Thailand Siam Muang Thai

In 1892 the construction of the first State Railway from Bangkok to Korat was undertaken. In 1926, 1,631 miles of State railways were in operation and 281 under construction. There were also 66 miles of private lines. Bangkok is the terminus of all main lines. The main line to the north terminates at Chieng Mai; the southern line threads the Malay Peninsula to Padang Besor where it joins the Federated Malay States Railway from Penang and Singapore. A branch line from Haad Yai passes along the east coast to Sungei Golok to join the Federated Malay States Railway. The north-eastern line to Korat is being extended to Khonkaen. The Korat-Ubon line is open as far as Buriram. The Eastern line runs to Aranya Pradesa on the Cambodian frontier.

Siam joined the Postal Union in 1885 since when there has been a steady and consistent improvement in postal, telegraphic and telephonic communication throughout the kingdom. Foreign telegraph lines communicate with Saigon, the Straits Settlements and Moulmein. Aviation has been adapted to postal communica tion and gives the remote provincial places a regular postal service. Dorn Muang, 22 km. north of Bangkok, is the chief aerodrome and has been used as a port of call by foreign aviators on long distance flights. Other towns have prepared landing places. Wireless installations under the control of the navy are found at Bangkok and Singora; another, under the control of the Post and Telegraph Department, is at Koh-Khan.

Agriculture.

Rice cultivation occupies almost all the inhabi tants of Siam outside the capital. The sowing and planting season is from June to August and the reaping season from December to February; 40 or 5o varieties of paddy are grown and Siam rice is of the best in the world. Irrigation, until recently, was rudi mentary and water supply depended chiefly on local rainfall. Under the advice, however, of an expert lent by the Government of India, the Siamese began work, in 1916, on the Prasak South Canal System. This, completed in 1924 at cost of £1,200,000, will eventually irrigate 240,000 acres. Work is now in progress on the Saphan programme. Other products of the plain include tobacco, pepper, coconuts (annual export of copra, io,000 tons), sugar cane and many fruits. Live stock in 1926 included 8,389 ele phants, 247,158 horses and po nies, 4,013,882 bullocks, and 216,127 buffaloes.

Mining.

The minerals of Siam include tin, tungsten, wolf ram, coal, iron, zinc, manganese, antimony, gold, silver, rubies, sapphires. Tin mining is carried

on in the island of Puket, in the north of the Puket province and other parts of the Malay Penin sula where wolfram is also now being extracted in considerable quantities. Tin production in 1926-27 amounted to 10,140 tons.

The Mining Department is well organised and employs several highly qualified English ex perts.

Timber.

Teak grows all over the hill district north of 15° N.

but attains its best development in the west. The extraction of teak, almost entirely in British hands, employs a large number of people. The dry logs are floated down to Bangkok while large quantities are also exported via Burma. In 1926-27 the export of teak amounted to 59,339 tons, valued at £747,144. Other forest products include thingan wood (Hopea odoratus) used for boat building; damar oil from the Dipterocarpus, agilla wood, sapan, rosewood, iron wood, ebony and rattan. The forests are under the control of a Siamese conservator aided by British officials.

Commerce.

Commerce with India, China and Japan dates from the beginning of the Christian era and may be even earlier. European trade began in the 16th century. Over 85%, of the foreign trade passes through Bangkok. Imports (1926-27) L15, ; exports L17,963,042. Siam is essentially an agricultural country and her exports comprise two main products—rice, teak £747,144 (1926-27). Imports included cotton goods L2,292,638, gunny bags, £777,829, foodstuffs, L2,292,203, metal manufactures, £967,224, and machinery £326,219.

to 1932 the government was an absolute monarchy. The executive power was exercised by the King ad vised by the Supreme Council of State and a Cabinet of 1 o min isters. The Supreme Council of State was an advisory body, created by King Prajadhipok at the beginning of his interrupted reign, and consisted of five princes of wide experience who pos sessed the confidence of the country. It met once a week, was presided over by the King, and considered extremely confidential matters and matters which affected the King personally and the royal family. By a Royal Decree of Jan. a), 1895, a Legislative Council was established, but its functions were taken over by the Supreme Council of State, the Cabinet Council and the Depart ment of Legislative Redaction of the Ministry of Justice. The Legislative Council seldom met but the Supreme Council and the Cabinet Council met regularly.