THE ISLAND OF JAVA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40036, 7 December 1929, Page 3

THE ISLAND OF JAVA.

AN INTERESTING ADDRESS BY MR. ALFRED SEIFERT.

There was a record attendance at the Foxton Lunch Club’s Christmas meeting held in Whyte’s Hotel on Thursday to hear Mr. Alfred Seifert’s address on “Java.” POPULATION AND RACIAL CHARACTERISTICS.

The island of Java, said Mr. Sei'feit, was Situated north of Australia and in size compared with the South Island of New Zealand. Its population however, was in the vicinity of 40,000,000, comprising cliiefly three distinct races, Indians and Malays and natives of the Island who had been in occupation long 'before the invasion of the other peoples. There were also some half a ndllion Arabs which was very surprising, but this was attributed to the fact that over a thousand years ago many Arabs left their native country and settled in Java owing to religious differences. The Arab population was held in high respect in the Island and practically the whole population had adopted the Mohammedan religion. The visitor to Java was able to distinguish quite a difference in the physique and temperament in the Javanese people, while travelling through the island. In one part they were very thin and scarcely never smiled while in an* other part they had a more robust appearance and appeared far more genial and happy. The Arabs were very enterprising and carried on a good deal of trade, but the principal tradespeople were Chinese, many of whom were' vex*y wealthy. In one part he visited a -large citronella and rubber purifying factory belonging to a Chinese. The Island, however, was controlled by whites and belonged to the Dutch. This was somewhat remarkable in view of the fact that although the population of the Island comprises some forty million people only 176,000 were whites. This was quite in keeping with what the traveller found in other parts, however, for in India there were only 200,000 whites while Ceylon possessed 8,000 only. In fact there wore less than one million white people in the whole of the Tropics. Climatic conditions were perhaps chiefly responsible for this fact because where the climate was found favourable Europeans were usually found to multiply very rapidly. Java, however, was by no means an unhealthy country. It was the reverse and strange to say despite the fact that it was only about 8 degrees south of the Equator sunstroke was practically unheard of there. Very little notice was taken of a person who went about without a topee, in marked contrast to such a person strolling about in Ceylon. Although it was very hot there the sun did not appear to ’have the same effect on a person’s nncovered head. At nights it was impossible to sleep Avith more than a sheet coAmiang the body. There was A r ery little variation in temperature between summer and winter, but the seasons Avere marked by wet and dry periods, the Avet season being so Avet that certain Avorks Avere often held up. INTENSE CULTIVATION. It is a. remarkable fact, said Mr. Seifert, that despite its forty millions of people, Java lives on what it produces alone, Avith the exception of a little rice. The Avhole of the Island is cultivated and presents the appearance of a Avell-kept vegetable garden. Seven million acres are devoted to rice cultivat ion alone, the rice plants first being cultivated in seed beds and then transplanted into fields knoAvn as “Paddy Fields.” It was a common sight to see twenty or thirty men and Avomen working in these fields planting out the rice which was all equally spaced out and carefully cultivated. Irrigation in rice growing was essential and the country AV.as levelled and terraced about every hundred yards or so. Wide Hood banks Avere constructed around the areas Avith a suitable out lei. The highest (terrace was then Hooded and the Avater released from this area on to the next and so on, it being discovered that rice grew best where it was sown in a few inches of water. After a year or two of such cultivation it- Avas .found, that water grass made its appearance and (the rice lands Avere then spelled or cropped with something which did not require so much Avafcdr until the Avater grass disappeared, it then being put baclk into rice once more. Although these seven million aoges were devoted solely to rice cultivation it was still found necessary to import rice to meet the wants of the Javanese and a considerable quantity of this commodity came into the country from Rangoon, approximately eleven per cent, of the country’s requirements being so imported. THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. Jajva exported two million tons of sugar annually and had 450,000 acres of sugar-producing' country. Refining Avas not carried on to the same extent as it was in N.Z., and the Javanese Tsugar Avas somewhat slightly darker in colour but many people claimed that the commodity was better than the more refined article. One hundred and eightytwo mills supplied the output and in connection Avili this industry the Government of the country took a very paternal interest in those concerned. They legislated that no mill could commence operations without the permission of a Board set up for the purpose of seeing whether such a mill could operate . without infringing on the lights of any other mill as the Government considered it Avould be uneconomical for mills to start all over the country. Every mill was confined

!o a certain area and while the nuller Avns thus protected the Government did not overlook the grower, li stipulated the price that was to be paid by the miller to the groAver for the mine and as a. result the industry nourished and the output was pushed up to two million tons per year. The cane Avas taken to the mill by light two-foot guage trams AA r hich in some cases extended for as far as 20 and 30 miles into the country. SISAL PRODUCTION.

'Sisal Avas grown with success in Java but Sumatra produced the greatest quantity among the islands. Years ago a strong company took up the matter of planting sisal in the Dutch East Indies, of which Java is the largest island, end the industry has now extended to Sumatra. The latest figures shoAved that Sumatra was iioav far ehead v of Java in the production of this commodity. Mr. Seifert said be had been particularly anxious to have a look through the Javanese plantations and mills or decorticating plants as they are called in the islands, but it is an invariable rule among those concerned in the industry in those parts that no stranger be alloAved anywhere near the mills or plantations. In fact, so strict is the GoA r ernment that all white employees have to sign up that they Avill not divulge 'anything that they see or sketch any of the machinery used in the factories. A member of-the Industrial and Scientific Research Committee of N.Z. Ailio recently visited the island in connection with the industry Avas no more successful than Mr. Seifert had been in having a look into the process. It Avas almost certain hoAveA'er, that the Javanese treated the fibre with some chemical bleaching system as it AA r as far ahead of that from Yucatan or other parts. The fibre Avas held in very high esteem by manufacturers avlio considered it most reliable. KAPOC.

Kapoc Avas possibly one of Java’s most important exports. JaA r a practically held a monopoly of the Avorld’s trade in this respect which had not even been affected by the War. In fact prices were even better after the Avar than during it. Kapoc grew on trees forty to fifty feet high and picking operations were not carried on without some difficulty. TEA EXPORT. The Javanese claimed that they produced the best Indian tea in the Avorld, but Mr. Seifert could not vouch for that. The island exported a great deal of 'tea, a consider - nble quantity of which went to Australia. Excluding China, JaA’a claimed to have the third largest area of land devoted to tea cultivation in the Avorld. RUBBER.

Rubber Avas another important export although this industry Avas chiefly carried on in Sumatra, the Celebes and part of Borneo. Some time ago, said Mr. Seifert, the British (rubber groAvers entered into V.n arrangement whereby they 7 decided to limit the output of rubber in order to keep the prices up. They asked the Dutch growers to fall in line, but this they refused to do. The British went ahead with disastrous results to themselves. The limited output kept (the prices up and the Dutch went on producing lubber as hard as they could and making' the most of it Avhile the prices were good and so increased their trade that they rivalled the British. The British then cancelled the arrangement only to he asked by the Dutch to consider an arrangement to limit ithe output. This they in turn, refused to do. INTERESTING TO THE TOURIST. Mr. Seifert said that Avhile in Java he. motored all over the island and was 'able to have a good look lound. To do this, hoAvever, it Avas first necessairy to procure the ser- \ ices of a guide and in this respect they were particularly fortunate. 1! was necessary for such a person to speak three languages but their guide was capable of conversing fluently in eleven different •Longues so that they had uo difficulty in that respect wherever they went. The hotels differed considerably from the European ones. The bathroom, while perfectly sanitary, was of unusual construction. It usually contained a large container filled Avith water. The guest stood on a concrete ffoor and for a bath poured Avater over himself out .of a dipper tilled iu the container. Of fruits there Avas a great variety, all of which Avere tropical. Hot springs v ere to be found on ‘the island in which the traveller could bathe. Goat lighting Avas a popular pasttime among' 'the natives and was not without, interest to the tourist. Java was famous for its orchids and Mr. Seifert spent a most interesting time iu one of the large .gardens Avhere be saw orchids in almost every conceivable shape and form. One of the most interesting places on the island was an ancient temple which for hundreds of years lmd lain concealed, hut which now iiad been unearthed aud was one of the principal places of historical interest. It had been construe • led long before the Mohammedan in\usion and at that time was evidently concealed by the priestß of the day'*who covered it with wood, branches and earth and for years it remained so concealed. To-day it w_as considered one of the finest buildings in Java and the East Indies. The Government did not give very much attention to the educa-

tional welfare of the natives possibly on Ithe score that education might cause discontent. The country itself was chiefly mountainous* the Dutch East Indies being noted for its volcanoes. The large craters in Java caused the farmers a great deal of concern . They filled

witli Avater Avhich became impregnated Avith mineral properties and every iioav and again a volcano avould discharge this mineral water which would pollute the rivers and irrigation channels for a considerable distance causing havoc with the crops and in some cases taking a toll of lives. Engineers Avere at present contemplating tapping these craters by means of tunnels and drawing off the mineral Avators to ensure the safety of crops. The .towns in Java. Avere not as large as one would expect Avhen the population of the country Avas considered. The biggest town did not exceed a population of 300,000. Agricultural pursuits Avere chiefly carried on Avi'th very little manufacturing. Mr. Seifert mentioned a strange thing in connection with Java. The military, lie said, had for 1 ' years tried ito breed their horses in the country but despite the fact that they procured the largest boned and best bred animals from Australia for the purpose they could not produce an animal of any stamina. The progeny were all Aveakly and small boned. The authorities, after years of trying had iioav given up any attempt at breed jug' and imported theitr horses annually from Australia. Mr. Seifert advanced the theory that the experience gained in horse breeding pointed to a. mineral deficiency in the soil. In certain parts of NeAV Zealand phosphates Avere essential to the soil for the successful breeding of sheep. 'Taking the people as a Avhole, said the speaker, they did not look properly developed. They had small faces and physically had the appearance in many eases of having stood still at the age of about fifteen. He did not think this a, as due in any way to hereditary or racial defects but to some deficiency in their food which prevented them developing properly combined with the hot. climate.

The Dutch managed Java admirably said Mr. Seifert in conclusion, and ithe people were quite happy and content. Indeed N.Z. could take a lead from them in regard to its flax industry and exercise that same strict caution as the Javanese did in regard to ite mills and plantations AVhile the Javanese theory that overlapping in an industry was not in its best interests could well be adopted here in regard to the dairy industry. The co-operative system adopted in this country certainly got over the dairying difficulty to a certain extent but it was quite a common thing to see several lorries in competition Avith each other for the collection of cream travelling down the same road on the same day. The freezing Avorlks of this country had certainly suffered from overlapping.