, 1912-08-21
THE CONDITION OF DUTCH GUIANA.

THE CONDITION OF DUTCH GUIANA.
Count @. Fl. Bentinck, Second Secretary
IN I'M. Legation at the Hague, in his report
on the ira e Of the Netherlands for 1910-11,
remarks that i'll the speech from The Throne
1T was stated that measures were being con
sIderod for improving the financial and eco
uomic condition Of Surinam cor Dutch Gui-
ANA. The colony is not prosperous and q
certain depression displayed itself which was
due to the disappointing results both of the
railway enterprse-the centre of so many
hopes-as well as of banana cultivation. The
balata industry has been doing better this
last year. The special Commission, which
the Minister of the Colonies promised the
Chamber should proceed to the spot in order
to endeayour to find a means for improving
the financial and economic condition of the
colony, was appointed in March 1911. Their
report, together with their recommendations,
was published in November.
They considered the condition of the colo
ny to be unfayourable, but with an energetic
population and the cO-operatIOn Of a wise
government, they did not despair of prevail
ing conditions being improved. The colony
cost the mother country about CPS, 900 per
annum, and it would be a long time, they
considered, before it would be self-support-
ing. They recommended certain education-
al, and administrative Ieforms. Expenditures
might be reduced by aboIishing HE military
garrison, which would, in any case, be insult
tclent to ward off a foreign attack. In order
to restore the equilibrium between revenue
and expenditure, they considered that either
fresh taxation or increased taxation must be
prescribed or else the Legislature should re-
fuse to sanction certain items Of expenditure.
r., 4h, nhi,;,, ~ ~, : "
tuIe would form The principal resource of
the colony for many years to come, and for
this reason they considered certain changes
necessary in tins connection. Immigration
should, they thought, be encouraged, With a
view to improving the quality Of the labour-
es and permanently increasing the Bcanty
population.
The Commission considered the retention
OF the banana industry to be of Importance
TO the colony, and they recommended the
Government to encourage it. Sugar planta-
tons have not prospeled since the abolition
Of slavery, owing.to the DEAFNESS OF iabour.
The Commission found that only five sugar
plantations had been able to maintain them.
selves. The results obtained in these had
been fairly satisfactory of late. Favourable
results were hoped for from the growing of
Liberian coffee. Greater care would have TO
be devoted to the cacao industry. The Min
lister of the Colonies informed the Chamber
that many Of the recommendations Of the
Commission would have to be consid cred III
the colony itself. The attention of the Gov
elnor was being specially called to certain
points.
The economic condition Of CURACAO suffer
ed considerably from the drought, and these
unfayourable conditions had q paralysing eff
feet upon foreign trade. The straw hat in
duetry developed favourably, and everything
was being done. the Minister of the Colonies
informed the Chamber, to further its interests.
Those who hoped that the Government would
proceed with the exploitation of the Santa
Barbara phosphate mines during the past
,eur had been disappointed. Two experts
were sent to the colony to report as to whe-
sher the further exploitation of the mines