PROGRESS IN MALAYA

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 941, 7 April 1930, Page 11

PROGRESS IN MALAYA

AUCKLANDER IN POWER OPERATIONS FASCINATING COUNTRY After 16 months as engineer on a large hydro-electrical undertaking in the Federated Malay States, an Auckland expert. Mr. F. C. Cuff, returned on the Niagara this morning. Mr. Cuff was engaged at Arapuui. too. He was mechanical engineer during work on the New Zealand scheme. The Malayan project, at Kuala Kangsar. now completed, cost £3,000.(100. and its benefits are expected to have an effect on tin-mining concerns in Perak, the district in which the scheme is situated. Malava is noted for its tin production, Mr. Cuff explained, but trade depression has even affected the production in the important British Asiatic possessions. “The slump has hit everything—rubber and tin,” Mr. Cuff said. “There has been a restriction placed on the tin output and operations have been reduced from seven days to six. Malaya, of course, has tremendous mineral wealth and the country is rich in itself.” The Kuala Kangsar scheme was carried out by a British firm. Considerable sums of British capital have been invested in Malaya and this can be taken as an indication of faith in the country’s future. Four thousand native workmen, under the supervision of a staff of 120 white men, were engaged in the work, which was begun in 1926. The life was interesting and the bush country reminded Mr. Cuff strongly, in its general appearance, of New Zealand bush. , There were many opportunities in social life, hunting and ordinary recreation. The native life was highly interesting. INDOLENT MALAYANS Of the 4,000 natives employed, only occasional labourers were native Malayans. The workmen were Chinese and Indian coollies, easily superior to the rather indolent Malayan, Mr. Cuff said. The Malayans were by no means anxious to take part in the hard manual labour entailed in the scheme. The swarms of Chinese and Indian coolies worked extremely well. Malaya had a reputation as a malaria country, continued Mr. Cuff, but lie enjoyed excellent health during his stay. The amenities at the disposal of Europeans were considerable. Singapore, the thriving port 400 to 500 miles south of Kuala Kangsar and on an island off the end of the

Malay Peninsula, was all of the modern city it was declared to be. There were many excellent buildings and the cosmopolitan life was engrossing. Three men who were engaged on the Arapuni power scheme were employed at Kuala Kangsar. The principal difficulty in the work was the danger of flooding from the torrential rains. One especially large flood in Christmas, 1925. did an immense amount of damage.