NETHERLANDS Nationality: noun-Netherlander(s); adjective-Nether lands Ethnic divisions: 99% Dutch, 1% Indonesian and other Religion: 31% Protestant, 40% Roman Catholic, 24% unaffiliated Language: Dutch Literacy: 98% Labor force: 4.8 million (1978); 30% manufacturing, 24% services, 16% commerce, 10% agriculture, 9% construction, 7% transportation and communications, 4% other; 5% unemployment, April 1979 Organized labor: 33% of labor force GOVERNMENT Legal name: Kingdom of the Netherlands Capital: Amsterdam, but government resides at The Hague Political subdivisions: 11 provinces governed by centrally appointed commissioners of Queen Legal system: civil law system incorporating French penal theory; constitution of 1815 frequently amended, reissued 1947; judicial review in the Supreme Court of legislation of lower order than Acts of Parliament; legal education at six law schools; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 30 April Branches: executive (Queen and Cabinet of Ministers), which is responsible to bicameral States General (parliament); independent judiciary Government leaders: Head of State, Queen Juliana; Prime Minister, Andreas A. M. van Agt Suffrage: universal over age 18 Elections: must be held at least every 4 years for lower house (most recent held May 1977), and every 3 years for half of upper house (most recent July 1977) Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Chairman, Piet Steenkamp, a coalition of the Catholic People's Party (KVP), the Antirevolutionary Party (ARP), and the Christian Historical Union (CHU) formed prior to 1977 elections is scheduled for final union in mid1980; Catholic People's Party (KVP), W. J. Vergeer; Antirevolutionary (ARP), H. A. de Boer; Christian Historical Union (CHU), Otto W. A. Baron van Verschuer; Labor (PvdA), Mrs. C. (Ien) van den Heuvel; Liberal (VVD), F. Korthals Altes; Democrats '66 (D-66), J. F. Glastra van Loon; Communist (CPN), Henk Hoekstra; Pacifist Socialist (PSP), Lamber Meertens; Political Reformed (SGP), H. G. Abma; Reformed Political Union (GVP), G. Veurink; Radical Party (PPR), Herman Verbeek; Democratic Socialist '70 (DS-70), H. Staneke; Farmers' Party (BP), Hendrik Koekoek Voting strength (1977 election): 33.81% PvdA, 31.91% CDA, 17.95% VVD, 5.43% D'66, 2.13% SGP, 1.73% CPN, 1.69% PPR, 0.96% GPV, 0.94% PSP, 0.84% BP, 0.72% DS'70 Communists: 13,000 est. members Other political or pressure groups: great multinational firms; Federation of Nethelands Trade Union Movement (comprising Socialist and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade union; Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; the non-denominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises Member of: ADB, Benelux, Council of Europe, DAC, EC, ECE, EEC, EIB, ELDO, EMA, ESRO, EURATOM, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, ICES, ICO, IDA, IEA, IFC, IHO, ILO, International Lead and Zinc Study Group, IMCO, IMF, IPU, ITC, ITU, IWC-International Wheat Council (with respect to interests of the Netherlands Antilles and Surinam), NATO, OAS (observer), OECD, U.N., UNESCO, UPU, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WSG ECONOMY GNP: $150.2 billion (1979 est.), $10,720 per capita; 59.0% consumption, 20.6% investment, 18.5% government, 1.4% stock building, 0.5% net foreign balance Agriculture: animal husbandry predominates; main crops horticultural crops, grains, potatoes, sugar beets; food shortages-grains, fats, oils; calorie intake, 3,186 calories per day per capita (1970-71) Fishing: catch 297,000 metric tons (1978); exports of fish and fish products $390 million (1978), imports $239 million (1978) Major industries: food processing, metal and engineering products, electrical and electronic machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, and natural gas Shortages: crude petroleum, raw cotton, base metals and ores, pulp, pulpwood, lumber, feedgrains, and oilseeds Crude steel: 7.7 million metric ton capacity; 5.6 million metric tons produced (1978), 400 kg per capita Electric power: 17,600,000 kW capacity (1978); 61.7 billion kWh produced (1978), 4,430 kWh per capita Exports: $50.1 billion (f.o.b., 1978); foodstuffs, machinery, chemicals, petroleum products, natural gas, textiles Imports: $53.8 billion (c.i.f., 1978); machinery, transportation equipment, crude petroleum, foodstuffs, chemicals, raw cotton, base metals and ores, pulp Major trade partners: (January-November 1978) 63.9% EC, 28.0% West Germany, 13.7% Belgium-Luxembourg, 9.0% France, 7.0% U.K. Aid: donor: bilateral economic aid authorized, $6,555 million (1970-78) Budget: (1980 est.) revenues $49.6 billion, expenditures $56.7 billion, at exchange rate of 2 guilders=$1 Monetary conversion rate: 2.0265 guilders=US$1, average 1979 est. Fiscal year: calendar year COMMUNICATIONS Railroads: 3,016 km standard gage (1.435 m); 2,850 km government-owned (NS), 1,731 km electrified, 1,556 km double track; 166 km privately-owned NETHERLANDS/NETHERLANDS ANTILLES Highways: 104,480 km total; 86,354 km paved (including 1,839 km of limited access, divided highways); 18,126 km gravel, crushed stone Inland waterways: 6,340 km, of which 35% is usable by craft of 900 metric ton capacity or larger Pipelines: 418 km crude oil; 965 km refined products; 4,489 km natural gas Ports: 8 major, 5 minor Civil air: 108 major transport aircraft, including 5 leased in and 18 leased out) Airfields: 29 total, 28 usable; 17 with permanent-surface runways; 13 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: highly developed, well maintained, and integrated; extensive system of multiconductor cables, supplemented by radio-relay links; 5.85 million telephones (41.7 per 100 popl.); 7 AM, 19 FM, and 14 TV stations; 12 coaxial submarine cables; 1 satellite station with 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean antenna PEOPLE Population: 242,000 (January 1980), average annual growth rate 1.0% (current) Nationality: noun-Netherlands Antillean(s); adjectiveNetherlands Antillean Ethnic divisions: racial mixture with African, Caribbean Indian, European, Latin, and oriental influences; negroid characteristics are dominant on Curacao, Indian on Aruba Religion: predominantly Roman Catholic; sizable Protestant, smaller Jewish minorities Language: officially Dutch; Papiamento, a SpanishPortuguese-Dutch-English dialect predominates; English widely spoken Literacy: 95% Labor force: 76,000 (1972); 2% agriculture, 20% industry, 10% construction, 65% government and services, 3% other Organized labor: 60%-70% of labor force GOVERNMENT Legal name: Netherlands Antilles Type: territory within Kingdom of the Netherlands, enjoying complete domestic autonomy Capital: Willemstad, Curacao Political subdivisions: 4 island territories-Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, and the Windward Islands--St. Eustatius, southern part of St. Martin (northern part is French), Saba Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence; Constitution adopted 1954 Branches: federal executive power rests nominally with Governor (appointed by the Crown), actual power exercised by 8-member Council of Ministers or cabinet presided over by Minister-President; legislative power rests with 22-member Legislative Council; independent court system under control of Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Justice (administrative functions under Minister of Justice); each island territory has island council headed by Lieutenant Governor Government leader: Donald Martinx (leader of movement for a new Antilles) won election of 6 July 1979, and is expectd to form a new coalition government Suffrage: universal age 18 and over Elections: Federal elections mandatorily held every 4 years, last held 17 June 1977, early elections were held 6 July 1979; Island council elections every 4 years, last held 25 April 1979 Political parties and leaders: political parties are indigenous to each island: Curacao: Democratic Party (DP), S. G. M. Rozendal; National People's Party-United (NVP-U) Edsel Jenerun; Frente Obrero de Liberation' 30 di Mayo (FOL), Wilson "Papa" Godett; Social Democratic Party (PSD), R. J. Isa Aruba: People's Electoral Movement (MEP), G. F. "Betico" Croes; Aruban Patriotic Party (PPA), L. O. Chance; Aruban People's Party (AVP), D. G. Croes NETHERLANDS ANTILLES/NEW CALEDONIA Bonaire: Labor Party (POB); Democratic Party Bonaire (UPB); New Democratic Action (ADEN) Windward Islands: Windward Islands Democratic Party (DPWI); United Federation of Antillean Workers (UFA); Windward Islands Political Movement (WIPM); and others Voting strength: (1977 federal election) 6 seats DP, 5 seats MEP, 3 seats FOL, 3 seats NVP, 3 seats PPA, 1 seat DPWI, 1 seat UPB Communists: no Communist Party ECONOMY GNP: $652 million (1976), $2,680 per capita; real growth rate, -1% (est.) Agriculture: little production Major industries: petroleum refining on Curacao and Aruba; petroleum transshipment facilities on Curacao, Aruba, and Bonaire; tourism on Curacao, Aruba, and St. Martin; light manufacturing on Curacao and Aruba Electric power: 300,000 kW capacity (1977); 1.7 billion kWh produced (1977), 6,880 kWh per capita Exports: $2.6 billion (f.o.b., 1977); 96% petroleum products, phosphate Imports: $3.1 billion (c.i.f., 1977); 64% crude petroleum, food, manufactures Major trade partners: exports-46% U.S., 2% Canada, 1% Netherlands; imports-35% Venezuela, 11% U.S., 4% Netherlands (1977) Aid: bilateral commitments (1970-77), economic-Western (non-U.S.) countries $247.3 million Budget: (1977) public sector current revenues, $278 million; public sector expenditures, $306 million Monetary conversion rate: 1.8 Netherlands Antillean florins (NAF)=US$1, official Fiscal year: calendar year COMMUNICATIONS Railroads: none Highways: 950 km total; 300 km paved, 650 km gravel and earth Ports: 4 major (Willemstad, Oranjestad, Caracasbaai, Bullennbaai); 6 minor Civil air: 11 major transport aircraft, including 5 leased in Airfields: 7 total, all usable; 7 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: generally adequate telecom facilities; extensive interisland radio-relay links; 49,600 telephones (20.6 per 100 popl.); 11 AM, 1 FM and 5 TV stations; 2 submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean satellite station DEFENSE FORCES Military manpower: males 15-49, 59,000; 34,000 fit for military service; about 3,000 reach military age (20) annually Population: 142,000 (January 1980), average annual growth rate 1.6% (current) Nationality: noun-New Caledonian(s); adjective-New Caledonian Ethnic divisions: Melanesian 42%; French 40%; remainder Vietnamese, Indonesian, Chinese, Polynesian Religion: natives 90% Christian Language: Melanesian-Polynesian dialects Labor force: size unknown; Javanese and Tonkinese laborers were imported for plantations and mines in pre-World War II period; immigrant labor now coming from Wallis Islands, New Hebrides, and French Polynesia Organized labor: unorganized GOVERNMENT Legal name: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies Type: French overseas territory; represented in French parliament by one deputy and one Senator Capital: Noumea Political subdivisions: 4 islands or island group dependencies-Isle of Pines, Loyalty Islands, Huon Islands, Island of New Caledonia Legal system: French law Branches: administered by a High Commissioner, responsible to French Ministry for Overseas France and Governing Council; Assemblee Territoriale NEW CALEDONIA/NEW HEBRIDES Government leader: Claude Charbonniaud, French High Commissioner Suffrage: universal Elections: Assembly elections every 5 years, last in September 1977 Political parties: Rassemblement Pour La CaledonieConservative; Union Caledonienne-eventual independence; Union Multiraciale and Palika-independence parties Voting strength (1977 election): Rassemblement Pour La Caledonie, 12 seats; Union Caledonienne, 9 seats; Palika, 2 seats; 8 other parties divide up remaining 12 seats Communists: number unknown; Union Caledonienne strongly leftist; some politically active Communists were deported during 1950's; small number of North Vietnamese Other political parties and pressure groups: several lesser parties Member of: EIB (associate) ECONOMY GNP: $652 million (1976 est.), $4,560 per capita; -0.2% average annual real growth (1972-76) Agriculture: large areas devoted to cattle grazing; major products-coffee and vegetables; 60% self-sufficient in beef; must import grains and vegetables Industry: mining of nickel Electric power: 320,000 kW capacity (1978); 1.7 billion kWh produced (1978), 12,230 kWh per capita Exports: $307 million (f.o.b., 1976); 99% nickel Imports: $277 million (c.i.f., 1976); machinery, transport equipment, food Major trade partners: (1976) exports-49% France, 29% Japan, 16% U.S.; imports-39% France, 13% Australia, 11% rest of EC Monetary conversion rate: 87 CFP francs=US$1 (1976) Legal name: New Hebrides Condominium Political subdivisions: 4 administrative districts Political parties and leaders: National Party (Vanuaaku Pati), chairman Walter Lini; NA Griamel Party, leader Jimmy Stevens; Mouvement d'Action des Nouvelles Hebrides (MANH) ECONOMY Agriculture: export crops of copra, cocoa, coffee, some livestock and fish production; subsistence crops of copra, taro, yams Electric power: 4,000 kW capacity (1978); 13 million kWh produced (1978), 130 kWh per capita Exports: $27 million (1974); 24% copra, 59% frozen fish Imports: $44 million (1974) Monetary conversion rate: 1 pound US$2.37 (official currency), 0.74 Australian $=US$1, 86 Colonial Franc Pacifique (CFP) = US$1 (1972) COMMUNICATIONS Railroads: none NEW HEBRIDES/NEW ZEALAND Highways: at least 240 km sealed or all-weather roads Inland waterways: none Ports: 2 minor Labor force: 1,316,000 (1979); 13% agriculture, 33% manufacturing, mining, and construction, 9% transportation and communications, 24% commerce and finance, 21% administrative and professional; unemployment 4.3% (December 1978) Organized labor: 46% of labor force GOVERNMENT Legal name: New Zealand Type: independent state within Commonwealth, recognizing Elizabeth II as head of state Capital: Wellington Political subdivisions: 239 territorial units (boroughs, counties, town and district councils); 657 special-purpose bodies Legal system: based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for Maoris; constitution consists of various documents, including certain acts of the U.K. and New Zealand Parliaments; legal education at Victoria, Auckland, Canterbury, and Otago Universities; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February Branches: unicameral legislature (House of Representatives, commonly called Parliament); Cabinet responsible to Parliament; 3-level court system (Magistrates, Courts, Supreme Court, and Court of Appeal) Government leader: Prime Minister Robert D. Muldoon Suffrage: universal age 18 and over Elections: held at 3-year intervals or sooner if parliament is dissolved by Prime Minister; last election November 1978 Political parties and leaders: National Party (Government), Robert D. Muldoon; Labour Party (Opposition), Wallace E. Rowling; Social Credit Political League, Bruce Beetham; Communist Party of New Zealand (MarxistLeninist) (pro-Tirana), Richard C. Wolfe; Socialist Unity Party (pro-Soviet), G. H. (Bill) Andersen Voting strength (1978 election): National Party 50 seats, Labour Party 41 seats, Social Credit 1 seat Communists: CPNZ about 300, SUP about 100 Member of: ADB, ANZUS, ASPAC, Colombo Plan, Commonwealth of Nations, DAC, ESCAP, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IEA, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMCO, IMF, IPU, ISO, ITU, OECD, U.N., UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WSG ECONOMY GNP: $13.3 billion (1977), $4,250 per capita; real average annual growth (1976-78), 1.4% Agriculture: fodder and silage crops about one-half of area planted in field crops; main products-wool, meat, dairy products; New Zealand is food surplus country; caloric intake, 3,500 calories per day per capita (1964) Fishing: (1977) exports 26,000 metric tons valued at $50.3 million; domestic 58,000 metric tons; catch by foreign fishing vessels operating within 200-mile exclusive economic zone (established 1978), 384,000 metric tons |