Directory_and_Chronicle_1909 — Page 1546

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NETHERLANDS INDIA

Diamonds are found in Borneo, gold in Sumatra, Celebes, Borneo, and Timor, silver in Sumatra and Borneo, copper in Java, Timor, Celebes and Borneo, iron in Celebes, Sumatra, and Borneo, tin of excellent quality and in large quantities in Banka, Billiton, and Singkep, and of inferior quality in some other islands, lead in Sumatra and Borneo, zinc in small quantities in Java and Sumatra, coal in Borneo, Sumatra, Java and in Batjan, jodium and naptha in Java, saltpetre in Java, marble in Java and especially in Sumatra. Salt of excellent quality is produced in Madoera and also in the other islands, by evaporation of the sea water. Kerosene oil is produced in abundance in Java, Sumatra, and Borneo, and gives enormous profits.

The possession of the soil by the natives is strongly protected by law. As a gene- ral 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).

On the 31st December, 1905, the stock of cattle in Java and Madoera consisted of 2,186,993 buffaloes, 2,654,461 other horned cattle, and 363,974 horses (ponies).

REVENUE, FINANCES

The revenue of the colony is derived from different taxes, viz., export and import duties, excise, ground tax, licences, poll tax, succession duties and stamp duties, the rent of farmis (opium, gambling-houses, pawn-brokers' shops, etc., etc.), monopolies (opium, salt, pawnhouses), tin mines, forests, railways, mining, and agricultural concessions, the cultivation of coffee, and sundry petty articles. In former years the cultivation of coffee was the principal source of revenue, but of late years there has been a constant decrease. In the residencies in Java (except Batavia, Bantam, Cheribon, Rembang, Soerabaja, Banjoemas, Soerakarta and Djokjakarta), where the ground is suitable for the cultivation of coffee, a certain number of natives are obliged to plant every year a number of coffee trees, to take care of the plantations, to dry the fruit, and to deliver it into the Government godowns. They are therefore free of ground tax and receive a renumeration at the fixed rate of fifteen guilders per picul.

In Java and Madoera (except Soerakarta, Djokjakarta and the district of Grobogan, residency Semarang), in the Government Sumatra's Westkust, the residencies Tapanoeli, Benkoelen, Lampongsche Districten, Palembang, Djambi, Oostkust Sumatra, Banka en Onderhooringheden, and the assistent-residency Billiton, and in the residencies Zuider-en Oosterafdeeling van Borneo, and Westerafdeeling van Borneo, private persons are not allowed to make salt.

In all those districts the import of salt is forbidden, except of fine table salt, salt for medical use, mineral salt and salt wanted for packing preserves, the import of which salt is allowed on payment of a duty. Rough salt may be imported in the ports Sibolga and Baros (Tapanoeli), Djambi, Tandjoeng Pandan (Billiton), and in the residency Oostkust van Sumatra, also on payment of a duty.

The salt wanted for the Government-monopoly is made in Madoera, where the people are obliged to deliver it into the Government godowns at a fixed rate per kojang (1680 kilogrammes).

In the Government-manufacturies of Kalianget and Krampon the salt is pressed into brickets of constant weight and dimensions, which are delivered to the consumers at fixed prices.

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After a trial in Madoera (since September 1st, 1894), Lombok and in four residencies of Java, in 1898 the Government resolved upon taking the management of the opium monopoly into its own hands and to sell the drug on the system of a régie" to the population without the intermediation of farmers. The "régie" has since been in force in Java, Madoera, and in the residencies Lampongsche Districten Benkoelen, Ternate en Onderhoorigheden, Banka en Onderhoorigheden, Palembang Menado, Bali en Lombok, Tapanoeli and Zuider-en Vosterafdeeling van Borneo, the Government Sumatra's Westkust and the Government Celebes en Onder- hoorigheden. In Bantam and the Preanger-Regencies, the sale of "regie" opium is, however, only allowed in some places. In regions where the "régie" is introduced the sale of opium otherwise than by "régie" is prohibited. The Resident grants to certain persons a permit to open certain houses where the opium can be smoked. It is forbidden to keep a stock of opium not derived from the "régie" and the monopoly of the Government is strongly protected by penalties. The revenue of the opium monopoly was calculated for 1907 at 21,692,271 of which 17,969,552 are from the "régie."

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