Directory_and_Chronicle_1939 — Page 1676

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EAST COAST OF SUMATRA

The European taxable population is, estimated at 25 per cent. less than in 1930, and the labour force on estates at 167,892 coolies, whereas it was formerly as high as 320,000 The retrograde movement howevers has ceased and more coolies are being brought from Java than are being sent back. It is of interest to record that the gradual abolition of the penal clauses in the agreements of indentured labourers has worked smoothly, and free labourers now amount to more than 95 per cent. of the total force. Estates are no longer reducing their European staffs, and in some cases young assistants are being brought out from Europe.

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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.

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Very important, also, is the export of fish from Bagan Si Api Api-to 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 life have to be imported, and a brisk trade between Java, the Straits Settlements, Europe and the East Coast is the consequence.

Medan (Deli), the Capital of Sumatra, and the residence of the principal civil and military officials, is a pleasant little town, laid out in modernstyle,, 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), Deli Yacht Club, Racing, Golf and Tennis clubs; also numerous houses of business, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Malay, Bombay and Tamil shops, etc. Medan is a regular port of call on the K. L. M. air route Amsterdam- Batavia.

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The port of Belawan Deli, at the mouth of the Belawan River, is in communication with Medan by road and railway, the lines of which extend a long distance up country, giving also communication via Tandjoeng Poera and Pangkalan Brandan with Koeta Radja (Atcheen) and to the south via Tebing Tinggi, with Tandjoeng Balei (Asahan), Koeta Penang and, via Pematang Siantar, to the west with Sibolga, Fort de Koek, Padang, Korintji. Improvements and extensions to the road system are being carried out by degrees. Other important ports are those of Pangkalan Brandan, Tandjoeng Poera, Tandjoeng Balei, Bengkalis, Bagan Si Api Api and Laboean Bilik and Pakan- baroe. There are Wireless Stations at Medan, Bengkalis and Bagan Si Api-Api. Brastagi and Prapat, the former nearly 5,000 feet above the sea level and the latter on the shores of the Toba Lake are popular holiday resorts with modern hotels where golf, bathing and riding may be enjoyed.

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