workmen in 1921. The principal yards were at Amsterdam, on the Maas from Vlaardingen to Dordrecht, and at Flushing.
Remarkable progress has also been made in the ship-repairing industry, which was formerly of no great significance. Rotterdam had 12 dry docks with a total lifting capacity of 97,000 tons, the largest being for 15,600 tons. At Schiedam, Wilton's Factory had a floating dock of 46,500 tons. Amsterdam had four dry docks with a lifting power of 3,000, 4,000, 7,500 and 16,500 tons.
Industries. During the World War, Holland was, by the meas- ures of the belligerents, largely thrown on its own economic re- sources. Industry adapted itself as far as possible to the new cir- cumstances by paying greater attention to home requirements. It devoted itself to the production of a number of articles previously obtained almost exclusively from abroad, such as: porcelain insu- lators, motor cylinders, drawn wire, fire extinguishers, kid gloves, clothiers' machinery, asbestos plates, press buttons, electric pocket lamps, wax images, sewing cotton, laboratory glass, incandescent lamp globes, toys, office requisites (writing cases and carbon paper), chloride of lime, sulphur chlorate, aniline colours, saccharine, bromides, chlorate of potash, synthetic scents, iodine compounds, narcotic ether, siliceous varnish, artificial horn (galalith), rubber articles, felt, flying machines, typewriters, etc. Various industries are rapidly extending, especially ship-building, the manufacture of implements and tools, glow lamps, margarine, cigarettes, etc.
An indication of industrial development is to be found in the number of boilers in use for factory plant and in the area of their heating surface. The number of boilers in use at the close of the years 1911, 1916 and 1918 were 7,455, 7,779, 7,973 respectively; the heating surface, in sq. metres, being 347,876, 431,077 and 467,158. The application of electric energy is continually on the increase.
Data concerning the number of workmen in the various indus- tries, provided by the Inspector of Labour, show that in factories of more than 25 workmen, the number employed was 339,150 on Feb. I 1920, as against 313,944 on May I 1914, exclusive of the sugar fac- tories which work from April 30 till Jan. 31 and employ about 10,000. The metal trade, together with machine building and ship building, occupied the largest number of workmen. Next in order followed the textile trade; the earthenware and glass industry; the clothiers; tobacco and cigars) timber, cork and strawboards; the chemical trades; printing works; the diamond industry; paper-making; leather and rubber industries.
Mining. The Netherlands coal-mining industry showed a curious growth. The necessity in war-time of supplying requirements out of home resources led to vigorous productivity, with the result that the output was more than trebled (1,280,000 tons in 1910, increased to 3,940,000 tons in 1920). Above all, the State mines (Wilhelmina, Emma and Hendrik) attained great prosperity in those years. The production is estimated to be 6,000,000 tons in 1925 and probably 7,500,000 tons in 1930.
During the war, the lignite fields of Limburg, which previously were unable to compete with the German industry, were opened up. They produced in 1917 42,442 tons, in 1918 1,425,617; in 1919 1,881,962 and in 1920 1,395,851 tons. The ampler supplies of coal after the close of the war caused the output of lignite to fall off, and it was expected that the decline would become further accentuated, as the exploitation is only remunerative at high prices.
In what measure the Limburg mines rendered Holland inde- pendent of foreign countries is clearly reflected in the following figures :
IMPORTS, EXPORTS AND CONSUMPTION OF COAL IN THE NETHERLANDS IN i.ooo TONS
I mports '
Exports '
Excess Imports
Limburg Output 3
Available for Con- sumption
1910
14,789
8,515
6,274
1,280
7,532
1911
16,378
9,824
6,554
1,463
8,017
1912
18,250
10,980
7,270
1,717
8,987
1913
20,466
12,382
8,084
1,837
9,921
1914
I6,3I5
8,999
7,3i6
1,890
9,206
1915
9,881
2,594
7,287
2,250
9,537
1916
8.431
2,208
6,223
2,563
8,786
1917
3,044
i
3,044
3,007
6,051
1918
1,486
<
1,486
3,806
5,292
1919
3,615
>
3,615
3,939
7,554
1920
3,327
31 *
3,296
4,339
7,635
That the consumption was so much lower in 1919 and 1920 than in 1913 is to be explained by the decrease of bunkering, the reduction of demand in the gasworks, and the depressed condition of certain industries as an aftermath of the war.
The productive coal district of South Limburg covers an area of about 96-5 sq. miles. Experts assess the depth at 8,200 feet. The deposits are to be regarded as an offshoot from the Belgian Limburg
1 General imports and exports until 1917; both coal, coke and coal and lignite briquettes are included in the figures.
1 We have not reckoned the bunker coal, which is mentioned under exports in the Trade statistics since 1917, as exports.
' Including lignite calculated as coal.
beds. In North Limburg there is a second coal region the exploita- tion of which has been decided upon; it is a continuation of the Westphalian coal-field. In Gelderland coal is also found.
Salt. The difficulty of obtaining sufficient salt during the war led to the exploitation of the salt beds in the E. of Gelderland close to the German frontier. The State Mineral Exploration Service instituted in 1903 had discovered salt deposits near Winterswyk with an estimated rock-salt content of 22,000,000,000 tons, and others near Buurse with apparently 2,000,000,000 tons.
In 1919 the output was 5,244 tons, in the last month of that year 2,000 tons, being one-sixth of the whole consumption in the country.
Fisheries. In 1919 more than 27,000 persons earned their entire livelihood by fishing, while a very large number exercised the craft as a subsidiary occupation or were employed in such callings as sail making, working in net factories, rope walks, cooper's workshops, fish-smoking sheds, tanneries, basket works, etc. In that year the number of vessels engaged in fishing was 6,239, of which 302 were propelled by steam, and 216 were motor-boats, the total capacity being 450,970 cub. metres. High-sea and coastal fishing produced roughly 251,036,000 kg. of fish including shell fish and molluscs; the value was 5,606,216. The river catches (salmon, etc.) weighed 119,000 kg. and was sold for 54,133; no returns are obtainable concerning other freshwater fish.
In 1913 the high-sea and coastal fisheries produced 203,833,000 kg., the value being 2,243,283. Thus the proceeds have increased since the war, but the working expenses have risen to such an extent that the profits of the business are much less favourable. Above all, the collapse of the German exchange has had a very detrimental effect, Germany having been one of the principal purchasers prior to the war. The export of herrings, of fresh fish (trawl fish) and of anchovies suffered extremely.
The Act of Oct. 6 1908, which came into force on July I 1911, con- tained regulations regarding all the fisheries, instituting also a Fisheries Board. A decree of 1912 founded a State Institute for Fishery Investigation. There is an Inspection of the Fisheries, charged with the supervision of the fisheries and the carrying out of the regulations. Several towns maintain fishery schools, all endowed by State and Province.
Constitution and Government. The Constitution of 1815 which had already been revised in 1840, 1848, 1884 and 1887, again underwent important changes in 1917, especially with regard to the franchise and education. The number of Ministries in 1921 was n, viz.: Foreign Affairs; Justice; Home Affairs; Education, Arts and Sciences (since 1918); Marine; Finances; W*r; Public Works; Agriculture, Trade and Industry (since 1908); Labour (since 1918) and Colonies. Public Works included the whole system of transport, Labour and public health.
The States-General consisted of a Second Chamber (Deputies) and a First Chamber (Senate). The Second Chamber consists of 100 members chosen, since 1917, for a period of four years according to proportional representation, by secret, general and single male franchise, while after 1919 the law made use of the powers granted by the revised Constitution of 1917 to extend the franchise to women.
The franchise is granted at the age of 25, and since 1917 the constitution has made voting compulsory. Membership of the Second Chamber, a position which may not be held under the age of 30 years, has attached to it a yearly indemnity of 250, while travelling is free for members. Retired members enjoy a pension of 8 6s. 8d. for every year of service to a maximum of 166 133. 4d.
The First Chamber consists of 50 members, chosen by the Pro- vincial States for the term of nine years. Every three years a third of the number resigns. They are chosen by absolute majority of votes, each province sending a quotum according to population.
The conditions for eligibility are the same as for the Second Chamber. The members have the right of free travelling, while those who do not live in The Hague where the States-General meet, receive the sum of i 135. 4d. per day for expenses.
The Provincial States and the Municipal Councils are elected for four years under the same franchise conditions as the Second Chamber. The salary of the Burgomaster varies from 41 133. 4d. to 1,666 133. 4d. (Amsterdam).
Worthy of special mention also are the " Waterschappen," " Veenschappen " and " Veenpolders " (bodies charged with the survey of dikes, peat land, etc.), elected by those interested in the maintenance of the dikes, the draining of polders, etc. They have power to make regulations in their own interests, according to legal rules, but are also subject to the control of the Provincial States.
Since the introduction of general female suffrage the number of electors for the Second Chamber totals 3,250,247 or 97-6% of the inhabitants over 25 years of age. In 1917, that is prior to the intro- duction of universal suffrage, the total was 1,079,475, being 70-8% of the male population above 25 years of age, or about 35 % of the total inhabitants above 25 years. (Proposals for a new general re- vision of the constitution were introduced on March 22 1921.)
