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JAVA TO-DAY

"ARABIAN NIGHTS" FORTUNES

A vVINTERLESS EDEN-GOOD TO GET OUT OF "'Java," says Mr. Byron Ilrown, of Wellington, who lias just returned from that country, "fe tho most populous and important island of the Dutcli East Illdies. No larger than '/lie North Island of New Zealand, it holds a population of about forty millions. Only 60,000 of these are Europeans, mostly Dutcli, with

a good sprinkling o£ the high-toned commercial Britfeher. Tho island is at present a welter of wealth, producing, as it does, all tho tropib commodities that have been bringing such high prices during the war and up to the present. Most of its imported wares are made in Germany, and its laws are made in, Holland. Its local administration is in the hands, wvjhout let or hindrance, of i.fj? European manufacturers and merchants. • Wo New Zealand merchants are credited with knowing something about profiteering, but/ our puny knowledge pales into insignificance beside that of the British, Dutch, and Chinese commercial men of Java. "Stories are told of colossal for;iunc9 piled up in tho last few war years that remilid onp of the tales from the 'Arabian Nights.' A sugar company with a caphhl of one million paid, last year, in dividends over six millions. Chinese speculator in rubber, tea and coft'ce aro credited with making vast fortunes iin one j'oar, Tho biggest merchant firm in Java is British-owned and managed. Its'activities extend far and wide and its enormous profits concentrate into the pockets of three Britishers. Sugar costs 5 cents per lb. ;kt produce; it is rotated at 50 cents (10d.). Malay labour is paid 50 to 60 cents per day, but it doesn't cat sugar. All the cities of Sho Dutch East Indies are celebrated for three things—prices, perfumes, and profiteers—and they are all 'high.' "In Batavia, a muddy, filthy canal flows through the town. All dnv long scores of Malay women stand waist deep in thfe fluids washing the visitors' clothes. IrV? odours are 'spicy' enough, but not like the. 'spicy breezes that blow soft o'er Ceylon's isle.' The hotels aro well conducted and foirly sanitary, but, like Mr. Toots's tailor, "'very stylish b\i( very dear.' Twenty guilders (.£2) per day is quite moderate. The traveller hears about congestion, and cables for a room. He arrives and drives up in ■

nil confidence to be shown his apnrtmonft only to bo told that th?re arc no reservations. Ho hih'es his taxi by the hour and drives the length of the perfumed canal, crosses it « few times, calling at all tho hotels of lesser degree. 'House full, why didn't vou cable?' is tho only You »o back on your tracks and by olTerin" a bribe to the clerk, who got your cable, a room is secured, or, failing this, you accept hospitality, at high rate.?, in a dirty' boardtug-houso overlooking tho canal— no extra charge for the view. One is apt to .ilhink it is the Ohiro Jfomo transported to Batavia, but as all the aged needy beg in the streets by day. and doss in the parks night, the first impression wears off in time. These old men and women are marvels of repulsiveness. Noses eaten away, feet or toes half cone, naked bodies full of sores and the ribs protruding. The British, Dutch, Chinese, and a host of 'lesser breeds without the law' drive by in fine motorcars and choke' with dust i tlieso lesser humans who inhabit tli's. so-called. wwdrSiy' Java. Java is boasted of by the Dutch as the rihhest country in the world.

"A rich country can only be judged by its wealth per head of population, and if we took ifie ocononrc way, and divided Java's wealth l.w its fortv millions of people, we would nrovo it tho poorest spot on God's earth. The cities of the Dirhh Fast Indies are all alikedirty, stinking, teemilng, and unsanitary. No attempt has been made at townplanning They have just hanpened. and Iheir extensions will go O" lwinening until the crank of doom. The Dutch are piling up n lot of trouble for themselves in tho production of half-castes. Thwe number move than the European populf/ion, and some dav they will lead a revolt against the economic inequalities. The Malay 'king' of Java is a pensioner of the Holland Government He is kept quiet bij a yearly payment, and allowed to keefl up some form of <om'r. sta-'fr as a mock king.

"These islands attracted buvers of merchandise from all parts of the world during the war. jand up (ill two months ago. In June last, rlh? Americans were swarming in Batnvin mid Surabaya. They were offerim fitbulon* orices to nntliuy. the other fellow, and these enterprising' commo'cial T "en led the precession everywhere. But one fine day in June each one got a cable: 'Cease opc-irai'i' l ons immediately, return.' America woke up to find she was suffering from over-production, a slump was at hand, and she was recalling her buyers. That slump is on now, and Java, with tho rest of us, i? going to suffer a commercial "reaction.

"Java is much advertised as a tourist' resort. It really is a beautiful island and has sights worth seeing, but its climate is unbearable. There is no winter; just a wet nnd a dry season. The heat never lets np on von. Night and day iijio same temperature; the same blazing sun, the same' hazy atmosphere, the same windless nifehts nnd days, the same filthv sights and smells. Every Britisher is loneimr for the day wheoi he will have money enough to get out. Clerks in mercantile offices get ,£■loo to ,£GflO per year. Chinese are eniploved because they can't eet enough Britishers or Dutchmen. The boat I travelled by took a few New 7<enlnnders who had been tempted bv high wages, and had i'aken billets :n offices. They were under contract, or would have returned by the next steamer. Malaria gets tho newcomer unless he is very careful and temperate.

"The rank tropic growth is everywhere except on the high mountains, hut tho malaria-carrying mosquito is übiquitous. Motoring is ideal. The roads are many, vared and good. The eternal palm shades njliom, and thei nuick motion, w'Thou'l tho wind-screen, is the only respite from the heat that the traveller gets. The railways are well managed and not too expensive. They run well to time-table, but always stop when night falls. All the worlc is done by Malays: engineers, gusrds, poVers and even stationmastoTs. No white man engages in manual labour in the Dutch. East. The Malays do everything nnd do it very cheaply and fairly efficientlv. To tho intending visitor to Java. I doi not say 'don't.' let him provide suitable tropic, clothinn for his partv. screw his courage to the sticking roint and be prepared to nerspire until there is nofiling left of him but his sins."

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19200901.2.79

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 290, 1 September 1920, Page 8

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,147

JAVA TO-DAY Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 290, 1 September 1920, Page 8

JAVA TO-DAY Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 290, 1 September 1920, Page 8

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