Directory_and_Chronicle_1920 — Page 1402

1

NETHERLANDS-INDIA

1287

In the Government manufacturies of Kalianget and Krampon the greater part of this salt is pressed into briquettes of constant weight and dimensions, which are delivered to those who hold the monopoly in some of the Residencies at fixed prices.

After a trial in Madura, in some Residencies of Java, and in the isle of Lombok the Government in 1898 resolved to take the management of the opium monopoly into its own hands and to sell the drug on the system of a "régie" to the population with- out the intermediation of farmers. Since 1913 the "régie" has been in force in the whole Indian Archipelago, except some parts of the Residencies of Amboina and Ternate en Onderhoorigheden. Everywhere the sale of opium, otherwise than by the "régie," is prohibited. In some parts of the colony the use of opium is forbidden to everyone, in other parts it is only allowed to people who have got a license for personal use, elsewhere it is permitted without a license to one or more categories of the popula- tion and for the rest prohibited to everyone who has no licence. The consumption of opium may only take place either at home or in licensed private smoking places (divans). The monopoly of the Government is strongly protected by penalties. The revenue of the opium "régie" was calculated for 1918 at 30,052,860 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 in the future, beginning in 1921, to take in hand the management of the pawnshops, with the intention of protecting the native population from the evils they suffered from the old system of farming out those places. This applies also to the other islands of the Indian archipelago. In the course of 1918 the total number of pledges delivered at the 352 existing Government pawn- shops was 44,816,078; the aggregate amount of money borrowed being f.116,904,358.90 with a calculated revenue for 1918 of 9,080,093.34 guilders (net). At the end of 1917 the number of Government pawnshops was 338.

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 1916 by the Government mines in Banka was 238,124 piculs net 14,706,538.24 kilogrammes, value 29,041,603 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 guilder (these coins are the same as those in the Netherlands); besides silver coins of f.0 25, and f0-10, bearing Malay and Javanese inscriptions; nickel coins of f.005, and copper coins of f.0025 (2 cent), f.001 (one cent), and f.0'005 (cent). Moreover, the Govern- ment issues currency notes of f.2.50 and f.1. 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, f.100, f.50, f.40, f.30, f.25, f.20, 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, Semarang, Soerabaja, Soerakarta, Djogjakarta, Bandoeng, Malang, Padang, Kostaradja, Medan, Bengkalis, Tandjongbalai, Tandjongpoera, Palembang, Pontianak, Bandjermasin, Makas- ser and Menado.

ARMY AND NAVY

The Army of Netherlands-India numbers 1,417 officers, 39,868 non-commissioned officers and men--all volunteers-and 1,200 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 Nagară, consisting of infantry numbering about 950 men. In case of war this Legion is at the command of the Government.

b. The Barisan, being native infantry of Madoera, about 1,500 men, designed. to maintain peace in the island and to participate in campaigns in case of war.

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. These guards number about 2,000 men, mostly Europeans, and a few natives. The officers get their commissions from the Governor-General.

d. Volunteer-corps.

e. Police soldiers, numbering 9,000 men.