A SHORT REVIEW OP THE LABOUR CONDITIONS AND 

 THE PROVISION OP LABOUR ON THE AGRICUL- 

 TURAL, MINING AND OTHER ESTATES IN THE 

 NETHERLAND EAST INDIES. 



By P. A. MOORREES. 

 Introduction. 



IN order to obtain a true conception of the labour con- 

 ditions on the estates in the Netherland East Indies it is 

 necessary to divide this colony into two regions, viz. : 



(a) The islands of Java and Madoera. 



(b) The other islands of the Netherland East Indian 

 Archipelago usually indicated as the " Outer Posses- 

 sions." 



On the first-named islands the labour conditions are 

 regulated by the general provisions of the civil law, 

 whilst in the Outer Possessions the labour agreements 

 are for the greater part subject to special ordinances. 



The supply of labour in the Outer Possessions also 

 differs from that in Java and Madoera. In the last- 

 mentioned islands, in fact, work is carried on exclusively 

 with labourers taken from the native population, whose 

 engagement on behalf of the estates has not in these 

 islands been regulated by law; on the estates in the 

 Outer Possessions on the other hand, labourers of 

 other nationalities are found side by side with Javanese; 

 the number of Chinese on the tobacco estates in the 

 East Coast of Sumatra Residency (Deli) is indeed 

 remarkable. 



In so far as the Netherland East Indies are concerned 

 special supervision is only exercised by the authorities 

 in respect of the recruiting of natives of Java and 

 Madoera for labour to be performed on the estates in 

 the Outer Possessions. 



The special ordinances in force in the Outer Possessions 

 with reference to labour contracts are of two kinds : 



A. The so-called Coolie Ordinances. 



