Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-04-16
TAXES FORD TO TA<k

TAXES FORD TO Tt$k
Editor HCnolu.u StaTBulletin,
Sir: With reference to the Hrtlc!a
headed "FCrd Gives Promotion Ad-
vice to the JaVaneSe Tourist Bureau,
appearing in your edition OF SatuT-
CAV. April II, to some Of the informal
ticn given in this article respecting
Java / beg to take exception. as be-
ing incorrect aid misleading. ttaI-
ing lust returned from a four months
tour through Java. studying the pPo-
pie and conditions, my personal knOwL-
edge is such as to lead me to believe
that the article in question was wit
ten with lack Of knowledge CT con
dit;Cns.
Ford states. the Javanese tourist
bureau has but $4,000 year to spend
on boosting Java" He evidently is
net aware of the fact that every party
organized or directed by this bureau.
y a tour of the island, pays indirectly
no per cent to the official tourist
bureau, on hotel bills. carriage fares.
etc
there are some. the managers of which
Uniformed me that they would not pay
the 10 per cent to the official tourist
bureau and therefore not any tourists
were sent to them. This in some
measure explains why Herr Director
informed Ford that you could not get
people to work together in Java Ford
says, NO one knows who the head
of the Jayanese tourist bureau IS, for
he is not permitted to let his name
so out On the literature. Most charm
ing modesty indeed On the part OF the
Dutch government that thus conceals
its identity, but generously erects
pawn shops and opium kits in every
little native village throughout the
whole island. some places | have
noted right next to each other. where
| the six gulden a year taxed 20 cents
dav coolie, may after~a days work
in the Shiny paddy field. pawn his
paltry trinkets for a pipe or two OF
opium. Becoming modesty indeed!
Methinks Ford somewhat Skinned
the surface Of this island in obtaining
his facts and figures as / shall en-
neavor to show. He states that his
suggestions to the director of the tour
list bureau at Batavia, were energetic.
With knowledge of a personal inter
: view with Herr Director before my
/ mind he would need to be. The idea
Of any one suggesting a FLYER to the
Herr Director causes me to shudder,
and wonder that they-the Javanese
tourist bureau--did not seize upon this
! flying DISPENSER of ways and means
and bury him in rice tafel.
Ford states that they having ref
erence to the Royal Packet Company,
charge So for 40-bour trip between
Singapore and Batavia" Thirty-five
dollars in u. S. currencytis S7h gulden
in Dutch money, while a Cancelled pas
sage ticket in my possession not
three months old, shows the rate to
be ITO gulden, or little over $40.
/ quote from the literature of the
Javanese tourist bureau:
NOTICE.
"The attention of tourists is drawn
to the fact. that the official tourist
bureau for Java is in no way bust.
ness or money concern.
There is no banking, no expedition
Of luggage, no selling of tickets, no
procuring of guides, no ordering Of
hotel rooms, etc.
THE sole object is increasing the
tourist traffic to Java and making a
tourists stay as pleasant as possible.
by giving good. reliable and impartial
information. free of charge, verbal or
by letter"
The good, reliable. impartial infor-
nation consists of directing you to a
hotel which will take care of the 10
per cent The sum and substance Of
the matter is that the Dutch govern
ment aims to own and control every
thing that looks like money on the
island
A common feature in every native
village is a building with a sign,
Government Pand HuiS" (DaWn shop)
in the Dutch, Malay and Javanese
languages The government also main
tains stores for the sale of curios and
articles Of native manufacture-places
practically maintained by the pur,
chases of tourists.
l The only theaters are the moving
picture shOws-the BiOscOpe-here
again yCu are confronted by the YER
Satilc Mein Herr Of tho Dutch govern
ment and the tax Of 10 per cent must
be paid in addition to the admission
! fee before you may enter
4 scene rises wildly before my
mind of an evening spent at NOV
ing picture show in the town of Pc
calOngan. The building was composed