INDENTURED LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 21, 20 October 1919, Page 4

INDENTURED LABOUR

THE PROBLEM IN SAMOA. The debate in the House of Representative ou Saturday morning on tlio quostion ,of the employment of indentured labour in Samoa, which took place on Mr. Holland's amendment to the Pence Treaties Bill, was one of the keenest that have occurred during the proeon t session. Mr. Holland submitted an amendment, the effect of which, if carried, would have been to prohibit absolutely the employment of indentured workers in Samoa. No membor expressed approval of the practice of indenturing labour, and several, r- ' ->bjy tho Prime Minister, expressed a hope that it would be possible to get workors ere long without indenturing them, and a majority recognised that labour was urgently required now to save the plauta-' tions already established. Eventually assurances were given by tho Government that the whole matter would bo reviewed in legislation next eossion, that the present Bill would not remain in forco for more than twelve months from the present dnte, and that meanwhile the number of indentured labourers at present in Snmoa (about 1000) would not be increased. This fiatisfied most of thoso who had been dubious about the proposal. Sir .Tosenh Ward, who had declared that lie would not vote for tho indenturing of labour, still asked tlmt the Bill bo deferred, a request he had made quito early ill the debate, and. when the divivion bells rane ho left the chnniber. and did not record a vote. The nmc'dment was defeated hy 29 votes to 10. Followin" w'as the div'eion list:—

For the amendment (10)Carroll, P. Fraser, Holland. M'Combs, Dr. A. K, Newman. Poland, Semple, S. G. Smith, Veitch, Witty.

Awinst the amendment (23): ' Allen, Anderson, Anstey, Bollard. Coates. .T. M. Piekson. W. H. "Field, Forbes. Sir W. Frosor, Harrs, Ferries, lline, Hnrnsby, Mtt, Luke, M'Callum, Mander, Massoy, Nash, i 13. Newman, Pomade, R. H. Rhodes, Scott, Seddon, Statham, Sykes, Talbot, Wriglit, Young. • With this question out of the way ths Bill wont very quickly through.