Arthur Meek Pountney

Arthur Meek Pountney CBE CMG (30 December 1873 – 14 November 1940) was a British colonial administrator who served for many years as head of the Treasury of the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States.

Early life and education Pountney was born on 30 December 1873 in Reading. He was educated at Reading School and University College, Oxford where he graduated in mathematics.

Career in 1896, he joined the civil service of the Federated Malay States as a cadet. After studying Cantonese in Canton, he returned to Malaya and served in the Chinese Protectorate department in Singapore, Perak and Selangor, dealing with the affairs of ethnic Chinese residents. In 1910, he oversaw the census in Singapore as Superintendent of Census in addition to his other duties.

In 1913, he joined the Treasury department and rose to the position of Colonial Treasurer of the Straits Settlements. During the First World War, he served as Collector-General of War Tax receiving the appreciation of the Secretary of State of the Colonies for his services. In 1921, he was appointed Financial Adviser to the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States.

In addition to his role as Financial Adviser to the governments of the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States, he served as a member of the Executive and Legislative Councils, and a member of the Federal Council. He also served as chairman on various committees including the Advisory Committee on Opium, the 1923 Committee, the Municipal Sinking Funds Investing Committee, and acted as Collector of Stamp Duties, Straits Settlements. He retired in 1926.

Personal life and death Pountney married in 1904 and he and his wife Nora had a daughter. He died in England on 14 November 1940, aged 67. and was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1923 New Year Honours.