LIFE IN JAVA BEFORE JAP OCCUPATION

Chronicle (Levin), 13 April 1946, Page 6

LIFE IN JAVA BEFORE JAP OCCUPATION

With the Indonesiah question still unsolyed, and with New Zealand weleoming to her shores Dutch men; women and children who for years past have been incareerated in Japanese internment eamps, it may be interesting to recall something of life in Java, as Lt was prior to Japanese occupation. The Dutch East Indies form a vast archipelago lying on both sides of the equator. The little country of Hollandis searcely a freckle on tlie broad face of Europe, but tliese Indies are certainly a big patch on that „of the South Pacifie Oeean. They support approxi-. wately 60,000;000 people, of. whom twothirds are centred in the fascinating island of Java. ' - ' Lying as it does in the track of all the regular winds of the Pacifie aAd Indian Oceans, Java was from the earliest times the objeetive point of sailing routes and migration. Malays, Chinese and ' Hindoos held sway untii the 13th century. Then came the Arabs, followed • by the Portuguese, while the Dutch migrated there at .the close of the 16th century. Tlie Hindoos taught the natives rice culture, which requires irrigation and much patient toil, and the Arabs, Portuguese and Dutehmen earried' on the tradition of htird work, tlius building up dividends for themselves and incidentally promoting the prosperitv and population of t!ie Javanese. The Java of prewar days wa's a land of modern cities and towns, railroads, telegraiihs, schools and some of the best roads in the world. The Japanese have destroyed many of tliese amenities and a considerable restoration programme lies ahead. The civil service of the Dutch East Indies is probably the most cultured and reniarlcable in the world. The Dutch official who wants to rise in the colonial service has to be a graduate oi the public schools and completo a special university course. He must, in addition to being an expert in his own kuiguage, be abie to speak English, French, Gernian and at least two of tlie uative languages of Java, oue of which must be the Malay tongue which is the most commonly used. ' The system of government is based on 'tlie native government, the native nobles and chiefs ruling the people by tlieir own laws, with tlie Dutch ollicials as finn advisers beliind tliem. There are a number of provinces or residencies, each of which has its native. oflicial with the Dutch ,Govemor or Resident. Under these residents there are assistant residents, controllers and clerks, all of whom have their native counterparts. Native oflicials are also well edueated and with diiigence and aptitude can Keceive and have received the highest appointments in the government service. Education is provided for by missionary schools, government schools j and private schools, but so tliat its j value will be fully appreciated by the | recipient it must be paid for at rates ! varying with the t}riie of scliooi attendi ed. Dutch, Javanese, Chinese and other j uationals were to be seen at all tliese [ schools as well as at the universities, j being edueated with 110 elass or race distinction. Uufortunateiy the Japanese banued all forms of education and three to four valuable years have been , lost in the .education of those. children attending schools when the Jap interfered with tlie welfare of the Dutch East Indies. There arq three main tribes amongst the teeming millions of Java, the Bundanese, Aladurese and tlie Javanese, and their various customs and laws ! have been retained and blended by the i Dutch oMeials in the superyision of their government. The Chinese have proved themselves to be the most astute business people and the larger retail business liouses were found to be Chinese-controlled. When the Japanese arrived, those who sent home money for Free China were promptly interned along with the [ Dutch, while others against whom the Jap could hnd no evidence of sympathy with the Chinese cause, were permitted to continue the even tenor of tlieir richly prolitable ways. The few hundred Japanese that were in the country were almost invariably photographers or hairdressers, many of whom were at a later date recogn-ised as leading their companies and battalions tkrough Java. The chief crop of Java is rice, although colfee, sugar and quinine plantations represent an enormous investment of Dutch guilders. ■ The vast majority of the inhabitants are engaged in agricultural pursuits and are not particularly interested in educatiouai advancenicnt. For years past the ludonesiaus have liad equal rights with the Dutch and other residents of tliese Indies, as is evidenced by their iuclusion in- the Distriet, Provinciai and National Governments. The Japanese have certainly used tlieir years of occupancy to create distrust in the. eyes of at least some Indoncsians, . and when eveutually the present trouble has subsided and sanity returned, oue can only hope tliat the solution will prove benefieial to Java and that its previous development and progress will continue for the conimon good.