Directory_and_Chronicle_1910 — Page 1407

NETHERLANDS-INDIA

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After having given the matter a trial at Soekaboemi (since April 1st, 1901) and at several other places in Java the Government resolved to take in hand the management of the pawnshops, with the intention of protecting the native population from the evils they suffer from the present system of farming out those places. In the course of 1908 the total number of pledges delivered at the 88 existing Government pawn- shops was 7,751,794; the aggregate amount of money borrowed being 12,977,880.98 guilders. At the end of 1909 the number of Government pawnshops will be 127, whilst the presumptive future yearly increase will be 39.

The tin mines of Banka are exclusively worked by Government; the management of the exploration, the melting of the ore, and the transport of the tin to the godowns being in the hands of Chinese mining corporations (kongsi's) or of private contractors and their labourers. Of late a beginning has been made with working some of the valleys in "regie." Two private companies hold concessions for tin mines, one in Billiton and the other in Singkep; the first (Billiton) pays a duty for the farming of the mines. The total quantity produced in 1908 by the Government mines in Banka was 12,598,432 kilogrammes, valued at 19,030,227 guilders.

The monetary system of Netherlands-India consists of gold coins of the value of ten 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 f.025, of f.010, and f.005 bearing Malay and Javanese inscriptions, and copper coins of f.0025, (2) cent), f.001 (one cent), and f.0005 ( cent). The issue of Bank notes is a monopoly of the Java Bank. These Bank notes are of the value of f.1,000, f.500, f.300, f.200, £.100, f.50, f.25, f.10, and f.5, and payable to bearer on demand. The head office of the Java Bank is at Batavia, and there are agencies at Cheribon, Samarang, Soerabaia, Soera- karta, Djogjokarta, Pandoeng, Padang, Medan, Pengkalis, Tandjongbalai, Tandjongpoera, Palembang, Pontianak, Bandjermasin and Makasser.

ARMY AND NAVY

The Army of Netherlands-India numbers 1,522 officers, 33,910 non-commissioned officers and men. It is separate from and independent of the Netherlands Army. The Commander is appointed by the Queen. Besides the Army there are different armed troops, viz.:-

a.-The "Schuttery," being guards residing in some of the larger places designed to co-operate with the Army in maintaining peace. These guards number about 2,750 men, mostly Europeans, and a few natives and foreign Örientals. The officers get a commission from the Governor-General.

b.-The Legion of the Native Prince Mangkoe Negoro, consisting of infantry and cavalry, numbering about 800 men.

c.-Barisan, being native infantry of Madoera, 1,400 men, designed to maintain peace in the island. In case of war in other islands they also participate in the campaigns.

d. Dragoon Guards of the Soesoehoenan of Soerakarta and the Sultan of Djog- jokarta.

e.-Police soldiers.

The Netherlands Navy in these Colonies numbers 185 officers and 1,631 European and 1,049 native non-commissioned officers and sailors, and consists of 26 men-of-war, There is, besides, the Colonial Navy, consisting of 19 smaller ships with 116 Europeans and 638 natives, employed for civil service duties.

PUBLIC WORSHIP AND EDUCATION

The Protestant clergymen are appointed by the Queen; they are 41 in number. The Roman Catholic priests are appointed by the Pope and recognized by or in the name of the Queen. The Jews have no rabbis and are so few that in no place have they a synagogue. The Government does not interfere with Mahommedan worship, but pilgrims to Mecca require to take out passports. Chinese religion is as free as all other kinds of public worship.

natives.

The Educational Department sustains a great many schools for Europeans and At Batavia, Samarang, and Soerabaja are schools for higher education; Batavia and Soerabaja have also a school for mechanical engineers, etc.; and Batavia one for craftsmen. There are, further, 148 Government schools (among which are 3 newly- established Dutch-Chinese schools) and 38 private schools in Java, and 44 Government schools (Dutch-Chinese schools) and 2 private schools in the other islands, having on the 31st December, 1908, 26,790 pupils, among whom were 5,603 children of natives and 1,894 children of Eastern strangers. Five public and sixteen private colleges are devoted to the instruction of native schoolmasters, four to the instruction of sons of native officials, and one (at Batavia) to the education of native