LABOUR AT SAMOA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 201, 20 May 1919, Page 8

LABOUR AT SAMOA

PROBLEM OF INDENTUEED • ■ WORKERS. . In the war period the lack of labour has caused, a gopd:deal of embarrassment to .-the , planter at Samoa. The native islanders; do„ not work; for employers. It that no Pacific Islanders' will \w6ri£ff6r' money 'in own:: islands,. in other islands. instance, Solomon Is'lihdsirs are ' good -workers '."in "Samoa. These,-islanders and Chinese tavei'.been inti'bduced ,ii)to ■ Samoa:"as. v indoiitu'red worker's, -but' in the war period" the sup-:, :ply;-!6f',;'ihdentured worktra has -been -idut' offj.\ and >fr'om : time to time men have Be"on\'returoed -to'their, own lands, reducing.' thci.: available . supply of men' in 'Samoa.,, The i statement was made by the.:llihister of' Defence in; explanation of ■: the-trouble, and in answer..'to . com 1 , plainte.;comihg from Samoa' that thestoppage,, of. the ;irttrodxictibn" of inden-. "iuied!,Workers was. : bjr. order of' the Imperial • Government,. 1 '; -

Referring; to the subject again yesterday,. Sir James Allen said that the Government ... was trying. : to:- improve,,the labour situation in Samoa. The -.'right' had been secured to reiudentnre for two year; workers, whose, time had. expired. 'Previously the, time had. been limited .to. six "months. Of course, tho men'-who wished ,to go home on ' the expiry of their'period of indenture hid'the right to return. The Minister, stated .in reply to a' question that to introduce new. .indentured 1 workers had'. not' .yet been'given to ■ the'' Administration of Samoa. ' •'. • . ; '