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For the descendents of Richard Dearie and his son John Russell


The Straits Times, 3 January 1916, Page 12 F.M.S. Chamber of Mines. At the last Council Meeting held on December 20, the following were present Messrs. J. Boy, A. H. Flowerdew, J. Descraques, L. Q. Attenborough, E. J. Vallentine, and the secretary (Mr. A. Towers). In the absence of the President and the Vice- President, Mr. Vallentine was voted into the chair. Messages expressing regret at their inability to attend, were received from the Hon. Mr. Eu Tong Sen, and Messrs. J A. Russell and A.A. Hengellor. The seal of the chamber, which recently arrived from England, was duly adopted. (Summary: the meeting decides to ask the government to recognize French diplomas in electricity, and asks if there is any possibility of a technical school in Ipoh “ for Training Asiatics to acquire a sufficient knowledge of electricity to enable them to meet local demand” Mr. Brash is elected President and Mr. Vallentine Vice president.” The secretary will be pleased to receive from members specimens of tin and other minerals for the reception of which a show case has been acquired”.

Letter from J.A. Russell, Manager, Malayan Collieries 14th March 1916 (Possibly to the Hon E. G. Broadrick British Resident.) Enclosure (A2) Sir, With reference to the interview this morning between Messrs J. A. Russell and McCall and yourself, we now have the honour formally to request that the Government will kindly use its influence to obtain for us through the Government of India a supply of indentured Indian underground coal- mining labour. Our reason for making a such a request is due to our present inability to obtain locally a sufficient underground labour force, and to the urgent necessity for our at once dong so. Mining- labour is now very scarce in the F.M.S., and rates are very high: we are, however, willing temporarily to pay Chinese miners piece work rates which would enable them to earn from $1.20 to $1.50 a day if we could only obtain the men: but even at these rates which would mean a loss on coal sold at $5/- per ton or under, we still cannot get a permanent efficient underground labour force. It is not so much a question of wages as it is one of that apparently, when employment is plentiful local miners will not work in a coal mine. The class of miner we have to employ underground is the “ lombong-siam” tin-miner, and these men in a Chinese–owned tin mine, once they are below the surface are practically free of supervision. An advance of $5 per man is being made to attract labour, but 30% of the men who obtain such an advance abscond within about the first week of arriving; the remainder leave so soon as they have been trained and have earned a little money. We are obliged to make this advance, as it is now being made by most tin-mine owners, labour being extremely scarce. The reason labour is scarce in the tin-mines is said to be owing to the small number of Chinese immigrants now entering the State, and to the high wages for light labour being paid on rubber plantations. During February some 300 men have passed through our hands: they stayed a week or less and left. Even those who do remain seldom stay with us for a longer period than three months. Our surface men, on the other hand, have been with us since the beginning, and their rates of pay being less than that of the underground men shows it is not that our manager is unable to handle labour, but merely that the underground men dislike the nature of the work when softer less restricted employment is abundantly to be had. A man when he first comes is for almost a month very inefficient if not useless. Although an underground tin-miner, he is untrained to coal mining and has for the first fortnight to be instructed in the work; while during the third week he is usually recovering from stiffness and sore palms due to having employed different muscles from those he has been accustomed to use. From what we have said it will be seen how serious a matter it is to us when over half our labour force disappears after each pay-day, and we have to start all over again recruiting and training local labour. Our present out-put ought to be over 300 tons a day, and it actually touched that figure just before last pay-day. After pay day, however some 250 underground miners at once left us, and for the last few days our output has not been not more than about 70 tons per diem. Before leaving this subject we should explain that our men’s working hours are not long, being two shifts of four hours each; whilst the work, for those trained to coal mining, is not really hard. For some months now we have been making various alterations and experiments, but have been forced to the conclusion that not only must we put in coal-cutting machinery, but must also employ a different class of labour. We have sent inquiries Home and to America for coal-cutting machines, air- compressors and hammer-drills, but it will be about a year before we can get them designed to suit our requirements, made, shipped out and erected, and even then in themselves they will be insufficient. With regard to labour we can obtain skilled coal-mining coolies from two sources: North China and Calcutta. We have sent a man to North China to make investigations there, but it will probably be months before we can obtain any labour from so distant a centre, and we are advised that the whole subject bristles with difficulties, no natives from North China ever coming to F.M.S., there being no direct boats from North China, and it being doubtful whether, having of course obtained advances, most of them would not abscond at Shanghai and Hongkong on their way down. Our original intention was, however, to proceed with the matter and eventually to obtain a supply of skilled coal miners from Tientsin; but the sudden local demand for labour has made the matter now one, no longer of reducing costs so that we can produce at under $5 a per, but even of being able to produce any coal at any practicable cost whatsoever. India would seem to be the only centre, where, if we can obtain the assistance of the Indian Government, we would at once secure, and on indentures, a supply of skilled coal-mining underground labour. Although in asking, as we now are, our Government to obtain through the Indian, and with all possible expedition, the men we require, we are doing so primarily in the interests of the Colliery, at the same time the question is one of the greatest importance and urgency to the Government and people of the F.M.S., as well as even in some measure to the Colony. There is practically but little coal coming into the country, so that unless we produce it at Rawang in sufficient quantities, a great proportion of local mines, works (ice, cement, etc.) the railway, the smelters and shipping must either burn wood so far as they can or close down to the extent that they cannot, or close down entirely. In September for, instance, we are due to supply the F.M.S. Railway with at least 170 tons of coal a day, and yet, if the demand in the F.M.S. for labour continues to increase and we do not at once get in outside men, we may already by then have to close down, reducing the railway to the burning of firewood. Or, to take another instance, the Eastern Shipping Co. are relying upon our continuing to supply them with coal, which as we cannot supply them with enough they are mixing with firewood, to keep many of their steamers running. With our output down to 70 tons a day we cannot continue to supply them even with the small amount that we are doing, and we understand that they may have to take off, perhaps, their Tongkah vessel which is at present engaged in bring ore from Tungkah to Penang for smelting. Our output should not only at the present moment be 300 instead of 70 tons a day, but in another couple of months’ time it should by rights be as much as 500 and eventually from 800 to 1,000 tons day: but without a change of labour, or unless the condition of the local labour market alter, we shall probably continue to turn out only between 100 to 200 tons a day with probably a daily average of, say, 150 tons. We understand that owing to the shortage of tonnage having stopped most of the Indian coal exports, coal mining labour is just at present extremely plentiful in Bengal, and we venture to think that if the F.M.S. were to represent to the Indian Government that the matter was one, indirectly, of almost Imperial moment- for by producing our own coal we shall be releasing a certain amount of steamer tonnage- the Indian Government would very probably engage for us and send us down 250 Indian coal–hewers on indentures. If necessary, and the Indian Government desired it we could send someone to Calcutta to assist in engaging the men or to sign the indentures. We should be prepared to pay what ever rates of pay the Indian Government considered fair, although of course we do not wish to pay anything like the exorbitant rates that we now have to give. We have, etc., Sd. J. A. Russell, Manager, Malayan Collieries, Ltd. Document in the National Archives of Malaysia

Letter from E. W. Kenny. the Senior Warden of Mines, Federated Malay States, Kuala Lumpur, to the Hon E. G. Broadrick British Resident. 15th March 1916. Dear Broadrick, I am writing to you direct as the subject of the enclosed letter from the Malayan Collieries is urgent. 2. It is most important that the production of coal in the Federated Malay States should be raised to, as nearly as possible, meet the local demand, owing to stoppage of imports of coal. 3. I calculate that to meet the Federated Malay States demand for coal, the output from the Rawang Colliery should be about 13,000 tons per moth, taking into account the continued use of wood fuel. 4. I am aware there has been considerable difficulty with the underground labour at the Colliery and that such as has been obtainable has not been efficient. 5. The general labour supply is getting short and as emigration from China has dropped below what is was before the War it will probably get more so: in January 4,305 adult male Chinese entered the Federated Malay Sates via Ports and 3,103 left the same way. 6. Several Mine owners have complained to me about mining labour drifting to Rubber Estates; but no estimate of the numbers can be obtained. 7. I would recommend that assistance be given towards obtaining labour from India. Yours faithfully, E.W. Kenny Document in the National Archives of Malaysia

The Straits Times, 21 March 1916, Page 23 KAMASAN RUBBER CO. (FOOC) Kuala Lumpur, March 20. At Kamasan Rubber Co. meeting, Mr. J. A. Russell presiding, said that the directors were charging all costs of rubber not yet in bearing to revenue. They intended to continue to sell locally while Singapore prices equalled London. Calculations showed at present little difference either way, but it cost one percent to get rubber to Singapore. The profit amounted to $59,288. Their rubber fetched 41.14 and a half cents and all-in costs was 57 and half cents. The crop totalled 100,298lbs, and the 1916 estimate was for 154,000lbs. A dividend of 25 was declared. Mr. Russell was re-elected director, and Mr. E. W. King’s appointment to the board was confirmed. (122 words)


The Straits Times, 22 March 1916, Page 11

• Kamasan Rubber. A DIVIDEND OF 25 PER CENT. DECLARED.
• The Chairman's Speech.
• The sixth annual general meeting of the Kamasan Rubber Co., Ltd., was held at Messrs. Boustead, Hampshire and Co.'s Office, Kuala Lumpur, on Saturday, March 18. Mr. J. A. Russell presided.
• The Chairman said: —I do not think that I need say much with regard to the accounts which are already explained, so far as they need doing so, in the directors’ report that is accompanying them. The outstanding fact is that, having paid the Government loan, the company is now in a legal position to resume the payment of dividends, which it is today proposed to do by the declaration of one of 25 per cent. I might, however explain that from the profits of the company your board has to date reinvested in the estate a sum of $15,391.93 by spending this amount in development. This sum is technically a reserve, but not being represented in cash or in outside realizable securities, it is now proposed to write it off. I do not think that any shareholder will possibly object to the soundness of the board’s policy on this matter, or will cavil at their charging, as they are now doing, all costs of rubber not yet in bearing to “revenue”. When eventually, although wee hope not for many years yet to come, the price of rubber falls to little over a shilling a per pound, it is those companies with a low capital cost per acre that are going to continue to pay handsome dividends, and it is the full intention of your board that Kamasan Rubber Company shall be one of such fortunate enterprises.
• Your estate, after writing off the above mentioned $15,391.93, at present stands you in at $328, or £38.5s per acre. The amount realized per lb was $1.14 ½ or 2s. 8d. and the cost of production, including all charges, upkeep of immature rubber and depreciation on buildings, was 57 ½ cents or 1s.4d. per lb. The cost f.o.b. Port Swettenham was 39.84 cents or 11d per lb. and in calculating this all expenditure except that on buildings (capital account) was included. The difference of 17 ½ cents. between the “all-in” and the f.o.b. cost is made up of the following items: -
• Depreciation… 8.4 cents
• Head office expenses and interest… 2.0 cents
• Directors’ fees… 3.5 cents
• Freight and sale charges… 8.6 cents
• Sold in Singapore
• You will see from the report in your hands that our rubber has recently all been sold in Singapore. In arriving at a decision to sell for the meantime in Singapore, your board was influenced by the two facts that we are a local company, so other things being equal, we should support the local market, and also that, rubber now taking two months to get home and be sold, the risks of fluctuations are greater than they formerly were. As the report says, we shall continue to sell locally so long as Singapore prices appear to keep parity with London, but I may tell you that from the calculations are secretaries have made for the guidance of your board there seems to be at present no very great difference either way. It is in fact a very moot point as to where it pays us better to sell. In comparing Singapore with London prices it must not be forgotten that it costs us about 1 cent to get our rubber down to Singapore to start with, which is pure loss.
• When any company ahs done well, its shareholders seldom trouble themselves to any great extent concerning past workings. What they are anxious to learn about is regarding future prospects and the probable rate of coming dividends. Well, I, personally, am no prophet, and few of us would be staying in this country if we were; so it is with the greatest hesitation that I attempt to satisfy the legitimate curiosity of shareholders for information on this point. All I can say is that, although you have a good estate in excellent condition, everything naturally depends upon rubber quotations. However taking the price at about three shillings, or $1.28 per lb., and our f.o.b. costs at 34 cents, and adding an estimate of 7 cents for head office expenses, directors’ fees, etc., thus bringing our “all-in” cost up to 41 cents, it will be seen that we shall be making a profit of 87 cents per lb., which on our estimated crop for 1916 of 154,000lbs. would enable us to pay a 50 per cent dividend for the current year. Anyhow, unless there is a great slump I have little doubt that your board will be able to declare you an interim dividend of some sort upon the half year’s working.
• Expression of Thanks
• Before sitting down I should like to mention how satisfied your board are with the good work put in during the year by your estate manager, Mr. C. G. Trotter, who, owing to the war, has been single handed throughout the twelve month, and I should like this meeting before leaving to propose a vote of thanks and a bonus of $1,500 to him. I should also like to take this opportunity to mentioning and placing on record the excellent work and care that the secretaries and agents, Messrs. Boustead, Hampshire and Co., have for some years now devoted to the company’s best interest and welfare.
• One other thing, you will have observed from the accounts that your directors during the year made a donation of $250 to the F.M.S. War Relief Fund, an action which I am sure you will heartily endorse, and I shall presently ask you to mark this resumption of the company’s payment of dividends by voting a second sum to that same good cause. I now formerly beg to move that the accounts and report of the company be and are hereby adopted, which I will; ask Mr. King kindly to second, but before putting the same to the meeting I shall be happy to answer to the best of my ability any questions that shareholders may like to ask.
• Mr. D. St. L. Parsons wanted to know why the difference last year between the “all-in” and the “f.o.b.” cost was 17 ½ cents and yet in the chairman’s speech the difference for the current year was estimated at only 7 cents. he also suggested that in future planting dates be given in the report.
• Mr. H. E. G. Solbe asked whether the production was per acre was not very low for rubber in full bearing.
• The answer given to the first question was that the difference would be less for 1916 owing to the whole of the rubber being in future sold in Singapore. Directors’ fees, head office expenditure and depreciation were estimated at a total of 5 cents. and freight and stripping at 2 cents, making a total of 7 cents. The answer to the second was that the words “full bearing” in the report did not mean to infer that the tress were turning out their maximum quantity of rubber, in fact most of the tress tapped had only just entered the tapping stage. The term was probably wrongly used in the report, it only meant to say that every tree over the acreage was being tapped. The age of their trees on January 1, 1916, was: -
• Acres • Age•
• 90 • 7 years
• 52 • 6 ½
• 68 • 5 ½
• 110 • 5
• 80 • 4 ¾
• 151 • 4 ¼
• 551 ac. average • 5
• 181 • 3 ¾
• 732 ac •

551 acres at an average age of 5 years might be expected to give a return of 200lbs. an acre, or 110,200lbs., as against the company’s actual estimate of 154,000 lbs., a figure which would no doubt be exceeded. The output therefore could not be called low. Mr. Parson’s suggestion as to planting dates would be made a note of and no doubt acted on in future directors’ reports.
The Chairman proposed the payment of a dividend of 25 per cent., which was seconded and carried.
Mr. J. A. Russell was re-elected as a director, and the appointment of Mr. E. W. King to the board was confirmed. The auditors Messrs Neill and Bell, were re-elected.
The Report.
The directors ‘ report and statement of accounts for the year ended December 31, 1915, is at follows: -
Directors. - J. A. Russell, W. H. Trotter, A.K.E. Hampshire, E. W. King, Manager C. G. Trotter.
Acreage: -
Acres
In full bearing 320
Partial bearing 231
Planted, 1912 181
Buildings 6
Total 738

Your directors beg to submit the duly audited balance sheet as at December 31, 1915. The net profit for the year after allowing for liberal depreciation amounts to $59,288 which with $36,815.85 brought forward from last year makes a total of $96,103.85 standing at the credit of profit and loss account. Your directors’ recommend: 1. That a dividend of 25 per cent., absorbing $60,000 be paid; 2. That $15,391.93 be written off property and development accounts; 3. That the balance amounting to $20,711.92 be carried forward to anew profit and loss account. The object of writing off a portion of the property and development accounts is to bring these accounts to the same figure as the issued capital account. The amount so written off represents expenditure for which funds were obtained from revenue account and are therefore not available for distribution as dividends.
New Issue: A further issue of 11,858 shares was made in September last and was fully subscribed by shareholders. The allotment money from shareholders resident in Europe was payable in January and this accounts for the comparatively large amount shown in the balance sheet as due on allotment. With the exception of a small amount, which may have been lost on the Persia, the allotment money has all been received since the close of the year. The loan received from the Government has been paid off,
Crop: the output of rubber for the year was 100,298lbs., against an estimate of 83,780lbs. percentages of crop were as follows: -
Smoked sheet 81.225
No. 1 crepe 5.305
No. 2 crepe 11.977
No.3 crepe 1.493

The Estimated Crop
The amount realized per lb. was $1.14 ½ and the cost of production including all charges, upkeep of immature rubber and depreciation on buildings was 57 ½ cents per lb. The cost f.o.b. Port Swettenham was 39.84 cents per lb., and in calculating this all expenditure except that on buildings (capital account) was included. Capital development account has been closed Part of the crop in the earlier portion of the year was sold in London at satisfactory prices. Towards the close of the year sales at good prices were made in Singapore and the directors propose to continue this policy as long as local prices keep on a parity with London. The estimated crop for 1916 is 115,000 lbs. and including all expenditure except buildings (capital account) the estimated cost of production f.o.b. Port Swettenham is 33.24 cents per lb.
Labour: there has been a sufficiency of labour throughout the year and the number of coolies on Dec 31, 1915, was 327.
Health: This has been excellent throughout.
Buildings: A coagulating and drying shed were added to the factory buildings at a cost of $3,174. Alterations were made to the smoke house and it was re-roofed with corrugated iron. Provision has been made in the current year’s estimates for a new bungalow for the manager.
Pests: There are very few pets on the estates, and the few cases of white ants that occur are promptly dealt with.
Weeding: The cost over all was $7.10 per acre or 59.1 cents per acre per mensum. The estate is reported to be clean throughout.
Tapping: The cost per lb. was 8.9 cents against an estimated 9.8 cents. The number of trees being tapped on December 31 was 47,596 and the tapping force consisted of 111 coolies. At the same date 551 acres was being tapped, and the area per coolie was 4.96 acres with an average task of 428.8 trees. The system of tapping is one cut on 1/3 rd of the tree daily and on the older areas one V. on half the tree, both systems daily. It is intended in future to adopt the 1/3 rd system.
Mr. C. G. Trotter has been in sole charge of the estate throughout the year. Mr. W. Towgood has visited the estate at regular intervals and his reports have been uniformly satisfactory. Mr. J. A. Russell is the retiring director and being eligible offers himself for re-election. Mr. E. W. King was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. R. F. Grey’s departure. The general meeting will be asked to confirm Mr. King’s appointment. Messrs Neill and Bell, the auditors, retire but offer themselves for re-election.

The Straits Times, 31 March 1916, Page 2 F.M.S. Chamber of Mines. COUNCIL MEETINGS TO BE HELD IN SELANGOR. Mr. Valentine Elected President. The annual general meeting of the F.M.S. Chamber of Mines was held at the Chamber's office in Ipoh, on Saturday afternoon, reports the Times of Malaya. Mr. R. P. Brash, President, occupied the chair, and the other members present were: Hon. Payne Gallway, Messrs. H. W. Metcalfe, E .J. Valentine, A. Flowerdew, Chiah Kee Ee, Ho Pak Ling, A. C. Perkins, Khoo Chiam Seang, L.G. Attenborough, Lee Swee Hoe, F. Pearce, Lam Looking and A. J. C. Towers, secretary. 0. The chairman addressed the meeting briefly in proposing adoption of the annual report and statement of accounts of the Chamber for the past year. Summary: Their president Mr. Alma Baker had resigned as he is leaving the country, so Mr. Brash had been elected in his place. 15 members of the council were elected. Nominations for different districts (Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembillan, and Pahang) included J. A. Russell. He is elected as one of 3 members for Selangor. Mr. Valentine is elected president and Mr. Attenborough as Vice President. 0. Mr. Valentine said he had received a letter from Mr. Kee Kiap Peng of KL asking if the Chamber could hold meetings in KL as well as Ipoh. After discussion it is agreed that two council meetings yearly be held in Selangor. (1069 words)

The Straits Times, 4 April 1916, Page 6 Our Kuala Lumpur correspondent wires that at the Selangor Miners Association annual meeting, Mr J.A. Russell presiding, Mr. Yap Long Him was elected president, Mr. Russell temporary vice- president, Mr. Choo Kia Peng, secretary, and Messrs. Russell, Kia Peng, representatives to the Council of the F.M.S. chamber of Mines. The Malayan Tin and Rubber Journal, 5th April 1916, Vol. V., No. 7, p.13 Serendah Hydraulic At an extraordinary general meeting of the Serendah Hydraulic Tin Mining Company Limited, to be held at the Registered office of the Company No. 1 Embankment, Kuala Lumpur on 28th inst. The following resolution will be proposed as an extraordinary resolution- “That the capital of the Company be reduced from $850,000 ( divided into 85,000 shares of $10 each) to $170,000 divided into 85,000 shares of $2 each and that such reduction be effected by cancelling capital which has been lost or is unrepresented by available assets to the extent of $8 per share upon each of the said 85,000 shares and by reducing the nominal amount of all the shares in the Company’s capital from $10 to $2.”

Letter to Senior Warden of Mines, F.M.S. Kuala Lumpur from J. A. Russell, Agents and Secretaries for Malayan Collieries. Ltd. 2047/1916 5th April 1916, Sir, We have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of you letter of the 23rd instant, numbered 5 in 205/1916, on the question of our obtaining coal miners from India. We note that the Government advocates raising wages and advancing the price of coal, and in view of this would enquire whether it would be prepared to release us from our contract to supply the F.M.S. Railway as from September next with round coal at $5/- a ton? If we have no other remedy for our labour difficulties than that of raising wages, then at $5/- a ton for round coal we shall be selling at lower than cost, for out of this $5/- we have to pay a Government royalty of 25 cents, so that actually we only get $4.75, while for every ton of round coal raised our present labour produces a ton of slack which is either unsaleable or only saleable at a reduced price. So far it has been possible for us to dispose of practically all slack, and at fairly good prices, but we fear we shall not be able to continue to do so with the bigger production caused by the Railway contract, the number of places which can burn slack being strictly limited. We have, therefore, to deduct the probably loss on slack from the $4.75 we are to receive. Supposing we cannot sell any extra slack, our price obtained from the Government would then work out at $2.37 and half per ton, but we are relying on being able to dispose, at varying rates, of a good deal of it, and have therefore estimated that the figure we shall be obtaining from the Government as actually worth $3.50 a ton. We are now paying a hewing rate of from $1.10 and a half to $1.16 per ton, and if we are as the Government suggests to raise this rate, then in order in effect much radical and permanent difference we must increase it to one of $1.50 a ton, which figure will leave us only some $2/- out of which to pay all our expenses below and above ground, such as hauling, timbering, pumping, development work, dead work through faults and wants, falls and fires and other frequent calamities, upkeep of underground roads, boring, stores, overseers, surface hands, European supervision, upkeep of plant and buildings, clerical labour and Kuala Lumpur office expenses, insurance and finally, depreciation; which last is a surprising heavy item. It may be asked why we tendered a price of $5/- a ton if we are now unable to produce at such a figure? There were three considerations influencing us at the time of tendering. Firstly, when we commenced to produce having, in order to introduce our coal, made a small contract with a certain mine to supply them for a year with coal at a rate of $5/- per ton, our solicitors advised us that perhaps by terms of our lease it might be held that we are legally bound to supply the Railway’s requirements at a corresponding rate. Secondly, we genuinely wished, and do still wish, to place no difficulties in the way of the Railway Administration who have of late shown us every courtesy and helpfulness; nor were we unmindful of what we owe Government for having constructed for us a branch line from Kuang to the Collieries. And, thirdly, our tender had to be sent in some 6 months ago, at a time when the labour question was not acute, and when we had every hope of being able to retain, certainly a large per centage of, the coolies and of training them economically to produce coal. Since that date the rapid rise of price in tin and rubber has depleted the labour market, and it is quite evident that every subsequent rise in the price of these commodities is going to be visited upon us with a like adverse effect. But even if we don’t not raise our hewing rate to this $1.50 a ton- which would probably be a rate unique amongst coal mines- we still do not think that we should overcome our difficulty which is not entirely one of pay but more of the class of miner working for us. To show the more clearly that the question for us is not one mainly of hewing rates, we might instance that although our daily output reached 300 tons, after pay-day more than half our hewers left us and it promptly dropped to 70 tons. We then got in, without any great difficulty and on identically the same pay rates, fresh underground miners which we are now engaged in training to be hewers: and as these men are becoming more skilful so our output is slowly creeping back to the old figure, and, after a fortnight, is once more in the neighbourhood of 200 tons. We shall no doubt just be getting up to the 300 tons mark when another pay-day, or a new tin min opening in our vicinity, will again leave us with one half of our hewing staff. The only suitable type of labour we can engage locally for the kind of work we require done is the Chinese underground tin miner, a class working in the underground tin mines on the share principle, and therefore unruly, lazy and imbued with the spirit of gambling. The prospect of making as an ordinary hewer in a coal mine by hard work as much as $2/- a day does not appeal to this class, and so soon as they hear of some new shafting tin- mine being opened and requiring labour, they are all off, allured away by the prospect of more congenial work, no restraints or supervision to speak of, and at least their food and pocket money with the added possibility of perhaps making dividends anything from a few cents to three or more dollars a day. To obtain these last mentioned profits they do not, of course, have to put up any capital. It is really this gambling possibility of winning dividends which is the true attraction to these men of the underground tin-mine. Whatever wage we may pay to our underground labour, it will thus, and for so long as we employ this class of labour will always be thus, continually leaving us. This labour drawback occurs also in the tin- mine itself, but there, not only can the towkay minimise it when he has any dividends of the coolies in hand, but he is also not so badly affected by labour desertions for he can almost at once engage other and equally skilful miners to replace those leaving. The same advantage of replacement is not open to us, for it takes us, after we have recruited them, about a month still further to train our labour in order for it to be of much use in skilfully producing coal. In some tens years time, when more or less the whole of the Chinese underground mining community shall have passed through our hands, we may be in a somewhat happier position as that the towkay of underground tin -mines now enjoys. Our hewers are quite aware of our touching dependence upon them for an uninterrupted output, and will, and often do, strike on the slightest pretext. What we, therefore, want are miners more skilled to the working of coal, and men who have not become accustomed to this gambling, unrestrained life of the underground tin -miner. And we must not only endeavour to get men who themselves have never worked in tin- mines, but also those who have even fewer relations or fellow provincials working therein. Without a doubt we could in time solve ourselves the problem of obtaining a different nationality, or dialect, of satisfactory hewers; but, unaided, it will take us a longer time that it need or should do, while before it is done we fear we shall continue to have periods of poor output with many stoppages; and we had therefore thought that the Government might perhaps be disposed, even in its own interests, to give us the sympathetic aid which would mean so much to us. If, however, it is impossible for us to obtain indentured hewers from the Bengal coalfields, perhaps the Government, through the Indian Mines Department, could assist us to obtain unindentured labour from the same source? We should have to take the risk of these men absconding, but if the men were selected and engaged for us by a Government department we think that the danger would be greatly minimised. For we ourselves to endeavour without Government assistance to get these men would be along and tedious business, for we should probably have to be contented to start with by being able to engage just one or two better class men who in the course of time we should hope would send to Bengal for their relatives; it might in this ‘snow-ball’ way take us years before we secured a full complement of Indian hewers. We earnestly hope that even without recruitment from India, the situation at the Colliery may improve, (we fully intend installing hammer drills, coal cutters and other labour saving machines as son as we possibly can); but it would be gross folly not to be prepared for a continuance of the present conditions, or even for their exacerbescence, and therefore not to endeavour while there is still time to forestall or to diminish the harmful results of such alarming possibilities. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servants, MALAYAN COLLIERIES LTD, (Sd.) J. A. Russell & Co Agents and Secretaries. Document in the National Archives of Malaysia

Letter: from the Office of the Senior Warden of Mines F.M.S. Kuala Lumpur, to The Secretary to Resident, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur. No. 7 in 205/16 8th April 1916 Subject. Forwards letter from the Agents and Secretaries of Malayan Collieries Ltd. asking for assistance of the Government in obtaining unindentured labour from Indian Collieries. Sir, I have the honour to forward a copy of a letter which I have received from the Agents and Secretaries of Malayan Collieries, Limited. Previous correspondence on this subject was between the Senior Warden and the Honourable British Resident direct and I do not know what your office number of the correspondence is. 2. It seems that they do not want to raise the price of their coal although they ask whether the Government would be prepared to alter the prices in the existing Contract with the Railway Department, nor do they wish to raise wages. 3. They appear to seek a solution of their labour trouble by asking the assistance of the Government in obtaining unindentured labour from the Indian Collieries. I think it most important that the colliery should have as large a source of labour to draw on as possible especially labour accustomed to winning coal, for the unskilled hewer undoubtedly wastes a large proportion of the coal and I would therefore recommend that this Government should give them all the assistance possible in the matter. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, G. D. Lucas, Acting Senior Warden of Mines, F.M.S. Document in the National Archives of Malaysia 2047/416

THE MALAYAN TIN AND RUBBER JOURNAL. 17/5/1916. No. 10. Vol. V. CORRESPONDENCE [We do not necessarily endorse the opinions expressed by any of our correspondents] F. M. S. CHAMBER OF MINES TO THE EDITOR, The Malayan Tea and Rubber Journal, SIR,- I was not a little disappointed to see that a correspondent had written criticising the attitude you are adopting in connection with meetings of the Council of the F. M. S. Chamber of Mines. Far from you having laid yourself open to censor, I think you are to be commended on the course you are steering. The F. M. S. Chamber of Mines might be a very useful body. As it is, it is not of much assistance to the average member. Doubtless, the members of Council devote considerable time to the business of the Chamber, but there is lacking that driving force without which no public body can be successful. The Chamber represents a very important industry, which supplies half the tin of the world, roughly speaking. One would imagine that a body representative of such an industry would be able to exercise considerable influence on mining legislation. But what do we find? The Chamber carries very little influence. It is certainly recognised by the Government, but does the Government, for instance, consult it regarding suggested legislation bearing on the mining industry of the country? Or do suggestions made to the Government on Bills carry any weight? One of the chief functions of the Chamber should be to carry such influence with the authorities that the opinion of the industry would be embodied in a good deal of the legislation, and that laws would be modified more reasonably to meet conditions. I am afraid that the real function of the Chamber is missed, and that time is spent in consideration of minor questions. Whether I am correct in that estimate or not, I think it is pretty transparent that the Chamber is not the power it ought to be, and could be, if the Council would get rid of the idea that matters have to be considered in an atmosphere of secrecy, and must not be divulged even to the ordinary member of the Chamber. Admitted that certain questions are better not made public, there must be many that could be given wider publicity without any harm being done. The first thing that is required is the interest in the deliberations, and unless the members are made aware of what is happening it will be impossible to make them take sufficient interest in the affairs of the Chamber. I was astonished to hear that the President, who was elected at a recent meeting, contemplated leaving the district for a time. I do not for a moment wish to deny the President the right of a holiday, but when his departure was to be so soon would it not have been better to have refused to accept office? The leader you had on this question of continuity was a very sensible one, and directed attention to a matter that many had not considered. The Chamber, to be successful, must have something like continuity of policy. The way in which the office of President has been chopped and changed during the last year or two is not in the interests of the Chamber. On Mr. Vallentine’s departure I assume another President will be elected, or that the Vice-President automatically will fill the position. That means that the new President will step in when questions are in a half-baled condition and when the retiring President has just managed to bring his influence to bear on the Council. If the office means anything at all it means that the President can to a certain extent frame a policy. But if he is not to be in office for more than a few months, he can achieve but little. It is a pity that the situation could not be faced with greater firmness. The opinions that you expressed may not have found favour in the ranks of the Council, but I trust that this will not deter you doing what you consider to be your duty. In these days a definite lead is required, and if you continue to express opinions with the fearlessness and the fairness you have shown in the past, I think that the industry in many things will take a lead from you. That opinion is not ill considered, and it is all the better for the fact that in some things I have not been able to see eye to eye with you. I am, etc, TIN Kinta, May 14th

The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 27 June 1916, Page 5 F.M.S IN 1915. CHIEF SECRETARY'S REPORT. The revenue for the year 1915 was $40,774,984 (£4,757,081), exceeding the estimate for the year by $5,691,665 and exceeding the revenue for 1914 by $3,465,041. There was an increase under all heading except land revenue (excluding land sales) and forests. (Summary: credits, debits, trade, chandu, tin,)“Coal. The Malayan Collieries commenced to turn out coal during the year. The Collieries have been connected with the railway main line at Kuang Junction. The increase in the price of imported coal has created a great demand for the local coal, and it is estimated that 1,000 tons a day could be disposed of. There is difficulty in obtaining sufficient skilled labour, which cannot be obtained locally and will probably have to be imported” (agriculture, railways, Prai dock, Lumut port, link to Siam railway.) (1594 words)

The Straits Times, 4 July 1916, Page 8 F.M.S. CHAMBER OF MINES. 0. Proceedings at Recent Council Meeting. 0. The Secretary of the F.M.S. Chamber of Mines, forwards the following resume of recent proceedings:- 0. At the Council meeting held on June 26 the following were present Mr. L. G. Attenborough (President) in the chair, the Hon. Mr. A. Payne Gallwey (Vice President), Messrs. Cheah Cheang Lim, J. Boy, C. Pearse, A. C. Perkins, A. H. Flowerdew (representing Mr. J. A. Russell), and the secretary Mr. A. C. J. Towers. 0. Summary: Regret at death of past member Mr. G. W. Wilson. Communication from member in Negri Sembilan not discussed since it was sub judice. Shortage of supplies of explosives discussed. Mr. S. B. Greenstill manager of Sungei Gau Mine elected representative for Pahang. Visit to Malayan Tin Dredging Mine arranged for Sept 25, arrangements for visit to Kramat Pulai at later date. Letters from members with monthly outputs. Outputs for Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Pahang listed. Total output 33,665 piculs ore. Council members from Perak control half the output from there. 0. No dinner had been held for 2 years and it was decided that none should be held while the war lasted. 0. Mr. Metcalfe voted to replace Mr. Valentine who has left the country. Council are pleased to be a part of a message sent to Admiral of Grand Fleet. 0. “ Admiral Jellicoe, Grand Fleet. Malayan Chamber of Commerce, Planters Association, Chamber Mines unite in offering congratulations Jutland victory. Please convey specially Captain Officers crew H.M.S. Malaya our pride and gratification on their share of action” 0. Alienation of land to Germans after war was discussed. Reminders of next meeting in K.L. on July 15, at 10am and that they have been kindly invited by Mr. J. A. Russell to visit the Malayan Collieries the following morning. (543 words)

The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 19 July 1916, Page 6 and LOCAL AND PERSONAL. [Articles] 0. The Straits Times, 18 July 1916, Page 6 MALAYAN COLLIERIES. 0. On the invitation of the Chairman (Mr. J. A. Russell) and directors of Malayan Collieries, Ltd., between fifty and sixty members of the F.M.S. Chamber of Mines and friends visited the collieries at Batu Arang on Sunday. 0. A special train left Kuala Lumpur a 8.25 a.m. and arrived at Batu Arang at 9.25 .The manager and staff all the mine met the train, which was run on to the mine property. Parties were then formed under the European members of the mine staff, who conducted their visitors underground. 0. 0. On returning to the surface they were conducted round the buildings, machine shops, power house, etc., returning to the train at 11.45 am. Breakfast and refreshments were provided on journey, the party arriving back at Kuala Lumpur at about 1pm (MM). (137 words)

The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 1 August 1916, Page 7
 and The Malayan Tin and Rubber Journal, 16 August 1916 No. 16. Vol V, p.13 The Malayan Collieries. Reference by the Commissioner of Trade and Commerce. THE MALAYAN COLLIERIES. 0. Adverting to the decrease in the importation of coal into the Federated Malay States during 1915 the following reference to the development of the Malayan Collieries is interesting: 0. “Although greatly delayed by the war, most of the plant had at the end of 1915 been received and erected and the South Mine was producing and selling coal. The North Mine, however, was still in shale and up to the close of the year had not commenced production” 0. “The shortage of tonnage by cutting off the supply of imported coals caused a far greater demand for the local Rawang fuel than the Malayan Collieries could in its initial stage possibly satisfy, for although the South Mine was far enough developed to turn out 300 tons a day, and did reach the neighborhood of this figure, the difficulties of obtaining skilled labour reduced the average daily output to under 200 tons. So long as the price of tin was low it was possible to obtain Chinese underground miners, but with the increase in the value of the white metal the Chinese returned to what is evidently to them a more congenial form of mining. The continued rise in freights is making the demand for Rawang coal even more urgent and the Collieries could probably now fairly easily dispose in the F.M.S. and S.S. of as much as 1,000 tons a day, which is what it is expected will be produced when both the mines are fully running. This present labour difficulty is, therefore, the more unfortunate, and steps are being taken to import skilled coal mining labour from outside in the hope of overcoming it. However, despite the output being not yet more than 5,000 tons per mensum, even this amount has been of great assistance to the country, and several of the larger local users of power- Sungei Besi Mines, Pengkalen Power Station, Malayan Tin Dredging Mine, Batu Caves Cement Works, the Straits Settlements ‘Alma’ etc.,- are now exclusively burning Rawang fuel. It is perhaps a happy omen for the permanency of this new Federated Malay States industry and product, that most of the present users stopped or diminished their purchases of imported coals and began to use ‘Rawang’ before the rise in the price of the former had actually commenced.” – Com of trade Report. 0. (401 words)

The Straits Times, 12 August 1916, Page 6 The Straits Times 12 August 1916, page 6 Mr. J. A. Russell, of Kuala Lumpur, who owns the New Town, Ipoh, is to build a cinema hall in Hume Street, while Eng Khoon is already building one in Brewster Road, near the Birch Bridge.

The Straits Times, 15 August 1916, Page 7 and MALAYAN COLLIERIES REPORT. [Articles] The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 16 August 1916, Page 7
 Malayan Collieries. 0. INITIAL INTEREST-DIVIDEND DECLARED. 0. Report of Directors for Past Year. 0. The following is the report of the directors of Malayan Collieries, Limited, for the year ended June 30 last. It is signed by Messrs. J. A. Russell and Co., the managing agents and secretaries. 0. The directors have pleasure in submitting their third annual report and statement of accounts for the year ended June 30, 1916. 0. On October 1 a third call of $1 per share was made on ordinary shares thus making these $9.25 paid up. During the year application was made for the conversion of a further 200 acres to mining lease (making a total area under lease of approximately 1.747 acres) whilst the prospecting license was renewed over the balance of the concession. 0. Coal sales 0. (Chart) from July 1915 to June 1916 totalling 50,042 tons 19cwt. 0. 0. Extra roads for the company'’ diamond drill having arrived, some deeper prospecting was done with satisfactory results. The Government line to Bukit Arang Station, situated upon the Company’ s property, was opened on Sept 1, 1915. The Company’s siding was completed and opened during November and duly paid for, and the charge over the company’s property in favour of the Government (being security for the payment of the same) was discharged. 0. The want of telephonic connection between Kuala Lumpur and the Colliery continues to be felt a great drawback. It is hoped that the Government will shortly see its way to proceed with the proposed extension of the Kuala Lumpur telephone system to Rawang. 0. At one time during the year considerable trouble was experienced with the mine labour, and Mr. McCall made a visit to Bengal to investigate the possibility of employing Indian coal miners. The chairman whilst in Japan also made inquiries regarding Japanese labour. Nothing definite has yet come of these various investigations, matters being still in train, but the knowledge that they were and are being made has had an excellent effect upon the present labour which towards the end of the company’s year showed marked improvement. 0. Professor W. A. Bone, D. Sc. F.R.S. professor of Chemical technology (Fuel) Imperial college of Science and Technology, London, was engaged throughout the year on experimental research work into the nature and properties of the coal, especially with a view to its possibilities for long temperature distillation and briquetting. 0. 0. Payment and Dividend. Interest payable on ordinary shares.- 0. In accordance with the terms of an agreement dated June 13, 1913, and made between the vendor of the one part and the company of the other part, no dividend shall be payable on vendors’ shares until those issued to the public have first received interest, upon the amount for the time being paid up, at the rate of 6 per cent per annum for those years described as “ the period of development”. The “period of development” is defined as commencing from the date of formation of the company and terminating with that account day on which the total profits of the company shall first have amounted to a sum sufficient to pay a dividend of 12 per cent on the amount paid up upon the ordinary shares. With the account day of June 30, 1916, the specified “period of development” therefore ends, and after payment of interest on the ordinary shares both classes of shares will rank equally for dividends in proportion to the amount credited as paid up upon them. It is now proposed to begin wiping off the arrears of interest due, by declaring an initial interest dividend of 6 per cent. for the company’s first year, 1913-14, to be calculated upon the amount paid up upon these ordinary shares during the above mentioned first year. As there is still the sum of 75 per cent per share due to the company from the holders of ordinary shares, except in those cases where shareholders have paid up the whole of their calls in advance, it is proposed that this interest-dividend shall not be paid in cash but be credited to the account of such ordinary shareholders in reduction of the call- liability attached to their partly –paid shares. 0. The profits for the year amount to $99,941.14. 0. Which the directors recommend should be dealt with as follows:- 0. In payment of a dividend of 6 per cent upon 88,150 ordinary shares credited as $6 paid (being interest at 6 per cent per annum for the company’s year 1913/14 as provided for by agreement dated June 13, 1913)… $31,734.00 0. To be written off mine development..$25,000.00 0. To be written off formation expenses…$8,235,00 0. Balance to be carried forward to the next year’s accounts…$34,972.14 0. The directors to retire are Towkay Loke Yew, C.M.G., and Mr. Robert Peebles Brash, who being eligible, offer themselves re-election. Auditors, - Messrs. Barker and Co. retire and offer themselves for re-appointment.

The Straits Times, 16 August 1916, Page 8
 In the report of the directors of Malayan Collieries, Ltd., which we published yesterday, it was stated that “ there is still the sum of 75 per cent, per share doe to the company from the holders of ordinary shares, etc.” This should have been 75 cents per share. (48 words)

The Malay Mail, Monday August 21, 1916 and Malayan Collieries. [Articles] The Straits Times, 23 August 1916, Page 10
 and MALAYAN COLLIERIES. [Articles] The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 23 August 1916, Page 12
 (edited) Malayan Collieries Annual General Meeting. Future Prospects. The third annual general meeting of shareholders in Malayan Collieries, Ltd., was held at the registered offices of the Company, 8 10, Loke Yew Buildings, Kuala Lumpur, on Saturday at 11 a.m. Mr. J. A. Russell (Chairman of Directors) presided. Mr. P.P. Spradbery for the secretaries read the notice convening the meeting, and also the minutes of the last meeting which were confirmed. The annual statement of accounts and balance sheet and the report of the directors and auditors were submitted to the meeting. Chairman’s Speech. The Chairman, in moving their adoption, said: - Gentlemen,- 0. The report and accounts have been in your hands for the specified period, and I presume you will take them as read. Following my former practice I shall before moving their adoption first make a few comments on some of the more important items contained in the balance sheet. Taking the debit side first, you will see that the issued and subscribed capital now stands at $1,424,647.50 as against $1,341,480 in the last balance sheet. The difference is principally due to a call of $1 a share having been made during the year on the partly paid capital. The calls in arrears are due from shareholders at the Front. The item “ sundry creditors” consists of wages, royalty and freight still due on the June output. The profit I shall discuss when we come to the profit and loss account. Turning to the credit side you will see that the expenditure on mine development to the end of the financial year amounted to $183,711.97: but this amount is greater by a sum of $25,000 than it would have been had your directors been able to charge all development work to revenue. A detailed statement of the development account for last year will be found on the end page, and to this I shall presently refer. You will observe that our railway siding cost us $40,780.39 as against the official estimate of $77,000, the difference being due to our having taken up a contract under the Railway Construction Department and by doing the work ourselves effecting a considerable saving. As contractors under the Railway Construction Department we drew from this Department advances for the work, repaying the Government in installments upon the conclusion of the contract for the total cost of construction. Interest on the loan was paid by the Company to the Government at the rate of 6 per cent. The charge for $77,000 which the Government had taken upon our property was discharged with the payment of the final installment. The Government aid so granted was of the greatest assistance to the Company, for it was given at a time when owing to the railway not being completed the mine could produce no revenue, and yet when the financial crisis prevailing would have considerably embarrassed shareholders in meeting any further call. Your Directors were and still are of the opinion that the Government had promised the original concessionaires to build them or their successors a line to the pit head, but his Excellency the High Commissioner having decided that this was a wrong construction to put upon the promise, although your board may not agree with His Excellency’s views, nevertheless those views being what they are your Board can only be exceedingly grateful to him and the F.M.S. Government for the financial accommodation that the Government compensatorily rendered the Company. On reading the item “motor cars” you may strongly think that the Company posses more than one. This is not so; it only owns the one the mine- manager uses; but during the year it being found possible to sell the old one at a profit and buy a new one this was accordingly done. Our stock of mine stores in hand may seem somewhat large, but mining requisites are at present so difficult to obtain that not only do we think it wise to carry a good stock of them, but we are, as opportunities occur, always increasing our stock. The item, “coal sales” under the heading “sundry debtors” consists almost entirely of June sales, our custom being to render bills monthly. The second subsidiary item headed “sundry” is for rents, freight and commission, an account I shall explain later. From the item “cash at bank and in hand” it will be seen that there is a sum of $25,000 on fixed deposit. It is the practice of the Company to put on fixed deposit any available funds not immediately required, it being always of course, permissible for the deposit to be broken. The cash in London is for plant on order. 0. I now turn to the profit and loss account, which is for the latter six months only, the balance of expenditure for the first half of the year being all debited against capital. On the debit side of the profit and loss account the largest item is for contractors’ wages, as much of the mining as possible being done on contract rates. The Government royalty is a royalty of 25 cents a ton payable to the Government on all coal, whether lump coal or screenings, passing the Company’s boundaries. The Company has protested against having to pay the full rate royalty on screenings, but without obtaining relief. If you will now glance at the debit side, you will notice that besides the main item of coal sales the Company has sold its surplus production of bricks and a small quantity of firewood. The firewood was obtained from timber felled in the course of clearing sites, timber which the mine could not immediately use and which would have rotted if allowed to lie. You will also see an item” rents, freights and commission” to which I have previously referred and which is the aggregate of various odd earnings of the Company, some of which amount in themselves to sums of but a few cents. The item includes a profit we have made on purchasing provisions wholesale, on shop rents, on our locomotive hauling for others, on repairs for others done in our workshop. You will see that we waste no opportunity for economy here or a small profit there; it is the secret of successful organisation. 0. Last Years Development. 0. I will now for a moment refer you to the detailed statement of last year’s development account of which I have already made mention. You will find it printed on the last page and from it you will observe that the gross total expenditure for the year under review on this account was $122,648.36 but that against this has to be placed a sum of $56.921.64 being the Company’s receipts during the period of development. Your Directors, recognising the value of sound finance, would have preferred to have reduced development account by charging all development expenditure after the 1st January to revenue, thus reducing the profit, which, if you now refer back to the profit and loss accounts, you will see is put at the sum of $99,941.14. The amount of extra expenditure which they would have liked to have charged to revenue is about $25,000. As development work will always be in progress, it is only proper that it should in future, be charged against revenue and not to capital, for it is in practice, whatever it may be in theory, a legitimate recurrent working expense. In this case, however your Directors were legally advised that they had no option but to debit it to capital, the Company being bound by an agreement with the vendors regarding the payment of dividends on vendor shares, which dividends may not be paid until such date ad the net profits have reached a certain specified total. If this $25,000 had been charged to capital the date when that total was reached would have been deferred for another 6 months, with the consequent diversion from profits in which the vendor shares may participate of an additional sum equal to the payment of a further 6 months’ interest on ordinary shares. This would have been a legal infringement of vendor shareholders’ rights, and as such have laid the Company open to being sued by the original holders, or any subsequent purchasers, of vendors shares. Development account is now closeable, so that this predicament will not again arise, and all future deadwork incidental to mining may, if thought advisable, be charged to revenue. In the meantime your Directors propose to adjust the present position by appropriating from profits the sum of $25,000 in reduction of development account. This of course will not affect the holders of vendor shares, who are only concerned in the date when the total undivided profits have reached the sum specified by the Agreement, that is to say a sum equal to the payment of a dividend of 12 per cent. on the amount paid up on the ordinary shares, because at that date interest on ordinary shares ceases, and vendor shares rank for the future, in the matter of dividends, equally with the ordinary shares, subject of course to the first charge upon profits of an amount sufficient to pay the arrears of interest due upon the ordinary shares to the date in question. By looking at the Director’s report you will see that besides writing off $25,000 from mine development, your Directors also recommend that a sum of $8,235 be appropriated in writing off formation expenses, leaving $66,706.14, and that this balance $31, 743 be absorbed in the payment of a first installment of the arrears of interest- dividend due on the ordinary shares, and the remainder amounting to $34,972.14 be carried forward to the current year’s accounts. The agreed upon period of development has taken three years to complete, so that after paying for the first year of development there is still another two years’ interest to be paid before regular dividends may be declared. It would not be financially safe for the Company at this juncture to wipe off any greater sum than the first year’s arrears of interest, for the Company cannot carry on with a smaller sum of working capital in the finance of its coal sales than the amount it is now proposed to carry forward. The Company is still faced with a certain amount of capital expenditure for new plant, and it will be necessary to call up the balance of 75 cents a share still due on ordinary or partly- paid shares. As it will cause shareholders a certain amount of inconvenience first to receive an interest dividend and then to have to pay it back again in the form of a call, it was proposed in the Directors’ report that this interest dividend should not be paid in cash, but be credited to the holders of ordinary shares in reduction of the liability attached to some of those shares. Upon going into the matter more closely, however, it seems a moot point whether the Company quite has the right to do so, while the London Stock Exchange, for a reason that is not very clear, do not recommend the practice. At the risk, therefore, of causing ordinary shareholders some little extra trouble, and of disappointing those few of them who had expressed a decided wish that the Company would be able to place dividends against calls, your directors have decided not to go on with the suggestion, but recommend instead that the payment of the dividend be in cash. Instead of the former arrangement, I have now therefore to announce that a final call of 75 cents per share upon the ordinary shares will be made, which call will probably be payable sometime in October. The usual notices of call giving the exact date when due will be posted to shareholders in due course. 0. Labour Investigations. 0. Glancing now at the Director’s report you will see that reference is made to certain labour investigations the Company made in India and Japan, and I wish to take this opportunity of thanking with your permission and on behalf of the Government for the assistance they kindly rendered to the Company in connection with inquiries our mine manager made in the former country. Despite however, this aid from the local Government, we were unable to achieve any successful results in India, and I can hold out but little hope of our being more successful in the same country within at least the near future. All the mining labour that India can at present spare is being sent to Tavoy, and the Indian Government is not inclined to allow mine labour to be recruited for the F.M.S. You will also note in the Directors’ report that throughout the year we have had the best Home man obtainable engaged upon research work in connection with the suitabilities of our coal for distillation and briquetting purposes. We have sustained disappointments and encountered many difficulties over this research work, our coal being rather unique in many of its properties, and it is this that has caused the work of the investigation to be so protracted and still not finished; but we believe that we are now within measurable distance of success. Professor Bone will not commit himself to any definite report until the conclusion of his investigations, but in a response to an enquiry from this end for information to place before you at this meeting, I have just received a cable from London Agent, Mr. F. J. B. Dykes, which reads as follows: “Bone states as the result of laboratory investigations Rawang coal during past year he is of the opinion prospects briquetting commercially sufficiently favourable justify large scale test now being arranged also large scale test low temperature distillation coal likely to yield important data from point of view of determining best conditions obtain valuable by- products from coal and he anticipates good results.” 0. A description of the work done at the mine during the year under review will be found in the mine manager’s report, and to it there is very little that I can add. The intrusion of shale in the North Mine has taken us a whole year to get through. This “want” has been an unseen calamity seriously adding to the cost of development and reducing our coal output, but we are once again in good coal, which is all the more fortunate as the earthquake which was experienced about a fortnight ago started the roof “working” over a short distance of the main level of the South Mine, and has thus temporarily interrupted communications with the inside workings. This weighting of the roof is a common occurrence in mining and will only curtail the output for about 3 weeks, by which time communications should be re-established. The arrival of the extra rods for our diamond boring set has enable us to do a considerable amount of prospecting work during the whole year. The results on the whole have been satisfactory. We are opening up an area on the North Seam outcrop with the object of practically testing this second seam of ours and the quality of its coal. We may congratulate ourselves on having been able to purchase from the Railway Department a locomotive for use on our siding, which has resulted in greatly increased efficiency and economy. We have to thank the Railway Administration for letting us have this locomotive at a reasonable figure. It would have been impossible to have obtained one from Home during the war. You may be interested to learn that we run the locomotive on what we call ‘smalls”, that is to say on our screenings. We have now a service between Kuala Lumpur and the Colliery of three up trains and three down trains daily. From the first of next month we have contracted to supply the coal requirements of the F.M.S. Railways. 0. A question shareholders may wish to ask is what is our mining cost per ton of coal; but this is a query that I shall not be able to answer, for development work and the actually winning of the coal have been hitherto too interlocked for us to be able to work out ay reliable figures. 0. Future Prospects. 0. Another point on which I am sure shareholders are anxious for information is that regarding our future prospects. First as to tonnage. Our output was in the neighbourhood of 500 tons a day when the earthquake already referred to occurred, temporarily diminishing production. Difficulties such as the “want” in the North Mine, and now this trouble in the South Mine, are always liable to occur, and in fact difficulties of some sort or another always will be occurring, but as the mine gets more developed and the number of working places increase, the effect of such troubles will not be so felt, for they will not make so serious a difference to our total output. You will remember that our plant and workings are designed for an output of 500 tons a day, but I am now able to tell you that it will deal with an output of almost a thousand tons a day, and, providing we have the sale, we shall be turning out this amount early in 1917. By no very great additions to our plant and workings we shall be able to output a much greater tonnage than 1,000 tons a day; but it is at present extremely doubtful whether we shall be able to find a local sale for even 1,000 tons a day let alone any greater amount, the local fuel requirements being limited. This is a pity, for after the war competition from Indian and Japanese coals will be most keen. The price of firewood too, will always be a serious factor for us having a competitive influence absent in most other coal producing countries. Since our coal entered into the market the price of mining firewood in Selangor has as a consequence already been markedly reduced, and it has even on some mines we have formerly captured cut us out again. We shall have, therefore, to rely upon a large output with resultant low working costs per ton, and a corresponding cheap price to the public, in order to be able to compete with firewood and these foreign more highly calorific fuels. The really wretched smallness of the total local fuel consumption is the unhappiest feature of an otherwise fairly favourable future, and it is to obtain an output comparable with coal mines in other parts of the world, and therefore of working coals that can compete, that your Directors are devoting so much time and money to research work at Home in connection with briquetting and distillation. It is recognized that for a large production we must look to developing an export trade. I myself am leaving within ten days’ time on flying visit to London principally in connection with the distillation experiments to which I have referred, and of finding a market for disposing of the by products to be obtained. To show you how thoroughly your Directors have gone into the matter of increasing the coal demand, they have had experiments made at Home on suction-gas producers, pressure- gas producers and cooking ranges. It has been proved that the coal will do admirably for the two latter, while it is only a question of perfecting means for dealing with the tar that is withholding equally successful results being obtained in suction-gas plants. Should any enterprising group wish to light Ipoh electrically and to supply power to the neighbourhood, or do the same for any other F.M.S. centre, they could not do better than to erect a Mond or other producer gas plant and to burn Rawang “smalls”. Their tar and ammonium sulphate recovery would pay to a great extent for the cost of the “smalls”, which for a large and long contract the Company would probably be in a position to offer to sell on especially attractive terms. I feel confident that no water or oil power scheme could compete with the one I have above suggested both for cheapness per unit and reliability. 0. With regard to our requirements for the current year, we have still a good deal of expenditure ahead of us. We shall want extra boilers, a large and more powerful fan installation, punching machines and probably a screening plant. The punching machines will be run by compressed air, and it is hoped by their use to increase and cheapen production, and to decrease the percentage of smalls. After full consideration your management have decided not to install coal cutters yet awhile, our seams and the nature of our coal not being quite suitable to their employment, but we shall later on require to use some form of underground locomotives for haulage in the main levels. In installing more plant than is usual in Indian coal mines, your management’s idea is not only to have an efficiently run modern and economic mine, but also render the Company less dependent upon a capricious labour. We shall have to erect during the current year still another bungalow, while we are also considering building a police station and quarters. We have still and shall always have a lot of development work to do, and we wish never to have less than from eighteen months to two years work in view. Towards the end of the financial year we shall probably require more European assistance at the mine. 0. Reducing Price of Product. 0. Taking it all round, our prospects are bright, and I think our future is assured- our ample supply of good mining timber at pit mouth is a great asset – but I would ask shareholders to be patient in the matter of dividends, for we have many difficulties yet to negotiate. The worst, that of consumption, I have already touched upon; and in this connection shareholders must, as I have said, remember that with each reduction in working costs it will be the Company’s policy to reduce the price of coal to the public, hoping by giving the country a cheap fuel to stimulate the growth of industries consuming it. The average price the Company is obtaining for its coal today is cheaper than it was for the year I am reviewing, and that average price will, your Directors anticipate, be still further decreased before the end of the current financial year. Another difficulty we have to face and overcome is the matter of filling. This question will become more pressingly urgent as time goes on, and in preparation for the day when it has to be solved we must accumulate a substantial reserve fund. So far, through the exercise of the utmost vigilance, we have had no bad debts, but as our sales increase it is impossible that we shall escape a certain proportion of these unfortunate concomitants of wholesale trade. 0. The Pioneering Shareholders 0. So you will see from all these points I have mentioned that if we wish to put our enterprise on a sure foundation we shall still have some lean times ahead of us before that desirable goal be reached. But, however distant it still may be, it is now above the horizon; which is indeed everything. So I wish to congratulate those shareholders who were original subscribers; that is to say, the great majority of the present shareholders, for very few except Home holders of vendor shares have sold. If any body of shareholders deserves a handsome reward for their enterprise, it is the original shareholders in this Company. Malayan Collieries, as you know, met with the greatest opposition at its floatation. There were letters in the public press denying the existence of coal, denying its value as fuel if it did exist, and denying, if it not only existed but was valuable that any but a fool would take shares in a company that would be years before it could pay a dividend. None of the big users of coal, whether smelters, miners or ship owners subscribed a cent to the floatation. Their arguments were always the same; the arguments that had appeared in anonymous letters in Singapore papers’ especially the one “why subscribe for shares and have to pay in full for them, when they are certain to be obtainable at a big discount before the Company is dividend paying?” It was useless for the present speaker to urge that if everyone took this view the Company would not be floated, and that it was the duty of the particularly rich smelting or shipping or mining company with whom the speaker happened at the time to be pleading to support an enterprise having its object the development of the local coal resources; they presented a deaf ear and buttoned- up pockets to his entreaties. The Company was subscribed for almost entirely by one group, mainly Chinese in Kuala Lumpur, and a smaller group, also mainly Chinese in Penang, most of whom were the speaker’s personal acquaintances. Only one British mercantile house of any standing subscribed for shares, a Singapore firm, while no big consumer of coal did likewise. I am sure that all those who did subscribe thought they were embarking upon a perilous gamble, which reflects so much more credit on them for having supported it. Personally I myself, knew it was no gamble. Like Mr. Dykes, I have always after its very thorough two years prospecting had faith in the field, and I think that this is proved by the fact that such profit as I made from the floatation I took entirely in shares, while I at the same time subscribed in cash for close on $100,000 worth of those issued to the public, and have ever since been a steady buyer both of these ordinary and the vendor shares. The Company’s first and most staunch subscriber was Towkay Loke Yew, C.M.G., and he, and he alone, I think, adopted the attitude that it was the duty of those who had made money in this country to take hazards in support of an enterprise likely to be of benefit to Malaya; a view which might I think have reasonably been expected to be held amongst the big and wealthy smelting, shipping and mining companies who have done so well out of the F.M.S. I have little doubt that the shareholders of this Company, having borne all imagined risks, and having proved that coal in this country can be successfully worked at a profit, were a new coal- field now discovered and a company formed to exploit it, those same big interests who turned our own pioneer babeling from their doors would subscribe to such a new floatation with protestations about benefits to the country at large and to the mining industry in particular deserving every encouragement and support. In this connection I would point out that had we liked to opencast our mine we could have produced coal much quicker and at a much cheaper rate per ton, and, moreover with the sinking of considerably less capital than we have done. In fact we could easily have floated a small company with a small working capital, the vendors retaining the same or bigger proportions of the whole than they did. The shareholders would have made money quite gaily for some years, and then have had to close their open cast mine down, having in their unconscious greed succeeded in ruining one of the most valuable assets the F.M.S. possesses I would warn you that it is still possible for another company working any newly discovered coal field on the opencast method to cut us out of the market. I shall not weary you further or ever again upon these points, but they are matters on which I have always promised myself to speak as soon as the Company entered the dividend paying stage, and I think that the rumoured scramble of one and everybody for permission to exploit a recently reported and still unproven coal find in Perak makes them all the more apposite at this present juncture. When one remembers the apathy with which many of the people who now wish for rights to work Enggor treated the thoroughly prospected but to their minds risky, Rawang field, this scramble must have for the cynical a flavour delightfully humourous. 0. Mine Manager’s work. 0. Before concluding I should like to say how much this company is indebted to our mine manager Mr. McCall, and to his staff for their devoted, skillful and unremitting work and care during the year. This Company has been singularly fortunate in its mine staff, than whom a more loyal and, moreover a more intelligent, does not exist in this country. I shall presently have great pleasure in asking shareholders to pass a vote of thanks to Mr. McCall and to those under him 0. I will now formerly move that the report of the Directors produced, together with the statement of the Company’s accounts as of June 30th, 1916, duly audited, be now received, approved and adopted, which motion I shall ask Mr. Henggeler to second, but before putting it to the meeting I shall first endeavor to answer to the best of my ability any question that shareholders present may like to put. 0. Mr. Mawson said that the Chairman had referred to the possibility of finding other coal deposits in the F.M.S. Would it be possible to work any such newly discovered field, supposing that it was not out of the way, in the same manner and for approximately the same cost per ton as their own property was being worked? 0. The Chairman replied that this would he thought depend largely on the field and the nature of the seam or seams. He was told from geological evidence it was most improbably that a better quality coal would ever be found in the country, while it was also improbable that there would be discovered a bigger field than theirs. He would ask Mr. McCall to give them the benefit of his more technical knowledge. 0. Mr. McCall the mine- manager said: “ I regret that Mr. Mawson’s question is almost impossible to answer as so many factors enter into the case. Chief amongst these I would place (1) the quantity of water to be pumped, (2) the liability of the seam to spontaneous combustion, (3) the absence or presence of gas, (4) the nature of the roof, (5) the inclination of the seam, (6) the available supplies of mine timber, and many other minor items all bearing directly on the question too numerous to mention without further knowledge of local circumstances.” 0. Mr. Henggeler seconded the Chairman’s motion to adopt the report and accounts, which was unanimously carried. 0. The Chairman then moved the payment of a dividend of 6 per cent upon the ordinary shares credited as $6 paid up, which was seconded by Mr. A Grant Mackie and carried. 0. The sum of $3,000 was voted to the five directors in remuneration of their services for the past year, to be divided amongst them as they themselves thought fit. 0. Towkay Loke Yew C.M.G. and Mr. R.P. Brash were re-elected to seats on the Board. 0. Messrs. Barker and Co. were re- elected auditors for the ensuing year at a fee of $750. 0. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. McCall and his staff at the mine for their very valuable services during the past year. 0. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the Chairman and the directors, for which the Chairman on behalf of himself and his co-directors briefly returned thanks.

Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 [Advertisements] The Straits Times, 21 August 1916, Page 3
 and Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 [Advertisements] The Straits Times, 23 August 1916, Page 2
, Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 [Advertisements] The Straits Times, 18 August 1916, Page 5
, Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 [Advertisements] The Straits Times, 16 August 1916, Page 3
 Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 [Advertisements] The Straits Times, 9 August 1916, Page 3
 0. Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 [Advertisements] The Straits Times, 11 August 1916, Page 3
 Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 [Advertisements] The Straits Times, 14 August 1916, Page 3
 Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 [Advertisements] The Straits Times, 25 August 1916, Page 3
 Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 [Advertisements] The Straits Times, 7 August 1916, Page 7
 MALAYAN COLLIERIES, Ltd. KUALA. LUMPUR FULL SUPPLIES OF RAWANG COAL In three qualities Lumps Unscreened Smalls.(Advert)

The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 23 August 1916, Page 12 MALAYAN COLLIERIES ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. The third annual general meeting of shareholders in Malayan Collieries, Ltd., was held at the registered offices of the Company, 8 10, Loke Yew Buildings, Kuala Lumpur, on Saturday at 11 a.m. Mr J A Russell (Chairman of Directors) presided. The annual statement of accounts and balance sheet and the report of the directors and auditors were submitted to the meeting. 0. Chairman’s Speech 0. The Chairman, moving their adoption, said in the course of his speech: 0. The reports and accounts have been in your hands for the specified period, and I presume you will take them as read. Following my former practice I shall before moving their adoption first make a few comments on some of the more important items contained in the balance sheet. Taking the debit side first, you will see that the issued and subscribed capital now stands at $1,424,647.50 as against $1,341,480 in the last balance sheet. The difference is principally due to a call of $1 a share having been made during the year on the partly paid capital. The calls in arrears are due from shareholders at the Front. The item “ sundry creditors” consists of wages, royalty and freight still due on the June output. The profit I shall discuss when we come to the profit and loss account. Turning to the credit side you will see that the mine expenditure on mine development to the end of the financial year amounted to $183,711.97: but this amount is greater by a sum of $25,000 than it would have been had your directors been able to charge all development work to revenue. A detailed statement of the development account for last year will be found on the end page, and to this I shall presently refer. You will observe that our railway siding cost us $40,780.39 as against the official estimate of $77,000, the difference being due to our having taken up a contract under the Railway Construction department and by doing the work ourselves effecting a considerable saving. As contractors under the Railway Construction Department we drew from this Department advances for the work, repaying the Government in instalments upon the conclusion of the contract for the total cost of construction. Interest on the loan was paid by the Company to the Government at the rate of 6 per cent. The charge for $77,000 which the Government had taken upon our property was discharged with the payment of the final installment. 0. Reduced price of product. 0. Taking it all round, our prospects are bright, and I think our future is assured- our ample supply of good mining timber at pit mouth is a great asset – but I would ask shareholders to be patient in the matter of dividends, for we have many difficulties yet to negotiate. The worst, that of consumption, I have already touched upon; and in this connection share holders must, as I have said, remember that with each reduction in working costs it will be the Company’s policy to reduce the price of coal to the public, hoping by giving the country a cheap fuel to stimulate the growth of industries consuming it. The average price the Company is obtaining for its coal today is cheaper than it was for the year I am reviewing, and that average price will, your Directors anticipate, be still further decreased before the end of the current financial year. Another difficulty we have to face and overcome is the matter of filling. This question will become more pressingly urgent as time goes on, and in preparation for the day when it has to be solved we must accumulate a substantial reserve fund. So far, through the exercise of the utmost vigilance, we have had no bad debts, but as our sales increase it is impossible that we shall escape a certain proportion of these unfortunate concomitants of wholesale trade. 0. So you will see from all these points I have mentioned that if we wish to put our enterprise on a sure foundation we shall still have some lean times ahead of us before that desirable goal be reached. But, however distant it still may be, it is now above the horizon; which is indeed everything. So I wish to congratulate those shareholders who were original subscribers; that is to say, the great majority of the present shareholders, for very few except Home holders of vendor shares have sold. If any body of shareholders deserves a handsome reward for their enterprise, it is the original shareholders in this Company.

The Straits Times, 31 August 1916, Page 8 Malayan Collieries. To the Editor of the Straits Times. 0. Sir, With reference to the chairman's speech at the third annual general meeting of Malayan Collieries, Ltd., we are informed that the following statement may be misleading: - "You will observe that our railroad siding cost us $40,780.39 as against the official estimate of $77,000, the difference being due to our having taken up the contract under the Railway Construction Department, and, by doing the work ourselves, effecting a considerable saving.” 0. Although there was a considerable saving over the official estimate, due to the peculiar position of the company enjoyed in having an organized labour force and staff on the spot, it is pointed out to us that this official estimate was based a plan which was altered before the work was carried out, so the saving over our official estimate was also in great measure due to certain works included in the original official plan, upon which we learn the estimate was based, not being done. - Yours, etc., Malayan Collieries Ltd., J. A. Russell and Co., Agents and Secretaries. Kuala Lumpur, August 30, 1916 0. (183 words)

The Straits Times, 2 September 1916, Page 6 LOCAL AND PERSONAL. Mr. J. A. Russell has left Kuala Lumpur for home

The Malayan Tin and Rubber Journal. 6th September 1916, No. 17. Vol.V page 15. Malayan Collieries, Directors Third Annual Report. (As The Straits Times, 15 August 1916, Page 7 see above and edited version of meeting as The Malay Mail, Monday August 21, 1916, see above)

Letter from District officer, Ulu Selangor, to the Secretary to the Resident Selangor. USL 744/16 District office Kuala Kubu. 26th October 1916. Appln: by J. A. Russell for 1000a of rubber land in the mukims of Rasa & Ampang Pechah. Sir, I have the honour to submit an application by J.A Russell for about 1000 acres of rubber land in the mukims of Rasa and Ampang Pechah as edged in pink on the attached tracing. 2. The land is situated west of the Sungei Rasa about two miles from Rasa town and is available. Access is available by rough cart roads from the South to Rasa town and from the North to Kuala Kubu. The native holdings adjoining were alienated for padi but many are now abandoned. 3. The Deputy Conservator of Forests has no objections to alienation provided two timber licences working there are given reasonable notice to stop. 4. The inspector of Mines reports in his opinion the land is not worth keeping for mining. 5. The applicant is a well known miner and merchant and owns only two acres of agricultural land. 6. I recommend approval: - Premium $2 per acre. Rent $1 and $4/-, Cultivation section 3 Enactment 8/1914, I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, CMOwen? District Officer Ulu Selangor. Document in the National Archives of Malaysia 5126/1916

Federal Council. [Articles] The Straits Times, 15 November 1916, Page 10
. Federal Council. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S ANNUAL ADDRESS. 0. Malaya's Part in the War. The Federal Council met in the council Chamber at Kuala Lumpur yesterday morning. His Excellency the High Commissioner Sir Arthur Henderson Young G.C.M.G., reports the Malay Mail, addressed the meeting as follows: (Summary: death of Sultan of Perak, 3rd year of war budget, finances, trade and customs, agriculture, labour and immigration, medical and police, public works, railways, general, “ Good progress has been made with the construction of the extension from Batu Arang to Batang Berjuntai which it is expected will shortly be ready to open for traffic. The section Kuang to Batu Arang, which was opened for traffic in September, 1915, has, with the development of the Malayan Collieries Co.'s property at Batu Arang, acted as an excellent feeder to the main line.”

The Straits Times, 22 December 1916, Page 8 Malayan Collieries. News which reached Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday morning indicated that there had been some form of labour trouble at the Collieries' coalfields at Batu Arang. The police were informed and within a quarter of an hour twenty-five police and a detective under Chief Inspector Flood left the Central Police Station in cars for the mine. Beyond the particulars given above nothing further is known. On enquiry at the offices of the agents of the company we (Malay Mail) were informed that the police were sent out as a result of a telegram received in Kuala Lumpur shortly before 11am. Mr. R. C. Russell has also left for the mine.. (114 words) 


The Straits Times, 22 December 1916, Page 10 and RAWANG COLLIERIES. [Articles] The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 23 December 1916, Page 12
 RAWANG COLLIERIES STRIKE Trouble Settled and Ringleaders Arrested. Further particulars are to hand, says the Malay Mail, of the labour trouble at Batu Arang on the Malayan Collieries' coalfields. Recently, it is stated, the management granted the labour an all round increase of 15 cents per truck on coal brought out of the mine, with a view to encouraging the coolies to work harder. The experiment was a success so far as the majority of the coolies was concerned, but two kongsis, numbering about 120 men, took advantage of the increase to put in less work. As matters stood they were earning just sufficient to keep themselves in comfort, the mine’s interests being thrown to the winds. This of course, could not be tolerated, and the management decided to cancel the increase so far as the two kongsis were concerned. As a result of this action on Tuesday evening the 120 coolies of the two kongsis struck work. They composed about one fifth of the labour force on the mine. Four-fifths of the coolies had no sympathy with the movement. On Wednesday morning matters had assumed such an aspect that the police were telegraphed for from Kuala Lumpur and a force of 26 armed men under Chief Inspector Flood proceeded in cars to the mine. After the arrival of the police the strikers were paid off and sent off the mine, five men alleged to be ring leaders, being arrested. When the police left the mine on Wednesday evening work was being resumed. There were rumours in town yesterday that the strikers were smashing the machinery on the mine. This is absolutely incorrect as nothing more than what is reported above occurred. The five alleged ringleaders will be tried at Rawang in due course. (Malay Mail.) (254 words)

F.M.S. Annual Departmental Report, 1916, page 5 (Also published in MALAYAN COLLIERIES [Articles] The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 23 May 1917, Page 2 Coal. 18. (i) Work was carried on throughout the year at the Malayan Collieries; for some time the output was restricted owing to a “want” having been encountered in the North Mine, shortage of labour and certain essential supplies tended to restrict the extension of operations; the output being obtained being 101,846 tons. (ii) In the North Mine the main haulage way is down 1, 300 feet on the slope and in the South Mine 1,200 feet has been reached on the slope. (iii) The ventilation of the mine has been well maintained and extensions of the ventilating plant are in order. (iv) The power- house capacity is to be increased by 600 kilowatts; air compressors, compressed air operated plant and other machines are under order. (v) Experiments are in progress in England on distillation of the coal with a view of by-products, but nothing definite has been arrived at with regard to briquetting, and it is most important that this should be dealt with as soon as possible. (vi) It is essential that material for filling should be obtained and the management is making investigations with regard to materials for hydraulic filling. (vii) Tests on this coal in Crossleys’ suction gas plant gave a consumption of 1 and quarter lbs. per brake horse-power hour.

NEWS 1916

From the Singapore and Straits Directory, Fraser and Neave, 1916. SOAS archives

RUSSELL, J. A. & Co.,

8, 9 &10, Loke Yew BuildingsKuala Lumpur.

Telegraphic Address :-“Jar”

Codes—A. B. C. 5th Edition, Lieber’s,

Broomhall’s Rubber, Western Union and Bedford McNeill

Telephone No. 77. 

 

Partner                          J. A. Russell

Assistant              D. O. Russell E. M. (signs per pro)

Do.                          P. P. Spradbery

Do.                          R. C. Russell

            Managing Agents for

Malayan Collieries, Ltd.

Bakau Tin, Ltd.

Serendah Hydraulic Tin Mining Co., Ltd.

            Secretaries for

Malayan Collieries, Ltd.

Wolfram (Selangor) Ltd.,

            Agents for

Royal Exchange Assurance Corporation

Chambers of Commerce

SELANGOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

1 & 3, Old Market Square,

Kuala Lumpur,

Committee.

 

Chairman                        H. P. Clodd

Deputy Chairman            A. K. E. Hampshire

Hon. Mr. W. F.             P. de C. Morriss

Nutt                                    J. A. Russell

T. D. Betteridge            D. F. Topham

Secretary                        P. W. Gleeson

From the Singapore and Straits Directory, Fraser and Neave, 1916. SOAS archives
From the Singapore and Straits Directory, Fraser and Neave, 1916. SOAS archives

THE FEDERATED ENGINEERING CO., LIMITED.

Engineers, Boiler-makers, Iron and Brass Founders, Electrical Engineers and Contractors

Head office & Works:- 246, High Street, Kuala Lumpur.

Branch Office—Klang .

Telegraphic Address—“Federated.

Codes—A1. A. B. C. 5th edition and Western Union

Telephone No. 187.

 

Board of Directors

V. V. Lemberger (Chairman).

P. Cunliffe            J. A. Russell

E. Bramall            H. Robinson

W. H. Macgregor

Secretary            T. C. B. Miller

Manager            A. MacLennan M. I. M. E. C. H. E., M. I. M. E.

                  

                        Office Staff

Accountant                        K. M. Jopp, F. L. A. A.

Assistant                        J. V. Booth

Do.                                    D. Grant

Do.                                    H. B. Tallala

Do.                                     P. B. A. D’Cruz                       

Do.                                    C. J. Dason

Do.                                    D. C. Santhosan

Do.                                     J. Fernandez

Do.                                    T. Chellappah

Do.                                    J. Chinniah                       

Do.                                    A. M. Arokiasamy

Do.                                    S. Sinnathamby

Do.                                    A. V. Nathan

 

                        Technical Department

C. J. K. Grieve, M. I. M. E.             R. O. Counsell

                       

Mechanical Engineering Staff

Works Supdt.                        A. A. Simpson

Outside Works

Supdt.                                    G. Grant

 

                        Electrical Department

Electrical Engineer            A. L. Birch

 

                        Civil Engineering Department

                                    S. V. Smith

 

                        Hardware Department           

Assistant                        F. P. Koek

 

                        Klang Branch

Manager                        E. W. Savage

Assistant                        C. R. Savage

Do.                                    W. W. Motion

Accountant                        B. P. Nicholas           

 

                        Agencies

The United Engineers, Ltd., Singapore.

Sulzer Diesel Oil Engineers.

“Jewell” Export Filter Co.

“Triumph” Motor Cycles.

Robey & Co., Ltd.

Halley Industrial Motor Co.

Trussed Concrete Steel Co.

Wonderlich, Ltd.

Robert Hudson.

Stern, Sonneborn Oil Co.

Jost Engineering Co.

Ruberoid Company.

Crompton & Co., Ltd.

Automatic Telephone Manufactoring Co., Ltd.

British Insulated and Helsby Cables, Ltd.

Chas. Carter

Yale and Towne Manufacturing Co.

Richard Hornsby & Sons, Ltd.

From the Singapore and Straits Directory, Fraser and Neave, 1916. SOAS archives

THE KAMASAN RUBBER CO., LTD.

                        Directors:

 

W. H. Trotter                        J. A. Russell

E. W. King                        A. K. E. Hampshire

Secretaries—Boustead, Hampshire & Co., Ltd., Kuala Lumpur

From the Singapore and Straits Directory, Fraser and Neave, 1916. SOAS archives
WOLFRAM (SELANGOR) LIMITED,
Wolfram Tin Ore Buyers and Dressers
Office
-1, Old Market Square, Kuala Lumpur.
Works-Pudu, Kuala Lumpur,

Telegrams
-"Henggeler," Kuala Lumpur,
Codes
-A. B. C. 5th edition and Western Union.
Telephones
-Works No. 59. Office No. 164.
Managing Director            A. A. Henggeler
Works Engineer                        F. Fidelis
Secretaries                        J. A. Russell & Co.
From the Singapore and Straits Directory, Fraser and Neave, 1916. SOAS archives
UTAN SIMPAN RUBBER CO., LTD., Directors:
A. K. E. Hampshire                        J. A. Russell
H. E. G. Solbe                                    V. U. Kelso
Secretaries-Boustead, Hampshire & Co., Ltd., Kuala Lumpur.