ADMINISTRATION OF SAMOA

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 49, 21 November 1919, Page 5

ADMINISTRATION OF SAMOA

STATEMENT BY SIR JAMES ALLEN. by Telegraph—Press Association. , Christohurch, November 20. Sir James Alien, who patsed through Christohurch to-day, told a reporter tliut activo steps were- lieing taken to substitute oivil for military administration in fcainoa. Tliey uero anticipating the mandate by removing the garrison and replacing them witn police. "We are issuing a circular to all newspapers about' indentured labour," said Sir James Allen. "There is a great misunderstanding about tho position. When wo took over thero 'were 3000 Chinese and Solomon Islanders, and wo introduced none at all during our administration. They have gone down now by repatriation ; to 1000; and we havo been hoping against hopo that we might •induce the Samoans to keep the planter tions'going, but it is impossible for them to do so. The result is that there are lftOO indentured labourers there. We did not bring them in, but it is impossible to keep the plantations up and they will go to ruin, some of thorn, unlaw something is done. The whito man cannot work there in the fields, nor can the Samoans themselves undertake sustained labour. The only people that ecem to undertake it are Chinese and Solomon Islanders. I am very anxious that members of Parliament should go down nnd see for themselves. Colonel Logan went down with the idea that ho might be able to dispense with indentured labour, and he found from practical experience ihat it could not lie done."- Sir Jamea Allen added rh.it ho hoped tho Parliam»ntarv party would so as soon as possible after th» New Year to learn the condition of things before next session.