DUTCH EAST INDIES

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 199, 20 May 1941, Page 6

DUTCH EAST INDIES

Unique Method Of Government

TRADE POTENTIALITIES

The unique form of government which has enabled the Dutch to control successfully their East Indies possessions, with its population of 70,000,000 people, was explained yesterday by Mr. E. N. Van Kieffens, Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Netherlands Government, on his arrival in Wellington.

It was impossible, he said, with natives so greatly outnumbering the Europeans, to have a parliamentary government, so the country was controlled by a Governor and a National Council, partly appointed by the Government and partly elected, who was responsible to the Government. The Governor had power to withhold any measure proposed by the National Council, but if this were done Hie National Council bad the right of appeal. All parties in the State were represented on the National Council — the Europeans, tbe natives, the Chinese and Arabs. Each centre throughout the country was governed by a European representative, aided by a native adviser. In this way the views of every section of the community were known. This system of government had worked very well since the seventeenth century. Mr. Kieffens said that Java alone had a population of 45,000,060, and tbe Javanese were a very superior race, who made fine sailors and soldiers. Opportunities For Trade. The Colonial Minister, Mr. C. J. I. ' Welter, who is accompanying Mr. Kieffens on his visit to the Dominion, said that the people of the Dutch East Indies had now little fear of an aggressive move by Japan. The Dutch East Indies were now well prepared for any eventuality, and Great Britain had vastly strengthened her position in Malaya. There were great opportunities for an exchange of trade between the East Indies and New Zealand, and he suggested that the Dominion should send pressmen ou a visit to the East Indies. They would be warmly welcomed, he said, and would be given an opportunity to visit the whole- country, and see what. New Zealand products could be absorbed there, and what products the East Indies could send to New Zealand. Such a visit would be as necessary after the war as during it. The East Indies could take frozen meat, butter, cheese and fruit from New Zealand, and could supply the Dominion with such products as oil and rubbers. There were vast potentialities for trade between the two countries.