The prices paid here for materials and coal during 1909 were as

All the above prices are per metric ton, delivered alongside shipbuilders' wharves, including freight and agent's commission. German iron and steel are supplied through commission agents. The German method of marketing their goods is preferred to the ordinary method of quoting f.o.b. at the manufacturer's nearest port of shipment. German material is forwarded by Rhine boats and is packed in such a manner as to guard against damage in transit, whereas it has been found that plates and angles that are brought from some other countries by sea frequently sustain damage on the voyage by bending in the ship's holds. The additional cost of German material sent by rail amounts to from 11. 5s. to 1. 13s. 4d. per metric ton. The price of German coal during 1909 was from 13s. to 15s. per metric ton delivered on the railway trucks at Amsterdam. The rates of wages in the engineering trade will be found below.

All employers are bound to insure their employés in the Government Accident Insurance Bank. The cost of insurance amounts to about 4 per cent. Employés who meet with an accident on the works while in service receive free medical attendance and about 70 per cent. of their average daily pay in the year, during the time that they are unable to work. The Government pays the compensation, and, in case of death from accident, the widow and children receive a pension from the State.

RATES of Wages in the Building Trades and Engineering Works at Amsterdam during the Year 1909.

* Overtime for bricklayers and labourers is paid at the rate of 25 per cent. extra for the first two hours; 35 per cent. for the following hours; 50 per cent. for night work; 100 per cent. on Sundays and 150 per cent. on Sunday nights. The maximum paid to bricklayers for piece work is 42 c. per hour.

RATES of Wages in the Building Trades and Engineering Works at Amsterdam during the Year 1909-continued.

Overtime for workmen employed in engineering works is paid at the rate of 25 per cent. extra for ordinary overtime; 50 per cent. for night work and 50 to 100 per cent. for Sunday work.

Neither of the firms whose rates are given in columns (2) and (3) pay by time but by piece work entirely. The large firm pay 20 to 30 per cent. extra and the small firm 50 per cent. extra.

The dinner interval is from 12 noon to 1.30 P.M., and is not included in the working hours. The larger works close on Saturdays at mid-day. Wages in Amsterdam are the highest in the Netherlands. According to the figures published by the Bureau van Statistiek (Amsterdam) the numbers of workmen employed in the building trades and engineering works in Amsterdam in 1909 were 12,991 and 9,155 respectively. *Winter and summer.

+ Winter.

Summer.

Local trade. Manufactures and industries.-The diamond polishing industry is the most important in Amsterdam. There are about 60 factories, employing about 9,000 workmen. The product of these factories amounts to about 4,000,000l. per annum during normal times; 95 per cent. of the raw material comes from the Premier and De Beers mines viâ London. The local mills are in a position to deal with every size of diamond, from the largest in existence to the smallest, but their speciality seems to be the polishing of diminutive stones.

The two sugar refineries in this city are practically independent of imports of raw materials, employing raw beet sugar made from beetroot grown in this country. In 1908 they dealt with 170,000 tons of raw sugar.

The engineering works and shipbuilding yards obtain their steel and coal almost entirely from Germany.

The cigar, cocoa, chocolate, confectionery and quinine factories import their raw materials from the Dutch colonies.

In the neighbouring port of Zaandam there are 14 oil mills manufacturing linseed oil and cattle cake from raw material coming from the River Plate; there are also a number of rice mills which clean and prepare for export about 120,000 tons of rice per annum coming from

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B 2

British possessions in Asia and from Siam and Java; a large timber "industry also exists there, the imports coming from Russia, Sweden and Norway. The extent of the industries in Amsterdam may be seen in the following tables of boilers, and electric and gas motors in use within the limits of this municipality :

BOILERS Used for Industrial Purposes in the Municipality of Amsterdam during the Year 1908.

Boilers are also used for heating large establishments, hotels, &c. A considerable number of boilers are also employed in industries outside the limits of the municipality for superphosphate, chemical, sugar, perfumes, soap, drainage, &c.

NUMBER of Electric Motors in Use in the Municipality of Amsterdam during the Year 1908.

The municipality have a direct current of 220 volts, and the Electra Company use an alternating current of 72 volts and 50 periods (cycles).

NUMBER of Gas Motors in Use in the Municipality of Amsterdam during the Year 1908.

NUMBER of Gas Motors in Use in the Municipality of Amsterdam during the Year 1908-continued.

The district served by the port of Amsterdam comprises the whole of the Netherlands. Amsterdam is the principal distributing centre of the Netherlands, whereas Rotterdam is chiefly engaged in forwarding goods to and from Germany.

Two railways connect Amsterdam with the German frontier and the rest of the Netherlands, and canals connect it with all the chief towns in the kingdom. There is also canal communication with the Rhine by the Merwede Canal.

TOTAL Imports of Principal Commodities into Amsterdam during the Years 1907-09.*

* Statistiek v/h Koninkryk der Nederlanden, December, 1909. Published

by the Department of Finance,