WHITE RAJAH

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 38, 14 August 1939, Page 10

WHITE RAJAH

LIFE IN SARAWAK

LAND WITHOUT TAXATION

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day,

For the past* ten years a former Paeroa youth, Mr. D. L. Leach, has been one of several New Zealanders in the Government service of Sarawak, North Borneo, which is ruled by the only white Rajah in the world, Sir Charles Vyner Brooke. Mr. Leach returned by the Maetsuycker yesterday to spend five months' leave in NewZealand, and he was- accompanied by

Mrs. Leach, who was formerly Miss Sadie Bernstone, of Auckland, and their two infant sons.

The whole history of Sarawak was very interesting, said Mr. Leach, and it was a delightful place in which to live. It was a self-governed British Protectorate, where there was no taxation. "This fact will probably appeal to New Zealanders," he said. Its main product was rubber, while oil and pepper were other important industries. All provisions were obtained from Australia and New Zealand through Singapore, and the residents depended completely on cool storage for fresh meat and butter.

"The administration of the State Lconsidered very satisfactory., and the people, who are largely Dyaks and Malays, are happy under the present regime," continued Mr. Leach. "They love their Rajah, who is the third in line. The first was his great-uncle and the second his father, and the present heir is his brother, Captain Bertram Brooke. The title was first bestowed by a Malay rajah in return for war service, and it must be handed down from father to son or brother."

Mr. Leach is a surveyor associated with the Land and Survey Department of Sarawak. It is one of the largest departments in the country. There are several other men, who were born in various parts of New Zealand, serving in the same Government service. Mr. Leach visited New Zealand over four years ago, and his eldest son was born in the East. The other was born in New Zealand, when Mrs. Leach was here about two years ago.