205 



de Mozambique to settlers in its territory is also given : these 

 include a labour bureau, a system of hiring out agricultural 

 machinery, assistance in boundary surveys, provision of pack- 

 ing materials for agricultural produce, the purchase of farm 

 stock by instalments, and assistance in the sale of produce in 

 Europe. 



Similarly the Companhia de Zambezia, with a view to 

 developing tobacco cultivation in its territories, has instituted 

 a scheme whereby settlers are provided with land, draught 

 cattle, machines, drying stores, food and pay for native 

 labourers, on condition that they grow tobacco on the land 

 and pay interest at the rate of 7 per cent, per annum on the 

 sum expended by the Company for their benefit. The Com- 

 pany buys all the saleable tobacco produced, at the rates 

 current for tobacco in Nyasaland, and is prepared to take back 

 the farm animals and machinery, less depreciation at the rate 

 of 20 per cent, on the initial outlay, when the contract expires. 



THE WORKING OF CREDIT BANKS IN THE NETHERLAND 



EAST INDIES. 



By H. CARPENTIER ALTING, BATAVIA. 

 [No abstract supplied by the author.] 



[DISCUSSION.] 



Sir JAMES WILSON : Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen Sir 

 James Douie and I have had a similar experience in India, and 

 I think I agree with him upon most important points, although 

 there are some little details over which we might argue very 

 hotly. But on this question of agricultural credit I agree with 

 almost every word he has said. He has given you a very 

 masterly exposition of the state of things in. India, and his 

 advice, I think, is very wise. I should like to emphasize one 

 or two points. One is about the extent of State control which 

 is required in tropical countries. Of course, things differ very 

 much as between European countries, with intelligent popula- 

 tions and a large body of trustworthy educated men, and 

 countries like India and most tropical countries, where there 

 is a very small proportion of the population who are sufficiently 

 educated and trustworthy to conduct a movement of this kind 

 apart from State assistance. In backward countries it is ex- 

 tremely necessary that the State should control such a move- 

 ment for many years, at all events, after its inception. After 

 all, credit and other forms of co-operation also depend upon 

 confidence. Confidence can only be acquired by providing the 



