FEDERATED MALAY STATES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 316, 30 May 1913, Page 2

FEDERATED MALAY STATES

THIRTY I'EARS AGO SAVAGES. ' NOW BUILDING RAILWAYS OuT OF REVENUE. In the KaJgoorlie Miner of May 14 last appealed an article by Mr. Stanifortli Smith, entitled, "Our Northern Neighbors." The northern neighbors referred to are the Federated Malay States, comprising a group of native Malay districts, amalgamated about thirty years ago under a British administration on the Crown colony plan, and occupying tlie southern portion of the Malay Peninsula, just across the Malacca Strait from Sumatra. The area is about the same as that of Tasmania.

Thirty years ago these States were a practically unexplored jungle, inhabited by half-savage tribes. Now these same States have 15815 miles of metalled, roads, 1000 miles of cleared tracks and bridlepaths, 421 miles of metra-gauge railway, with subsidised motor ear services to outside places', and 1231 miles of telegraph and telephone lines. They'have 248 State schools, 31 free hospitals and two savings bangs. They have rest houses (practically State hotels) at every railway station.' '. They have a State medical service, a'military force of 842 men, and a fine body of police, numbering 2651. Incredible as it may seem, they have no public debt, but have 1 , oil the contrary, millions of dollars of surplus revenue invested in interest-bearing securities. They are at present building another 125 miles of railway out of revenue. -Lastly, they have magnificent public buildings, also paid for out of revenue.

But how is the thing done ? It is not done either by "scientific protection" nor a revenue tariff, for this astonishing federation imposes no import Customs duties except on spirits and opium, although it does tax its exports.

It is done bv taxation of the unimproved value of land. Out of a total revenue for 1904 of £2,225,000. no less "-n £1,700,000 was rent of land. The States have not parted with the fee simple of one acre of their territory.