Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/953

 RELIGION, EDUCATION, JUSTICE— FINANCE 831

tion on September 27, 1896. The system of forced labour in the public service was abolished on January 1, 1901, but the personal tax due from 16 to 60 years of age, formerly 5 francs, has been increased to 10, 15, m some provinces 20, and in Antananarivo to 30 francs. The population of the chief towns were : The capital, Antananarivo, in the interior, 94,813, Fianarantsoa 8 179 Tamatave 8,761, Andevoranto 5,600, Majunga 7,205, Diego Suarez 10,377, Ambositra 3,000, Tulcar 2,900, Mananjary 2,600. The principal ports are Tamatave, on the east coast, and Majunga on the north-west coast. ^

In 1896 Diego-Suarez (a French colony from 1885), the island of Nossi Be (area, 130 sq. m.) on the west coast, and the island of Ste. Marie on the east coast (area, 64 sq. m.) were placed under the authority of the Governor- General of Madagascar.

Religion, Education, Justice.

Up to 1895 a large portion of the Hova and of the other tribes in the central districts had been Christianised. The Christian population was estimated at 450,000 Protestants, and 50,000 Roman Catholics. There are many missionary societies at work, French (Catholic and Protestant), Bntish (the London Missionary Society, the Friends' Mission, and the Anglican Mission) ; there is also a Norwegian Lutheran Mission, French Catholic missions had 258 members (67 female) ; Protestant and Anglican missions had 177 (78 female). The outlying tribes are still mostly heathen.

Education is compulsory from 8 to 14 years of age. In 1911 there were 574 official schools for Europeans with 917 teachers and 54,048 pupils ; and 402 non-official schools, Avith 1,201 masters and 39,469 pupils. Of the official schools in 1911, 20 were for European children, having 44 teachers and 902 pupils; and 552 schools were for native children, having 8/3 teachers and 53,146 pupils. Since 1905, no state subvention has been given to private schools. The State expenditure in education m 1911 was 38,539/. Private (or mission) schools are reqidred to carry out the Government programmes. Children are required to learn the French language. _

For the administration of French justice there are a Parquet consisting of a Promreur-Gen6ral and other officials, a court of appeal, 4 courts ol lirst instance in the principal towns, and justice of peace courts at 17 centres. For native justice there are tribunals in the districts and provinces, and the natives have the right of appeal from lower to higher tribunals, aud finally to the Governor-General. •

Finance.

The local revenue of Madagascar is derived chiefly from direct taxation (including a personal tax and taxes on land and houses), from customs and other indirect taxes, from colonial lands, from posts and telegraphs, markets, and miscellaneous sources, and from subventions granted by France. The chief branches of expenditure are general administration, ijublic works, the post office, and the p\iblic debt. For 1911 the local budget showed revenue and expenditure of 1,202,506/., apportioned as follows : ordinary expenditure 923,076/.; extraordinary, 158,518/.; railroad, 55,629/.; native niedical assistance, 65,281/. The expenditure of France on Madagascar m 1913 (2,514,551 francs) was wholly for military purposes.

The colony has since 1897 contracted debt to the amount of 4,200,000/. at the average yearly rate of interest of ■ 3 '02 per cent. Of this debt the amount outstanding was on Jan. 1, 1910, 99,283,000 francs. The loans were made for the purpose of public works or for the conversion of loaus lor that purpose.