Directory_and_Chronicle_1935 — Page 1604

THE EAST COAST OF SUMATRA

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This part of the East Coast of the Island of Sumatra is situated between the Government of Acheen and its Dependencies in the north, the Straits of Malacca in the east, Indragiri (a part of the Residency of Riouw and its Dependencies) in the south, and the Residency of Sumatra's West Coast and of Tapanoeli in the west. It includes a number of States, each of which, under control of the Governor, is ruled by a body known as the "Inlandsche Zelfbestuur", consisting of the Sultan, and his "Rijksgrooten". Tho country is administered by a Governor, 6 Assistant-Residents, 19 Controllers (incl. Gezaghebbers) and 3 Assistant-Controllers. Justice is dispensed by the Court of Justice at Medan, the Landraad of Medan, Bindjei, Tandjung Balei, Tebing Tinggi and Bengkalis, the Residentiegerechten of Medan, Bindjei, Tandjoeng Balei and Bengkalis, the Magistrates, the Landgerechten, and by native Courts or Karapatan. The staple industry of the country is agriculture, and, this being dependent upon imported labour (Javanese and Chinese), the labour ques tion is carefully guarded by a special ordinances. The employer must house his people properly, provide them with medical attendance and food when sick, and monthly payments are compulsory. The question of indentured labour has received great attention in the recent past, resulting in a new Coolie Ordinance which calls for a progressive decline in the proportion of contract coolies to the total labour force employed by estates. At the end of 1933, 94.14% of the labour was free.

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The supremacy of the Dutch Government is based upon political treaties with each of the Princes, in whose hands is left the jurisdiction over their own subjects except so far as relates to the infliction of the death penalty and banishment, and the disposal of land or landed property. Land contracts with Europeans, while made between the ruling prince and the concessionaire, are subject to the approval of the Governor. Mining contracts require the approval of the Governor-General of the Netherland- Indies. In all the States the Dutch Government has bought the right to collect the customs duties and the ordinary revenues. Land revenue, collected by Government officials, is at the disposal of the native rulers and his chiefs. The best known of the States is Deli, where tobacco planting was first introduced, and by which name the whole of the East Coast province is, sometimes designated. Deli, Langkat, Serdang and other tobacco-growing districts, are celebrated throughout the world for their fine silky tobacco leaf, which is specially suited for the outside wrappers of cigars, being at once light in weight and elastic and strong in texture. Next to tobacco, the cultivation of rubber (Hevea Brasiliensis) was developed though it has been con- siderably restricted in recent years. There are also important plantations of tea, palm-oil and hemp.

Very important, also, is the export of fish from Bagan Si Api Apito Singapore and Java.

There is also a considerable export of timber from the islands near Bengkalis to Singapore. The production of paddy, though considerable, falls short of the demand by many thousand bags, which are mostly imported from British India and the Straits Settlements. An important oil industry exists in the north of the district of Pangkalan Brandon. The production is in the hands of the Bataafsche Petroleum Maatschappij. Almost all necessaries of live have to be imported, and a brisk trade between Java, the Straits Settlements, Europe and the East Coast is the consequence.

Medan (Deli), the residence of the principal civil and military officials, is a pleasant little town, laid out in modern style, and administered by a Municipality. It is well provided with schools and hospitals. In the town five European banking corporations -the Javabank, the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, the Nederlandsche Handels Maatschappij, the Nederlandsch-Indische Handelsbank, the Nederlandsch Indisch Escompto Maatschappij have their branches, and there is also one Chinese bank.

There are two hotels (Hotel de Boer and Grand Hotel), a Social Club (Witte Societeit), Racing, Golf and Tennis clubs; also numerous houses of business, Chinesejaja, Japanese, Indian, Malay, Bombay and Tamil shops, etc.