat general language, 
that “ if sufficient land were planted, the State might not only become 
“ independent of foreign markets, but might also become one of the rice- 
“ supplying countries of the world, and derive a large revenue from paddy 
“ instead of paying away large sums of money for rice and being dependent 
u on other and uncertain markets for the staple food of its people ! ” The 
importance of the question is, of course, here exaggerated. The Acting 
Resident’s report shews that about 70,000 acres of land in Perak are 
under rice cultivation and that there is enough land available to produce 
200,000 or 300,000 tons more rice than is grown at present. The total area 
of paddy land in Perak may thus be roughly estimated to be 300,000 
acres. But the area of paddy land under cultivation in Lower Burma 
ten years ago was more than three million acres. 
6. Much of what is here said about the Perak reports applies equally to 
those received from Selangor. There is a general consensus of opinion 
that the way to encourage rice-cultivation is to tempt the cultivator by 
State help. The extent to which this is recommended does not equal the 
Perak proposals, but the commercial aspect of the problem does not come 
in for examination. 
7. The various proposals as to the State aid in Selangor include : — 
(a) Exemption from land-revenue for three years. 
(b) The introduction of foreign settlers at Government expense, 
the State paying their passages, and supporting them for 
a probationary period, until farming pays. 
(c) Loans for purchase of buffaloes, implement, seed, etc. 
( d ) Loans for irrigation works. 
(e) Purchase of seed. 
8. The Resident of Sungei Ujong sees no way open to Government, if 
it is desired to extend rice-cultivation in that State, but to “ assist immigra- 
tion largely, both with land and capital. ” Advances are to be recoverable 
on “easy terms.” (i 
9. The Resident of Negri Sembilan, an inland State, furnishes some 
statistics shewing that the State can feed its indigenous population, but 
that there is no prospect of the extension of cultivation so as to permit of 
export or local sale to the foreign population, miners, etc. 
10. The Resident of Pahang, in forwarding a brief but interesting des- 
cription of rice-cultivation in Pahang by Mr- Clifford, speaks in favour of 
“ a judicious expenditure of money for purposes of irrigation and in pur- 
c chasing new seed.” 
11. Among the schemes submitted to Government, I must not omit to 
notice the recommendation of Mr. C. Leech, Commissioner of Lands. 
Perak, that “ the question of cultivation, classes of grain, etc. should be 
“ taken up by an expert,” and the advice of Mr. G. W. VVELMAN, Secretary 
to Government, Selangor, that “ the services of a competent Engineer — 
“ preferably one who has been employed on irrigation works in India or 
“ Burma — might be secured to study and report upon the feasibility of 
