Notes of the Day

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3944, 29 May 1913, Page 4

Notes of the Day

WHERE RAILWAYS ARE BUILT OUT OF REVENUE.

In the Kalgoorie 'Aimer''’ of May 14 last appeared an article by Mr Staniforili Smith, entitled “Our Northern, Neighbors.” The northern neighbors refererd to are the Federal 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 the 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 wore a practically unexplored jungle, inhabited by half-savage tribes. Now these same States have 1686 miles of metalled' reads, 1000 miles of cleared tracks and bridlepaths, 421 miles of metra-gauge railway, with subsidised motor-car services to outlying places, and 1231 miles of telegraph and telephone lines. They have 248 State schools, 31 free hospitals, and two sayings banks. They have rest houses (practically State hotels) at every railway station; They have a- State medical service, a military force of 824 men, jawd a fine body of police, numbering 2561. Incredible as it may seem, they have no public debt, hut have, on, the contrary, millions of dollars of surplus revenue invested in interest-bearing securities. They are at present building another 152 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 by taxation of the unimproved value of land. Out of a total revenue for 1904 of £2,225,000 no less than £1.700,000 was rent of land. The States have not parted with the fee-simple of one acre of tlioir .territory! V