Directory_and_Chronicle_1917 — Page 1508

NETHERLANDS-INDIA

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is prohibited. The Resident grants to certain persons a permit to open certain houses where 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 régie was calculated for 1915 at 25,239,472 guilders (net).

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 1915 the total number of pledges delivered at the 313 existing Government pawn- shops was 34,636,918; the aggregate amount of money borrowed being f.75,897,419.35 A At the end of 1914 the number of Government pawnshops was 298.

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 1913 by the Government mines in Banka was 254,611.20 piculs = 15,724,788 kilogrammes, value 38,865,386 guilders.

The monetary system of Netherlands-India 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 tuilder (these coins are the same as those in the Netherlands); besides silver coins of f.025, gnd f 010, bearing Malay and Javanese inscriptions, nickel coins of f.005, and copper aoins of f.0025, (2) cent), f.001 (one cent), and f.0005 ( cent). The issue of Bank notes co a monopoly of the Java Bank. These Bank notes are of the value of f.1,000, f.500, is300, f.200, f.100, f.50, f.25, f.10, and f.5, and payable to bearer on demand. The head f.ffice of the Java Bank is at Batavia, and there are agencies at Cheribon, Samarang, Soerabaja, Soerakarta, Djogjakarta, Bandoeng, Padang, Medan, Bengkalis, Tandjong, balai, Tandjongpoera, Palembang, Pontianak, Bandjer masin, Makasser and Menado.

ARMY AND NAVY

The Army of Netherlands-India numbers 1,763 officers, 38,730 non-commissioned officers and men. It is separate from and independent of the Netherlands Army. The Commander in Chief and all the Generals are appointed by the Queen. Besides fhe Army there are different arined troops, viz.:—

a.-The Legion of the Native Prince Mangkoe Nagară, consisting of infantry and cavalry, numbering about 800 men. In case of war this Legion is at the command

of the Government.

b. The Barisan, being a native infantry of Madoera, 1,556 men, designed to maintain peace in the island and to participate in campaigns in case of war.

These

c.-The "Schuttery," being national guards residing in some of the larger places- designed to maintain peace and to assist in case of insurrection, danger, or war. guards number about 3,500 men, mostly Europeans, and a few natives. The officers get a commission from the Governor-General.

d.-Volunteer-corps.

e.--Police soldiers, numbering 9,000 men.

The Netherlands Navy in these Colonies numbers 258 officers and 1,990 European and 1,341 native non-commissioned officers and sailors, and consists of 31 men-of-war. There is, besides, the Colonial Navy, consisting of 27 smaller ships with 202 Europeans and 990 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 Governinent does not interfere with Mahom medan worship, but pilgrims to Mecca require to take out passports. Chinese religion is as ree as all other kinds of public worship.

The Educational Department sustains a great many schools for Europeans and natives. At Batavia, Samarang Soerabaja and Bandoeng are schools for higher education. Batavia and Soerabaja have also a school for mechanical engineers, and one for telegraph operators and postal officials, etc.; and Batavia one for craftsmen. There are, further,