Directory_and_Chronicle_1930 — Page 1495

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PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

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for Philippine hats, the manufacture of hats is a profitable industry. Philippine hats are made from native materials such as bamboo, buntal, buri, sabutan and pandan.

The minor industries of the Islands include shipbuilding, foundries and machine oshops, the making of shoes, soap, matches, salt and pots, besides the aerated water and mineral water factories, Among the potential industries are the cement, leather, button, glass, perfume, starch, caustic soda and coir mat industries.

THE LABOUR MOVEMENT

The economic development of the Philippines has brought in its train the formation of many trade unions, organizations and mutual benefit societies for the protection and advancement of labour's interests and for mutual help. The first labour organization established in the Islands was "Union Obrera Democratica” (Democratic Labour Union) on February 2nd, 1902, in the city of Manila. Subsequently, the formation of labour organizations was given greater impetus as the workers were stimulated by the success attained in dealing collectively with their employers in their demand for higher wages and better working conditions, until at the end of 1923 a total of 120 such organizations with a paid membership of 150,000 were in existence in the whole Archipelago, the majority of them being located in the city of Manila. In the Philippines there are three national labour organizations controlling the majority of trade unions and other organizations, viz., Congreso Obrero de Filipinas (Labour Congress of the Philippines), Federacion del Trabajo de Filipinas (Federation of Labour of the Philippines) and the National Confederation of Tenants and Farm Labourers of the Philippines.

TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS

The bulk of overseas shipments are made from the port of Manila, although other smaller ports also have direct connections with foreign ports. The most important of these are Cebu, Iloilo and Zamboanga. These and the other smaller ports now open to foreign trade are growing in importance. They possess good harbour facilities, are well protected from storms, and vessels drawing 30 feet or more can load and unload alongsids their wharves with perfect safety. Nearly a thousand inter-island vessels are now operated in the coastwise trade.

Manila, the capital and chief port of the Islands, is on the largest bay in the Orient. The harbour at the entrance of this bay is landlocked. The anchorage space for steamers is protected by a semi-circular break water within which is a basin large enough to accommodate all vessels of the size of the "Empress" liners. Regular steamship lines are maintained between Manila and Hongkong, Amoy, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, Cadiz and Australian ports.

There are at present 1,272 kilometres of railroad car-lines in the Philippines. They are owned by two companies-the Manila Railroad Company, which is owned by the Government; and the Philippine Railway Company. In Manila and in the province of Rizal, electric car service is maintained by the Manila Electric Company, the total extent of its lines being 88 kilometres.

Next in importance to railways in the domestic transportation of the Islands are motor vehicles. Many private individuals and companies authorized by the Public Utility Commission are engaged in land transportation both for passengers and freight.

The construction of good roads open to all kinds of traffic in different parts of the Islands has been properly attended to by the Philippine Government during the past 20 years.

There are at present two cable lines and one radio communication service in operation between the Philippines and foreign countries. Zamboanga is in radio communication with stations in North Borneo. The increased need for better and more extensive facilities for internal communication has been met by the rapid extension of telegraph and telephone lines, submarine cables, radio system and mail service.

Experiments have been made recently with aviation as a factor in the mail and passenger service, both domestic and foreign.

BANKING AND COINAGE

With the exception of the Philippine National Bank, which is a Government-con- trolled institution, the banks are privately owned.