NETHERLANDS-INDIA
C267
ore is found in Celebes; platinum in Borneo; chrome ore in Celebes, Borneo, and Lesser Sunda islés; tungsten in the tin islands; titaniferous magnetite sands in Java and other islands; cinnabar in Sumatra; antimony ores in Borneo and in other parts of the Archipelago, arsenic ores in Borneo; traces of molybdenite in Borneo and Sumatra; small quantities of bismuth in Borneo, Celebes and Sumatra. Iodine is produced from saline springs in Java; sulphur is produced from volcanic mud; phosphates are found in Java and in some other islands; magnesite in some islands of the eastern part of the Archipelago. Salt of excellent quality is made in Madoera and also on some other islands by solar evaporation of sea water. The production of mineral oil in Java, Sumatra, Borneo and Ceram is a very profitable one.
The possession of the soil by the natives is strongly protected by law. As a general rule the ground cannot be sold to foreigners, not even to Dutchmen, nor to their descendants who are born in India. The Government is authorized to dispose of un- cultivated grounds and grant parts of them for a certain period to foreigners (erfpacht.) REVENUE AND FINANCE
The revenue of the colony is derived from different taxes, viz., import and export duties, excise, ground taxes, personal tax, income tax, property tax, corporation profits tax, slaughter tax, licences, succession duties, stamp duties, duty on public sales, trans- fer and assignment duty, monopolies (opium, salt, pawn-shops), mines (tin and coal), forests, railways, mining-and agricultural concessions.
The salt required for the Government monopoly is made in Madoera, where the people deliver it into the Government godowns at a fixed rate per hectolitre and to a smaller extent on Government's salt farms in Madoera and Grisee (residency Bodjonagoro) where the salt is produced under Government management.
The use of opium and the profits the Government derives from the régie system are declining.
The pawnshop-monopoly, is gradually being extended all over the archipelago much to the benefit of the lower classes for which it functions as a banking-system granting the small credits of not less than 10 cents on the collateral of goods against moderate fixed rates of interest.
The tin mines of Bangka are exploited by the Government. Chinese labour is extensively used for working the tinplacers, also for transportation and melting the tin concentrate, and for various other purposes. Some of the placer-diggings are directly worked by the Government; others are operated by European or Chinese contractors under Government control. Electric power is supplied to all the main districts; the smaller districts are worked by steam,
The monetary
monetary system of
system of Netherlands-India for which in accordance with that of the Netherlands the limping standard with free coinage of gold
gold is adopted, consists of gold coins of the value of ten and five guilders, silver coins of two guilders and a half, of one guilder, and of half a guilder (these coins are the same as those in the Netherlands); besides silver coins of ₤.025, and f.0·10, bearing Malay and Javanese inscriptions; nickel coins of f.005, and copper coins of f.0025 (23 cent), f.001 (one cent), and f.0'005 (cent). The issue of bank-notes is a monopoly of the Java Bank. The convertibility of the bank-notes into gold which has been practically suspended since the beginning of the war was restored by the declaration of the Government and the Java Bank in May 1925.
ARMY AND NAVY
The Army of Netherlands-India numbers 1,123 officers, 30,362 non-commissioned officers and men--all volunteers; and 31,270 militia. It is separate from and inde- pendent of the Netherlands Army. The Commander-in-Chief and all the Generals are appointed by the Queen. Besides the Army there are different armed troops
viz.:-
a.-The Legion of the Native Prince Mangkoe Nagoro, consisting of infantry numbering about 960 men. In case of war this Legion is at the command of the Government.
b.-The Barisan, being native infantry of Madoera, about 1,650 men, de- signed to maintain peace in the island and to participate in campaigns in case
of war.
c.—One volunteer-corps.