Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/1192

 1070

NETHERLANDS

Besides the schools named in the table, there is a great number of special schools. Since 1880 there is also a private university, with 158 students in 1910-11, and since 1908 a government school to train functionaries of the colonial service for superior posts.

In 1910 the State spent on instruction 2,493,166^. ; the Communes,

1,482,666Z. ,,..-,

Of the conscripts called out in 1911, O'S per cent, could neither read nor write, the percentage being highest in Drenthe, 3-6. In 1875 the total percentage was 12-3. Of the total number of children from 7 to 13 years (school age) on 15 January, 1911, 4-92 per cent, received no elementary instruction.

Justice and Crime.

Justice is administered by the High Court of the Netherlands (Court of Cassation), by 5 courts of justice (Courts of Appeal), by 23 district tribunals, and by 106 cantonal courts ; trial by jury is unknown in Holland. The Cantonal Court, which deals with minor ottences, is formed by a single judge ; the more serious cases are tried by the district tribunals, formed as a rule by 3 judges (in some cases one judge is sufficient) ; the courts are constituted of 3 and the High Court of 5 judges. All Judges are appointed for life by the Sovereign (the Judges of the High Court from a list prepared by the Second Chamber). They can be removed only by a decision of the High Court. The number of persons convicted was : —

1

By the Cautonal Courts

By the District Tribunals

Male

Female

Male

Female

1906 1907 1908 1909 1910

128,137 135,936 145,079 139,303 143,167

13,969 14,822 15,952 14,770 15,832

11,834 11,478 12,820 12,232 12,460

1,173 1,136 1,1.87 1,129 1,330

The number of inmates in the 28 prisons during 1910 was 10,124 males and 588 females; in the houses of detention^ 27,029 males and 1,577 females (persons cojivicted). There are also 5 State-work-establishments specially for drunkards, beggars and vagal)onds. The number of inmates was, during the year 1910, 3,973 males and 90 females. Children under 16 years, placed in the 5 State reformatories, numbered in 1910 708 _boys_ and 70 girls. In 1904 an act was passed, establishing several (6) disciplinary schools for the education of children, gravely neglected by their parents. There are both State and communal police. The State police consists of field- constables and cavalry. The former are spread over the country, the latter guard the frontiers (eastern and southern). The cavalry police (marechausse) num- bers about 20 officers and 1,000 men. There are about 960— appointed and paid by the Government— field-constables, divided into numerous brigades. Besides each commune has its own field-constables or police force.

Pauperism.

IS largely effected by

the

religious societies and

The relief of the poor ^ ^

organised private charity. The State does not interfere, except when no relief is to be obtained from private charity ; in that case the pauper must be supported by the commune where he is living. There is no poor rate in the Netherlands. Mendicity and vagabondage are treated as a crime, and person so convicted can be placed in a State-work establishment. Workhouses for the poor are found in very few communes.