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Comparison of coast Unes and areas of the Netherlands Indies Europa.

NETHERLANDS INDIES

PUBLISHED BV THE
DIVISION OF COMMERCE, DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE, INDUSTRY & COMMERCE AT
BUITENZORG, JAVA.
 THE NETHERLANDS INDIES.

I. SITUATïON AND POPULATION

Situatio n. The Netherlands Indies are situated

between 6° N- Latitude and 1 1 S. Latitude and be-
tween 95 and 14 T E. Longitude of Greenwichi
south of the Philippines, Indochina and Malacci
and north of Australia.
They form a partition becween the South-China Sea
and the Pacific Ocean on the North, and the In-
dian Ocean on the South.
Taking Batavia as a centre, the distance from there
to:
Naut. Miles Naut miles
Singapore is 532 Port Said 5612
Hongkong ■ 2091 Genoa/Marseilles 7156
Kobe/Yokohama 5164 London \
San Francisco 7613 Amsterdam (
Sydney 3904 Hamburg 9200
Bombay 2696 New Vork via Suez 10345
Calcutta 2164
The maximum breadth from west toeast (from Pu-
lu Web to the Humboldt Bay) is 5000 km. (about 14
days by steamer), which is approximately equal to the
distance from the Westcoast of Ireland till the East-
coast of the Black Sea, or from s' ■>' west of Cape
Mendocino (130° W. L.) to 7° cast of New-York or
2/2° cast of Cape Cod (68C W.L.).

3
 The maximum lengtli from north to south is ZOOG
km., which equals the distance between the White
Sea and Rome or of the line Gettysburg-Watertow.;
in South-Dakota and New-Orleans.

Area, The total area covered by all Uie islai ds of

the Netherlands Indian Archipelago measures about
1.900-322 km.- (190.032.200 H.A. or 733.681 square
miles), which equals about half the size of Europe,
excluding Russia.
The total length of coastline practicall equals the
e.irth's circumference.
Witb the exception of northern Borneo, which bc
longs to England, the half of the island of Timor,
which is owned by the Portuguese, and the Kee-
ling- or Cocos Islands, south of Java, upon which the
Straits Settlements lay a claim (British territory),
the whole of the Malay, or East Indian Archipelago
belongs to the Netherlands.
With these exceptions, the Netherlands Indies
comprise: the Larger Sunda Islands (Java, Sumatra,
Borneo and Celebes); the Lesser Sunda Islands,
which include the long chain of islands situated cast
of Java, viz. from Bali till Timor; the Molucca's or
Spice Islands from Halmaheira till Banda, and final-
iy Western New-Guinea-

Püpulation. The total area of the Netherlands

Indies measures 1.900.322 square km. and is inhabi-
ted by 52.824.569 souls (Census per uk. 1927). The
island of Java, which corrcctly deserves ro be callea

4
„the most precious jewel in the emerald girdle which
encircles the equator" has a population of 234 inha-
bitants per km 2, while the Outer Islands have a po-
pulation of only 8.8 inliabitants per square mile.
The following table shows the area and population
of the four largest islands and of the rest of the Ai-
chipelago.
i
Area Population
Principal Islands (sq. miles) Census 1927

Java and Madura 131.611 37.433.760

Sumatra 471.551 6.640.712
Dorneo 535.638 1.822.426
Celebes ISH.940 3.528.774
Rest of the Archipelago 572.582 3.398.897

'otal Neth. Indies 1.900.322 52.824.569

For administrative purposes the Netherlands Indies

are divided into two mam parts. The first comprises
Java and Madura and the second, the so-called Outer
Islands, i.c. Sumatra, Borneo and the other islands,
an area much larger in extent than Java, but, consi-
derably less densely populated and less important too
from an economie point of view.
According to tr(e preceding statement, the total po-
pulation of the Netherlands Indies amounted to
52.824.569 souls at the end of the year 1927; a table
showing how the population is divided -ccording to
the various groups of which it consists follows here:

5
Btrd's eye view of Borobudur in Central Java.
 Europeans Natives
Foreign
|
, Tütal
I
■ ii
L Orientals
i

Java &
Madura 169.608 ;36 745.527 518.625 137.433.760
Other
islands 38.177 14.818.137 534.495 j 15.390.809
I
total i 207.785 5 1.563.664' 1.053.120 j52.824.569

The chief cities of the Neth. E. Indies are :

Batavia )
Mr. Cornelis \
Sourabaya
• 378.638
255.124
,
inhabitantsofwhich3s.26oareEuropeans

„ „ „ 23.506 „
Samarang 179-079 „ „ ~ 11.885 „
Bandung 144.993 „ „ „ 17.110 „
Surakarta 157.724 „ „ „ 3.214 „
Djokjakarta 107.622 „ „ „ 7.193 „
Macassar 57. 175 „ „ „ 3.590 „
Medan 46.920 „ „ „ 3.516 „
Hea 11 h. The Standard of health in the Nether-
lands Indies may, generally speaking, be considered
favourable for a tropical country. Owing to the fact
that the inhabitants are yet in a comparitively low
stage of development and have few wants, hygiëne is
a strange notion to them so that they are more liable
to catching diseases than such is the case with Euro-
peans and better-educated Foreign Onentals The
death-rate greatly varies according to the district, but

7
 20"/,,,, regarded as an average. The child
can be
death-rate especially, is very high, but there is always
i bigher birth-rate. The average European death-rate
„.
is 8.5"/ (l As a rule, rhe coastal districts are less
wholesome than the hill- and mountain districts.

11. SOIL AND CLIMATE.

Nearly all the islands of the Netherlands Indian
Archipelago are mountainous and to a large extent
volcanic, they number over 300 volcanoes-
Java has a recent volcanic soil of great fertility;
the other large islands are of older rock formation
and less fertile. As a result of rhe important dif-
ferences in the average temperature of the lowlands,
the hills and the mountainous districts, the vegeta-
tion and also the agriculture is extremely vaiied in
these islands. The fertile alluvial lowlands of Java
are for the greater part cultivated, so are the foot
hills up to an altitude of 1500 metres above sea-level
Higher up, the mountain tops are covered with tropi-
cal jungle. The rest of the islands are, for the grea-
ter part, still covered with jungle, swamps or savan-
nahs. The area under cultivation, is, in proportion,
still insignificant, except in Bali and Lombok.
The products cultivated on the highest attitudes in
Java and, in a lesser degree in Sumatra, are cinchona,
tea and coffee and, into the bargain, European vege
tables.
Lower down, in the hill districts, rice is grown, both
on sawahs (irrigated fields) and on dry soil. Further-

8
more orher crops are grown, such as cassava, ground
nuts, tobacco and Indian corn, besides the important
European estate-cultivations: rea, coffee and especial-
lv rubber. The alluvial lowlands in Java are nearly
ennrely covered. in the first place, with nee, besides
sugar cane, maize, tobacco, cassava, swett potatoes,
ground nuts, coconuts, kapok, some indigo and, fi-
nally, native vegetables and fri.it.
In the Outer Islands the are.i under cultiv.ition is
much less important-

C 1 i m a t e. The high mountain ranges, which inter-

sect the islands, spread in all •. 'ivctions, whüe assu-
ming the most fantastic outlines. They affect the
climate very intensely, for this reason it is hardly
possible to generalize the climatic conditions prevai-
ling in these islands. The mam factor is rheir situa-
tion relative to the continents of Asia and Australia.
These continents, situated north and south, cause re-
gular monsoon winds to blow during alternate sea-
sons These winds influence the rainfall, wherefcre,
in the greater part of the Archipelago, distinct wet
and dry seasons occur. The differences in tempera-
ture are insignificant, these are chiefly caused by a
more or les ll covered sky.
Generally the climate is ver-; damp, the maximum
temperature rising till 37° Celsius (98,5°Fahrenheit),
but on some mountain tops it may drop till below
freezing-point. Some of the highest mountains in New-
Guinea are covered with eternal snows. Near the

9
Plougbing rice-ficlds.
coast theaverage temperature during the day is
26.5 C (80° F.), while the average temperature du-
ring the night is about 21° C. (70° F.).
When climbing, the temperature decreases about
0.5° C- per 300 f eet or 1° F. oer 335 feet.
In the lowlands and the lowe hill district?, the mon-
soons affect the climate considerably.
The day-heat is especially trying during the South-
East monsoon, sometimes a thunderstorm will bring
some relief but the nights, on the other hand, are
excellently cool.
The West monsoon is accompanied by heavy rains,
which continue for days and sometimes for weeks,
causing the rivers to flood their banks and swamp
the lowlands. The period of minimum rainfall in Ja-
va is between May and August while the maximr
quantity of ram falls between November and Ja-
nuary.

111. GOVERNMENT.

Politically the Netherlands Indies form part of the

Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Queen and the
States General constitute the highest legislative autho-
rity. Practically, however, this power is restricted to
the laws of constitutional iniportance and laws whi.
influence the economie situation.
With this exception, the Netherlands Indies enjoy
administrative self-government on a large scale. The
suprème control on the executive power is vested in
the Crown. The Governor General rules n the name

11
 of the Queen. He is assisted, both in his legislative
and executive power, by an advisory body, i.e. the
CounciL of the Netherlands Indies; in his adminis-
trative duties by the Chiefs of the Departments of
general administration, whic. together with the Ar-
my-Commander in Chief and the Commander of the
Fleet, form a separate Council of Department Chiefs.
Furthermore a Cabinet, knov. as the General Secre
tary, is acljoined to the Governor General.
Since 1918 a representative body was instituted, cal-
led „Volksraad" (People's Council). consisting of 1
Chairman and 60 members, partly elected, partly ap-
pointed by the Governor General. The Governor Ge-
neral can consult this body on all marters, but he is
obliged to consult it on such matters as the budget,
colonial loans, the projection of laws and general ad-
ministrative measures, exclusively or to a large extent,
concerning the Netherlands Indies. Politically the tet-
ritory, which is under the sovereignity of the Ne-
therlands, is divided into:
1. Directly ruled territory
2. Self-governing territory
The latter consists of self-governing communities,
where native administrative bodies (native monarchs)
enjoy a more or less extensive right of self-govem-
ment-

IV. PUBLIC FINANCES

The Neth- Indies are a corporate body, represented

by the Governor General or by the Minieer o c Colo-

12
nies. The revenues of the State are derived, amongst
others, from direct and from indirect taxes. The most
important direct taxes are: the tax on personal pro-
perty, the income tax, the land tax, the real-estate
tax and the company's tax; the indirect taxes are the
import- and export duties, the excise-duties, the duty
on transfer of property, death-duties and stamp
duties, etc.
Into the bargain, revenues are derived from state
monopolies, such as salt, opium and pawnshops.
furthermore from the Forestry Service, from the
Government gutta pertja- and rubber es'ates, from
tin-, coal- and gold mines exploited by the Govern-
ment and, finally, from Government industries, viz.
railways, the post-, telegraph- and telephone service,
harbours etc.
Until the period when the great war began, the
Government expenditures never exceeded the reve-
nues, whereas the period 1906—1913 had been one
of considerable developmenr. Under the influence,
and, as a result of the normal expansion auring these
years, however, larger credits had been nssigned in
behalf of extra expenditures for commercial traffic,
such as railways, roads, harbours, etc. as well as for
a more efficiënt equipment of Government industries
and monopolies.
The schemes for these various improvements were
executed at a period when prices ruled very high for
all imported goods, causing the expenditures to
exceed the original estimates considerably. These

13
 circumstances, besides other expenditures which were
the result of years of crisis, caused the expenditures
to surpass the revenues, obliging the Government to
issue different loans. The loans and the floating debt
actually amount to one thousand million guilders,
which is by no means excessive, as Government en-
terprises, such as railways, estates, mines ere are
estimated to represent a far higher value.

V. AGRICULTURE.
The Netherlands E- Indies, favoured as they are by
climate and soil, are one of the most important agri-
cultural regions situated in the tropics. In no other
country in the tropics is such a variety of products
grown, nor is the cultivation of crops for export on
such a high level.
It is therefore no matter of surprise that, generally
speaking, up to now agriculture was the principal
factor which contributed to the economical develop-
ment of this country.
In the Netherlands E. Indies one distinguishes two
distinct and separate groups, i. c. the estate md the
native agriculture. The former is characteristic of an
intensive capitalistic agriculrural industry. while the
chief object of the latter is to suppiy the necessary
foodstuffs for the native population.
Europeans and other non-indigenous residents (such
as Foreign Orientals) can only obtain ground for
agricultural- and industrial purposes, according to the
following conditions:

14
1. Leasehold for a maximum of 75 yeais.
2. By renting land from the Government or from
native princes in the so-called „Vorsrenlanden"
(Principalities of Java).
3- By obtaining agricultural concessions f rem the
native self-governing communities ir. the Outer
Islands.
4. Through voluntarily renting of land f;om the na-
tive population, according to legally established
regulations.
5. By taking on lease or purchasing private lands.
On land obtained in this marmer, the large European
agricultural enterprises are established.
The principal aim of native agriculture is to supply
in the wants of the native population. The more or
less accidental surplus gets sold for export.
Nevertheless there are some regions where the native
population applies itself to growing produce, chiefly
destined to appear on the world market, so f.i. rub-
ber and pepper in Sumatra and Borneo, coffee in
Sumatra, Celebes and the Lesser Sunda Islands,
coconuts in Celebes, native tea and tobacco l:.
Java etc.
The important products, grown by natives, are rice,
Indian corn, cassava, rubber, coconuts, pepper, coffee.
tea, kapok, tobacco, sweet potatoes, soja beans,
ground nuts, sugar and different kinds of vegetables-
Rice is the most important foodstuff for the native
inhabitant of the gteater part of the Netherlands
Indies and constitutes the most important erop of the

15
Rubber estate.
entire native agriculture. Rice is chiefly grown on
irrigated fields (sawahs) and this culture has reached
a high level of development in Java, Bali and Lom-
bok, as well as in some regions of Sumatra. During
the year 1928 63-561.725 quintals were produced in
Java and Madura. During the year 1928 the following
quantities of products from native agriculture were
exported:
Value in 1000 gids. Quantities in 1000 Kg
Copra 122.395 514.851
Rubber 82.149 91.543
Coffee 48.211 70.635
Pepper 43.181 24-479
Cassava 31.684 483-430
Tea 22.004 15.608
Groundnuts 19.446 84-300
Kapok 17.832 18.119
Maize 12.950 215.919
Tobacco 5.002 28.774
Nut'megs 4.390 4-2.35
Sugar 3-430 30.913
The European estates apply themselves exclusively
to growing agricultural produce on an extensive
scale for the export trade. The products from these
large estates are sugar, rubber, tea, cassava, coffee,
cinchona, coconuts, cocoa, sisal hemp, and palmoil.
Furthermore, different other products are grown,
though on a smaller scale, for foreign markets, viz.
gambir, spices, citronella oil. coca, vanilla etc.

17
 At the end of the year 1928, 2238 plantations were
in full production in the Netherlands Indies, of
which 1217 were situated in Java and 321 on the
East Coast of,Sumatra. These estates cover a total
area of 1.139.319 hectares, of which 677.552 hectares
are situated in Java.
The sugar industry, carried on in Java occupies
a prominent position among all other cultivations.
Next comes rubber, tobacco, tea, coffee, agava, oil-
palms, cinchona and copra-
A few statistical data concerning the principal Euro-
pean cultivations follow here:
Sugar- In 1928, 178 milis workcd up the erop from
187.471 hectares, viz. 254.987.817 quintals of sugar
cane, which yielded 29.373.759 quintals of sugar.
Rubber, In 1928 there were 1009 estates, of which
543 were situated in Java and 466 in the Outer Is-
lands, mainly in Sumatra. The total plamed area of
these estates covered 222,781 hectares in (
302,865 hectares in the Outer Islands, of which res-
pectively 148,988 and 199,524 hectares were in produc-
tion, yielding 140.821 tons in total. The yield of native
rubber amounted to 91.543 tons in the year 1928.
The area planted with native rubber is estimyted at
750.000 hectares, of which 200.000 hectares a.e pro-
ducing.
Tobacco. There is a marked difference between
Dcli tobacco, which is grown on the eastcoast of

18
Sumatra and which yields the superior Dcli wrapper
and Java tobacco, of fairly good quality although
of a less excellent reputation, which is partly grown
in the province of Besuki, partly in the „Vorsten-
landen". Besides tobacco from European estates, con-
siderable quantities (12.667.612 kg. in 1928) weic
purchased from the native population, the so-called
„krossok". The total erop of plantation tobacco du-
ring the year 1928 amounted to 52.724.622 kg, ga-
thered from 56.503 hectares- The share of Sumatra in
this total was 21-243.452 kg (from 25.380 hectares).

Tea. This product is mainly grown in Java, and es-

pecially in West-Java, but since the year 1911 tea-
cultivation in Sumatra has developed considerably.
Towards the end of the year 1928 there were 320
estates, of which 281 were situated in Java and 39 in
Sumatra with a planted area of respectively 94.170
and 21067 hectares, which, in total, produced 48.006
and 9.248 tons- Native tea cultivation is likewise of
considerable importance, this is especially the case
in West-Java, where the yield in 1928 amounted to
no less than 15.608 tons. Native tea is mainly sold
and worked up in the surrounding plantations.

Coffee- The chief kind of coffee, grown on the

estates, is Robusta coffee (84% of the total produc-
tion), while besides this quality, Liberia coffee and
the highly valued. Java coffee (Coffea Arabica) is
likewise grown. Native coffee gardens mainly occur

19
Tea estate.
in Palembang, south- and west-Sumatra and in north-
and central-Celebes. European coffee planters have
mainly settled in East-Java.
In 1928 there were 401 coffee estates, ot which 115
were situated in the Outer Islands.
In Java the planted area amounts to 97.357 hectares,
of which 76.903 hectares were producing, while these
figures for the Outer Islands are resp. 29.405 and
13.925 hectares. During the year 1928 the total yield
amounted to 125.949 tons, of which 70.635 tons
(56.1%) came from native gardens.

Cinchona- Practically speaking, Java has the

world monopoly of the cinchona production, viz.
91% of the world production.
In 1928 there were 120 estates in Java and 12 in
Sumatra. The planted area measured resp. 17.260
and 2.492 hectares of which 13.405 and 1.627 were
producing and which yielded resp. 8,321 and 1.599
tons of bark.
Owing to the outstanding position, which agricultu-
re occupies in the economie welfare of the Nether-
lands Indies, the attention of the Government is whol-
ly directed towards its further development and a
number of scientific institutions and experiment sta-
tions were established to this end.
A few estates also belong to the Gove>nment, viz,
mainly cinchona, rubber and gutta pertja. Originally
the Government estates were experimenral gardens
worked on the same basis as the private estates

21
 Cattle breeding. Cattle breeding is, generally
speaking, yet on a fairly low stage of development
in the Neth. E. Indies, although the native buffalo,
the „kerbo" as well as the „sapi" (native cow) are
indispensable as draught cattle for the native agricul-
turist. The best cattle comes from the islar>ds of Ma-
dura and Bali, while the island of Sumbawa is
known for its buffaloes.
Dairy cows, for the purpose of supplying milk in the
larger cities, are imported from Holland or Austra-
lia, while f uil breed and indigenous cattle ar. used
j

for breeding purposes.

The native horse is of the pony type and small in
stature- The best kind. is the famous Sandlewood
horse from the island of Sumba and the other islands
of the Timor archipelago. The most draught horses
come from the island of Sumbawa. Carriage horses,
race-, hunting- and army horses are imported ir small
numbers, from Holland or Australia.
The live stock, at the end of the year 1928, consis-
ted of:

Horses Cattle Buffaloes

Java & Madura 248.125 3.532-495 2.125.030
Outer Islands 458.372 873.413 1.149-027
Total 706.497 4-405.908 3.274.057

F i s h e r y. Sea-fishery is carried out by the native po-

pulation all along the coast of the Archipelago, al-

22
though in two spots only, fishery was able to develop
to an extent as to assume the character of an important
industry, viz. along the western coast of the straits
of Madura in the neighbourhood of Surabaya, and at
Bagan Si Api Api on the Eastcoast of Sumatra, at the
mouth of the Rokan river in the Straits of Malacca.
Along the north coast of Java, rearing of sea-fish in
ponds is done on a large scale. This line of trade is
especially carried on in the neighbourhood of the
larger cities, such as Batavia and Surabaya. For the
greater part this business is in hands of the Chinese.
It is principally „bandeng", a fish, somewhat akin
to herring, that is reared in this fashion.
In the same marmer, rearing of fresh water fish in
ponds is practised in the interior of the country es-
pecially in the Preanger province, where between two
crops, goldfish are reared on the irrigated rice-fields
and „guramee", a labyrinth fish, in ponds specially
arranged for this purpose.

Forestry. In Java, where every bit of ground is

used for agricultural purposes, it has been deemed
necessary, in connection with the hydrological nature
of the soil, to prevent further deforestation by la.v.
The other islands, on the other hand, ac, w;rh the
exception of some large areas under cultivation, near-
ly all still covered with primeval forests.
Another striking difference between the forests in
Java and those of the Outer Islands, is that the for-
mer consist nearly exclusively of extensive teak fo-

23
Teak forest.
rests, while the latter contain a wealth of different
tree-varieties.
The teak forests in Java, which cover an area of 7-679
km-, are mainly found in the lower hill regions oc
Central- and East-Java (until 600 metres above sea-
level).
The forests in the Outer Islands yield a large vane-
ty of produce, the most important being damar, co-
pal and other kinds of gums, rattans and v. ild gutta's.

VI. MINING AND INDUSTRY.

Mining. In the soil of the various islands many
mineral treasures are hidden.
The principal mineral deposits are petroleum, coal,
tin, gold and silver, but many other minerals are
likewise found in more or less large quantities, such
as nickel, iron, manganese, wolframite, copper, pla-
tinum, diamond and sulphur.
Sumatra is richest in petroleum, coal, gold and silvei,
while iron and manganese ore are found in transac-
table quantities. Tin, as well as wolframite, are only
found in the islands of Banka and Billiton, as well
as in a few islands of the Riouw Lingga Archioe-
lago. Borneo is rich in coal and petroleum, while its
soil also hides diamonds, platinum and gold, sl-
though the latter precious metals are found in small
quantities only.
In Celebes considerable deposits of nickel and iron
ore have been discovered. Gold and silver mines are
in full process of exploitation. Copper too proved to

25
 be present, although not in remunerative quantities.
Java yields petroleum, and this may be called the
most important mineral product of the island- Al-
though manganese ore and iodine also occur in Java,
the quantities available are insignificant from a com-
mercial point of view.
The coal mines in Sawah Lunto (Ombilin mines),
as well as the Bukit Asem mines, both in Sumatra,
and the Pulu Laout mines on the island of the same
name on the Eastcoast of Borneo are managed by
the State.
In Sumatra, the State has likewise undertaken to ex-
ploit the gold- and silver mines, while the most im-
portant mining industry of the State is the tin indus-
trv in the islands of Banka and Billiton- In the lat-
ter island the Government enterprise is carried out
jointly with a private concern.
By far the most important private mining industry is
the extraction of petroleum, carried out on an exten-
sive scale by the "Royal Dutch" with all its affiliated
companies in Sumatra, Borneo, Ceram and Java,
while the „Netherlands Colonial Petroleum Compa-
ny" also works several fields.
In Sumatra, as well as in Celebes yet another
number of gold- and silver mines are found, which
are worked by private companies, while in Borneo
a few private companies own coal mines. The tin
mines in the Riouw Archipelago also belong to pri-
vate companies. All other riches of the soil, among
which marble and building imaterial, „tras" or natu-

26
ral cement, and chalk are extracted from the soil bv
private concerns.
The following figures will show the production of
the different mines during the year 1928:

Government enterprises.
Coal 1.002.918 tons
Gold 345 Kg-
Silver 23.368
Tin 21.827.837
Private concerns:
Gold 3.084 Kg-
Silver 39-835
Tin 13.812.995
Petroleum (crude) 4.307.773 tons
Coal 700-556
Industry. Generally speaking, the Netherlands
Indian industry is still in a stage of development. But
agricultural industries, such as cune-sugar, rubber,
tea, cinchona, oils and cassava products; the petro-
leum and tin industries, machine repair works and me-
tal construction, a cement factory, a paper milï, the
alcohol- and arack distilleries, the varnish- and paint
works, the tin packing and triplex chest works, the
soda water- and lemonade factories, the ice facto-
ries, soap factories, the printing offices, the cigar-
and cigarette factories, and a few important brick-
and tile works, the sulphuric acid- oxygen- and fire-
work factories and a few large tanneries etc. have

27
 reached such a stage of development, that they de-
serveto be placed on equal lines as similar indus-
tries in western countries.
The only branches of industry, carried out by the
native population, which cater for export trade are
the hat- and battick industries.
Millions of plaited hats of native manufacture are
yearly shipped from Bantam and the Preanger
Regencies to all the markets of the world. The bat-
tick industry, in the first place, supplies the bulk of
local requirements, but the battick eentres of Bata-
via, Central- and East Java also ship considerable
quantities of batticks to the Straits Settlements, Siam
and British-lndia.
Other native industries are brick- and tile works, pot-
teries, tanneries, coconut-oil milis and yet several
other industries of minor significance. Besides the
European and the essentially native industries one
distinguishes yet a third category, carried on by Chi-
nese and minor European industrial concerns. These
include rice-mills, chiefly in Chinese hands, lime
kilns, cement tile factories, cabinet work-shops (al-
so practically exclusively in hands of the Chinese) "re.
Of great importance to the future and further de' e-
lopment of the industry in the Netherlands Indies
is the Government activity in tracing and making
use of the waterpower in these islands. According to
a rough estimate, about 6-6 million H. P. are actual'y
available in the Archipelago. This power is divided
as follows:

28
Java about 600000 H.P.
Sumatra „ 2.000.000 „
Celepes „ 1.000.000 „
Borneo „ 2.000.000 „
Other islands „ 1-000.000 „
Total 6.600.000 „

At the beginning of the year 1928 the total genera-

tive power of 201.400 K.W-, was divided as follows -
Water- Calorie Total
power centrals

ublic Electrical Works 5.700 44.400 50.100

jovernment enterprises 45.500 25.800 71.300
rivate industries 20.000 60.000 80.000

Total 71.200 130.200 201.40(

L a b o u r. Incontrast with the densely populated is-

land of Java, where the labour supply exceeds the
demand, employers in the Outer Islands are compel-
led to recruit the necessary hands from Java, and
partly even from abroad (China), in order to provide
in the want of skilied labour.
VIL COMMERCE, BANKING AND CREDIT
SYSTEM.
The trade of the Netherlands East Indies is directed
to fairlv all parts of the world. The products of these

29
Tbc "Kali Besar', the commercial centre of Batavia,
islands find a market nearly everywhere, and in turn,
the Netherlands Indies import goods from manv fo-
reign countries.
The trade of this country bears the stamp, peculiar
to a colony, viz. the exports mainly consist of raw
materials and wholesale articles of consuription,
while the import-trade consists of a considerable va-
riety of finished goods. In these islands wholesale
trade is mainly in hands of Europeans. Trade is in-
ternational, but it is natural that the mother country
has a considerable advantage over foreign countries,
although Holland is closely foliowed by England,
which country is even ahead of the mother country
as far as some products, such as tea, rubber and su-
gar are concerned. Retail trade is largely in hands
of chinese dealers, but Europeans, Armenians, Arabs,
British-Indians, Japanese and natives also take an ac-
tive part in it. Generally speaking, however, the na-
tive element takes a small share only in the commer-
cial activities of these islands.
Native trade, properly speaking, yec stands on a very
low level, being nearly exclusively restricted to retail
trade carried on in the native „passars" (markets).
The different groups of wholesale-, retail- and com-
mission business which share mutual interests, have
organizcd themselves in different associations with
a view of prptecting these common interests. In the
first place the „Trading Associations", which repre-
sent wholesale trade, deserveto be mentioned These
are established in Batavia, Samarane, Surabaya, Ban-

31
 dung, Macassar, Medan, Padang, Manado, Palem-
bang and a few other commercial eentres of lesser
importance.
Besides these purely private organisations, th= Cham-
bers of Coimmerce and Industry are the official link
between Government and private commercial con-
cerns. The Government organisation, whose task it is
to advise private trade in the interest of the commu-
nity is the Division of Commerce of the Department
of Agriculture, Industry and Commerce, established
at Buitenzorg. On request, this Division supplies any
one interested, with all desired information regar-
ding the commerce of the Neth. Indies, while it also
acts as an intermediary in establishing new commer-
cial connections. This Division likewise issues diffe-
rent publications in English, French and other lan-
guages.

Import and Export Duties. These du-

ties are of a purely fiscal nature- The import du-
ties are rated at resp. 6, 10 and 12% of the value,
according to the classification of the goods con-
cerned. Export duties on field produce are dependent
on the selling prices which are periodically estimated
and published at the beginning of every quarter of
the yeat.
Petroleum and petroleum products are dutiable,
while excise duties are laid on alcoholic beverages,
kerosene, volatile petroleum compounds and matches.
Banking. The bank of issue of the Netherlands

32
East Indies is the Java Bank. The bank is conducted
as a limited company with a paid up capita! of
9.000-000 guilders.
Besides the Java Bank, there are yet a few other
banks, dutch as well as foreign, in the Netherlands

--
East Indies. These dutch banks are chiefly agricultu-
ral banks, which means that rhey either own or are
largely interested — in estates, or again they have busi-
ness relations with them, based on so-called consign-
ment contracts. this system, estates are
granted a credit, on condition that the crops of the
are transferred to the bank to be sold on con-
estates
signment.
The most important of these banks are the Nether-
lands Trading Society, the Netherlands Indian Com-
mercial Bank and the Colonial Bank. These banks,
however, same as the Neth. Indian Discount Bank,
carry on the usual banking business.
Foreign banking institutions, having branch offices
in the Neth. Indies, are the Chartered Bank of India,
Australia and China, the Hongkong & Shanghai
Banking Corporation, the Yokohama Specie Bank,
the Bank of Taiwan, the Mercantile Bank of India
Ltd. and the Mitsui Bank-

VIII. TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION.

The majority of ships — viz. about half the tonnage

— ply under dutch f lag, but nearly all the flags of
33
The "New-Holland" and "New-Zealand" of tbc K.P.M. (Java-Australia line).
the most important sea-faring nations are seen in
Neth- Indian waters on their Oriënt routes.
Of the foreign ships, the British are by far in the ma-
jonty, next come the German, the Norwegian, the Ja-
panese and the American steamers. Shipping traffic
to the Netherlands East Indies is chiefly carried on
by regular lines, although the islands are also fre-
quently visited by tramp steamers- The share of the
principal sea-faring nations in the traffic to the Ar-
chipelago during 1928, with steamers as well as by
motor-driven ships, was rer:pectively:

In ot
7o
1000 M 3 ') |
Holland 13.832 43.91
Great-Britain 11.205 35-57
Germany 2.279 7.33
Norvvay 1.205 3.82
Japan 1.066 3-38
United States of America 725 2.30

P o r t s. The installation and equipment of the chicf

ports have kept pace with the development of ship-
ping. Actually the principal large ports come up to
all the requirements exacted by present day shipping.
The ports in Java are efficiently connected with the
commercial, producing and consuming eentres in the
') 1 MJ = 0.353357 B. R. T.

35
 interior by a system of railways, canals and ordinary
roads.
Rail & Tr amwa y s. Of all the islands belonging
to the Netherlands-Indian Archipelago, Java has the
most extensive rail- and tramway system, vï?. 5-437
km., next comes Sumatra with 1.773 km. and Celebes
closes the rear with a tram line, covering a distance
of 47 km.
In Java, a part of the railway net belongs to the
State, the rest is operated by private companies. In
Java the State Rail- and Tramways cover 2.922 km,,
while the tram line in Celebes is likewise a Govern-
ment exploitation. Of the private railway companies
in Java, the Netherlands Indian Railways Co. is the
most important, their total net covering a distance
of 261 km. of rail- and 602 km. of tramway line.
In some regions, where it would come too expensivt
ro build a rail- or tramway connection, motorbus
services have been established.
In Sumatra one distinguishes three different regions
where railway Unes were built, viz. South- Central-
and North-Sumatra.
These three separate systems have not yet been con-
nected, although schemes in this direction are in
course of preparation. The total length of State lines
in Sumatra measures 284 km. and 2050 km. of tram-
way line. The total length of the Dcli Railway Com-
pany, a private enterprise, is 439 km.
The following table offers a survey of the receipts in
passenger- and goods traffic during the year 1928:

36
 Passen- Baggage Parcel s
(1000 (1000 Goods
gers
(1000) kg) kg.) (1000 kg.)

itate Rail- &

Tramways 58.995 34.687 35.911 9.777.593
sleth. Indian
Tramway Co 14 792 5.105 9.492 3.272.698
Deli Railway
Company 6 910 3.788 2.546 1 029.694
)ther Tramway
Companies 63.643 1.762 1.255 3.962.721
Total 144.340 45.342 -
49.204 18.042.706

Java and Sumatra can boast of an excellent system

of hard roads. Practically speaking, there is no place
of any importance in Java, which could not be
reached by motorcar over a good road.
Owing to the hilly nature of the island, many of
these roads display magnificent views, so that Java

.
may be called an ideal country for touring by motor-
car. On the extensive island of Sumatra there are also
excellent roads, although they are not all connected
like in Java. Vet most of the isolated districtscan
be reached by motorcar. Medan and Padang are con-
nected by a magnificent motor road, which, as it in
turn leads through the wild mountain scenery of
Central Sumatra, and through the cultivated icgions
of Dcli and Tapanuli, offers a variety of vista's of
incomparable beauty.

37
 In Sumatra and Borneo the number of large navig-
able rivers,which run deep inland, make up for the
lack of roads, while the fantastic coast of the island
of Celebes, with deep ingoing gulfr., is mainly visited
by coastal traffic.
On the smalier islands there is a more or less exten-
sive road net which amply suffices local needs.
In Java, the upkeep and the extension of the roads
are entrusted to the Provinces; in the Outer Islands
this work is committed to the care of the local coun-
cils and self-governing comimunities, which partly
provide the funds, while the remainder is supp'ied by
the Government.
In Java, Sumatra, Borneo and Celebes various road
systems have been planned and are under construc-
tion since 1912. Of the total sum estimated for this
pui-pose, amounting to 215 million guilders, 70 mil-
lions had been spent on uit. 1928.

38
TRADE STATISTICS

39
SHARE OF THE NETH.-INDIES IN THE
WORLD PRODUCTION OF
THE YEAR 1928,
 TRADE STATISTICS

Wich the cxception of the year 1921. when the imports exeeeded the
exports, the trade balance of the Neth. Indieshas always been a favourable
one as may appear from the foregoing graph. The following table displays
the figures for the years 1920, 1924 and 1926 up to and including 1928:

Unit 1000 Guildcrs

IMPORTS
1920 1924 1926 1927 1928

For private account

A. |ava and Madura
Goods 819.353 466.527 535.635 546.792 628.606
Gold and silver bul-
lion and coin 64.325 3.786 22.329 16.494 15.303
B. Outer Islands
Goods 306.051 211.742 329.669 324.940 345.943
Gold and silver bul-
lion and coin 831 1.422 7.199 8.378 1.662

Total 1 191.060 683.477 894.832 | 896.604 991.514

For Government
account
A. |a\a and Madura
Goods 100.975 16.872 23.641 26.283 28.023
Gold and silver bul-
lion and coin 11.050 100 5.200
B. Outer Islands
Goods 7.738 3.037 5.416 4.197 5.481
Gold and silver bul-
lion and coin 2

Total 119.765 19909 29.157 30.480 38.704

Grand total 1 310.825 703.386 923.989 927.084 1.030.218

42
 Unit: 1000 guilders
Exports
1920 1924 1926 1927 1928
J_
I
For private account
A. |ava and Madura
Goods: 1.504.594 900.585 743.303 806.809 846.520
Gold and silver
bullion and coin 4.422 11.638 9.401 7.709 147

B. Outer Islands
Goods: 726.712 630.020 825.IXX) 818.166 741.099
Gold and silver
bullion and coin 3 77 572 1.427 27

Total 2.235.731 1.542.320 1.578.366 1.634.111 1.587.793

For Government
account
A. fava and .Madura
Goods: 3.137 344 910 1.201 376
Gold and silver
bullion and coin 477 1.800 912 1.643
B. Outer Islands
Goods: 12.787 15.802 18.357 69
Gold and silver
bullion and coin — 1.320 1.778 1.638

Total 3.137 14.988 20.290 22.108 2.088

i i
Grand total 2 238.868 1.557.308 1.598.656 1.656.219 1.589.881

[n the following tables survey is givcn of the share of the different

,i

countries of origin and in the commercial traffic with the

destination
Neth. Indies during
includiiu) 112.Sll '2.S
l
the years 1920. 1922. c>24 and 1926 up to and

43
 IMPORTS

1920 1922 1924 1926 1927 1928

Countrk's of orkjin
°/o 11 „ »„ % o/o
Holland 23.6 22.6 19.5 17.8 17.5 18.1
England 18.5 14.7 14.6 12.5 12.3 12.6
Singapore 11.2 13.8 16.2 14.5 13.8 11.6
Qermany 3.3 6.6 6.9 9.1 9.3 10.9
U. S. America 14.6 4.6 6.6 8.7 10.8 10.2
fapan 12.0 8.3 9.9 9.6 10.5 9.9
China and Hongkong 3.5 4.4 4.5 2.9 2.8 2.6
British India 1.6 3.9 5.4 6.2 4.9 4.8
Australia 3.2 4.3 3.1 2.9 2.9 2.7
Sweden and Norway 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9
French Indochina & Siam 1.8 5.1 5.0 4.6 2.3 4.2
France 0.5 0.8 1.1 1.1 1.4 1.2
Belgium 0.6 0.7 1.3 1.4 1.9 1.9
Italy 0.7 1.5 1.8 2.0 2.1 2.2

EXPORTS

1920 1922 1924 1926 1927 1928

(lountries ol destination
O/o % ".n o/o 11 n

1 lolland 15.9 15.9

15.9 19.1 16.6 17.5 16.7
Singapore 12.3 19.4
19.4 17.6
17.6 22.7 22.0 19.3
England 6.5 5.3
5.3 7.6 10.1 9.6 8.1
Germany 0.4 1.5 1.5 1.9 2.1 3.0
U. S. America 13.4 8.4 9.5
9.5 16.0 13.3
13.3 12.8
British India 9.7 6.8 9.6 8.6 10.0 11.1
[apan 6.3 10.2 7.3 5.4 5.8 3.6

Australia
I
China anti [ongkong 7.5
4.6
7.6
4.7
7.7
2.5
5.0
2.3
5.1
2.3
7.0
3.2
Sweden and Norway 2.3 0.1 1.0 1.1 0.3 0.4
French Indochina and Siam 0.5 1.0 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
France 0.9 3.3
3.3 4.8 3.4 3.4 4.4
Belgium 0.7 0.2 0.6 0.3 0.7 0.8
Italy 1.3 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.8

44
 In conclusion, a survey of the values ofimports and exports of some of the principal articles and
products during the years 1920, 1922, 192-4 and 1926 up to and including 1928 are given.

Percentage
Imports (in thousands of guilders) of total
Articlcs exports in
1920 1922 1924 1926 1927 1928 1928
i
Piecc goods. all kinds 366.278 182.804 187.422 213.215 217.079 234.053 24.67
Riee. husked 38.340 74.920 63.649 96.816 66.808 82.860 8.74
Machines and spare parts 78.220 44.658 41.667 64.289 68.096 82.162 8.66
Provision. all kinds 58.464 60.690 61.987 73.840 77.900 79.388 8.37
Iron and steal 126.998 37.744 47.993 60.924 64.386 67.977 7.17
Cigars. cigarettes and
tobaeco 29.615 35.087 38.649 35.270 34.730 33.636 3.55
Automobilesand spare parts 35.938 8.138 10.021 26.164 26.274 32.842 3.46
Manure 48.344 16.246 21.650 19.354 23.134 24.174 2.55
Bevcragcs. beer, wine and
spirits 22.374 15.168
11.278
12402
10.674
15.657
13.286
16.505
15.326
17.761
16.949
! 1.87
1.79
Chemicals and medicines 14.535
Paper and stationary 21.259! 8,887 10.082 16.795 13.104 16.580 1.75
Flour 8.254 10.529 8.654 11.648 12.410 13.731 1.45
Yarns, all kinds 11.269 8.822 10.815 14.101 12.123 12.497 1.32
Automobile- and other tires 12.655 6.946 5.629 8.841 10.077 12.387I 1.31
Earthenware 8.698 7.949 8.367 9.709 9.652 10.804 1.14
Habcrdashery 11.054 8.324 10.341 8.296 9.782 9.829 1.04
Paints and crude paints 11.208 6.258 7.947 8.950 9.822 9.690 1.02
Milk 5.526 7.287 6.095 7.873 8.584 9.347 0.99

45
46
Exports (in thousands oi' g uilders) Percentage
Products of total
exports in
1920 1922 1924 1926 1927 1928 1928

Sugar and molasses 1.050.136 270.861 491.053 269.642 365.310!

— T
375.807 23.84
Rubber and gutta pertja 194.936 89.419 202,625 484.896 421.053 278.421 17.82
Petroleum products 302.113 324.905 157.253 176.154 149.916 144.073 9.14
Copra 92.847 81.471 97.411 96.981 73.083 106.491 6.75
Tea 39.526 40.725 93.579 82.454 90.224 98.210 6.23
Tobacco 170.243 77.262 123.630 72.868 113.926 95.568 6.06
Tin and tin-ore 64.749 50.943 80.947 89.698 93.861 87.641 5.56
Coffee 50.980 41.467 65.580 70.276 74.376 81.394, 5.16
Pepper (incl. cubebs) 14.100 12.727 20.675 24.685 25.345 42.870 2.72
Tapioca products 16.134 14.846 22.978 15.160 23.661 33.7831 2.14
Oils (essential and fattyj
incl. palmoil 72.477 4.836 9.876 16.230 16.139 28.472 1.81
Kapok 14.312 16.833 19.674 17.814 20.282 19.462 1.23
Fibres (Agava sisalana etcj. 9.201 8.959 15.954 14.930 17.968 17.757 1.13
Hides 12.669 8.034 10.543 13.178 16.067 14.646! 0.93
Timber (incl. teak) 5.074 1.868 3.488 6.436 9.067 11.55!) 0.73
Gums (copal, damar) 10.480 5.741 7.457 9.282 9.911 10.131 I 0.63
Ground nuts 2.518 4.495 6.180 9.588 7.306 8.889 0.56
Rattan and rattan sticks 10.641 6.579 8.263 7.535 8.520 7.732 0.49
1 [ats 1.680 1.505 2.298 2.358 2.404 7.618 0.48
Areca nuts 7.542 2.264 3.368 2.965 4.334 7.282 0.46
Cinchona bark and
quinine. 28.650 13.280 14.718 j 9.599 7.274 7.099 0.45
DISTRIBUTION BV COUNTRIES OF
THE EXPORT-PRODUCTS FROM
THE NETHERLANDS-INDIES
DURING 1928.
VALUE OF PRINCIPAL PRODUCTS IN TOTAL
EXPORTS FROM THE NETH.-INDIES DURING 1928

TOTAL VALUE OF EXPORTED PRODUCTS

F. 1.576.580.000 = 100 %
GRAPH SHOWING VALUE OF IMPORTS, EXPORTS
AND BALANCE OF TRADE OF THE NETHERLANDS
INDIES FOR THE YEAR 1905- [928
(1.000.000 GUILDERS).
 TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Page
I. Situation and population 3

11. Soil and climate 6

111. Government 10
IV. Public Finances 16
V. Agriculture 20
VI. Mining and Industry 24
VII. Commerce, Banking and Credit System. . 30
VIII. Traffic and Transportation 34
Trade Statistics 39
Comparison of coast Unes and areas of the Netherlands Indies and the United Stater of America.
 Imformation on all matters concerning
the commerce of the
NETHERLANDS INDIES
May be had from
THE DIVISION OF COMMERCE
(of the Department ofAgriculture, Industry & Commerce)
at BUITENZORG

Publishcd by the
Division of Commercc
of the
Department of Agriculture,
Industry and Commercc
at Buitenzorg.
(DE UNIE JAVA)