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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 85
The Straits Settlements, North Borneo, Hong Kong, New Guinea
The Straits Settlements, North Borneo, Hong Kong, New Guinea.
It would be a matter for great regret did the "Curiosity Shop' character of the exhibits in these Courts lead the visitor to under estimate the importance of the Dependencies they represent.
"Where are new markets to be found for British Industry?" Not only are our goods shut out of European markets by hostile tariffs, but our sale is limited by the growing progress of the industries of European countries, in which longer hours of labour and lower wages prevail.
Hong Kong gives us a magnificent vantage ground for trade, with a population of 250 millions in China, and through China with nations in the interior of Asia.
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The Straits Settlements give a vantage ground for the Malay Peninsula and countries such as Siam, connected with it, on the "opening up" of which countries depends the "opening up" of a great Indo-Chinese trade.
North Borneo and New Guinea give us the trade of Malaysia with its wealth of natural resources. See Malaysia on the map.
We have thus access to populations eager for British Manufactures.
May the hope be expressed that the British manufacturer will supply the real needs of native populations, and by excellence of workmanship establish implicit faith in British work.
Specially may Christianity, the only abiding civilizing agent, be commended to these native populations by British justice and observance of "The Golden Rule."
The Straits Settlements
Are trading centres on the Straits of Malacca.—They include Singapore, Penang, known as Prince of Wales' Island, with Province Wellesley. The Dindings, Malacca, Perak, and other native states near, are under British protection.
Total area about ten times the size of the Isle of Wight. Total Population about that of Liverpool, of whom more than three-fifths are Malays and Chinese.
Commerce, all "Free Trade" Ports.—The chief exports are tin, sugar, pepper, nutmegs, mace, sago, tapioca, rattans, gutta-percha, india-rubber, dye-stuffs, tobacco. Value of trade in 1859, £14,820,000; in 1884, £36,200,000.
The exhibits represent both the exports and the every-day life of the natives. Notice the collcction of Perak Butterflies, and the Edible Birds' Nests.
Hong Kong.
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Malaysia compries seven group of island, whose area is six times the area of the British Isles.
But the tenure of Gibraltar is strictly military, that of Hong Kong solely commercial.Area of Hong Kong, 30 square miles, about the size of the island of Sheppey. Population, about a fifth that of Liverpool; less than 5,000 whites.
Hong Kong is an unproductive island, destitute of resources. Its exhibits are principally of Chinese character.
A Chinese Bazaar, presided over by Chinese, is held in the Albert Hall.
North Borneo.
The youngest of the British Colonies. Founded by the North Borneo Company under Royal Charter in 1881.
Area.—About the size of Scotland.
The Products at present are limited to the jungle produce of the Eastern Archipelago; Gutta-percha—India-rubber—Camphor—Rattans—Bees-wax.
Edible Birds' Nests, built by swallows, which have on either side of the gullet two large glands; from these glands naturalists conjecture that the isinglass matter, which so largely composes the nests, is formed.
Large nurseries have been planted with tobacco and sugar.