INDENTURED LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 51, 24 November 1919, Page 8

INDENTURED LABOUR

WHAT IT MEANS TO SAMOA

FURTHER PROOFS OF ITS

NECESSITY

Tho following statement on tho labour problem in Samoa from an ex-iwident of tho Islands, who has had speeinl opportunities of studying the question is of particular interest at tho present time-.— "In his manifesto Mr. Massey has. omitted one. of tho strongest reasons for the immediate introduction of labour. Tho rhinoscorus beetle when the occupying force took possession was playing havoc with tho coconut trees, and it was only by strenuous labour for four years that this pest was got in hand and'tho palms recovered. With a shortage of labour the beetle will again become dangerous, and if left undisturbed will kill every palm treo in Samoa, with tho rfsnlt that the Samoans will bo without a moans of livelihood: will, in fact, become dependent on Neiv Zealand for a moans of pxistenco .and thn cost "of feed in? .10,030 destitute S'nmoans will fall nn the. people of New Zealand.

"On -Hi" othor hand, if labour wore availab'n. f'i sufficient quantity, the Pamoans H- ~.'il employ it to market their ropra, i'w*n of which now roo.s to waste. Somo t!'"---ands of tons of copra go to waste <"•»'• yc*r in the native plantations. TVs is due to the fact that planting pa'ros by tho natives lin« boon encouraged for many years, and tho crop i« now greater than can 'bo hnndlpd by the Smnonn owners, who only labour to supply their immediate wnnK and. having made sufficient cop"a to do so. coaso from work. The question therefore, of triiniufr tho Samonn to work is nrncHoally out of the question, ns whv should ho work when he has all he renuires at a enst of trifling exertion on hi J own family lam's?

"Importation of in'lpntured labnur wi'l not only enable thn fnr! j i™npr tn work his coconut, enenn, pud rubber limitations .profitably. Twt will nl=o enuMe the SaTnoan to double his onhwr of cnnr.i. and tliiTi increase tli.p nrcxliirtion nf tn» !<ilnnds. and at H>p. poiiip (imp prevent the devastation of tho territory by the rhinoscorns beetle.

"Tho nupstion to he considered is, Should labour be imported' to maintain Samoa n.s a solf-suppnrfinsr country nnd larfoly inrrpn.sn its production, or should it 1)9 di-barmd nnd Hi" country allowed to lio dpvn.srn.ted and its inhnbitnnte becoinn a tax on tho charity of New Zealand?

"The ori"ir.M inoWnr"* of oil Chinese coolies pxniml inid. Pilot , thfn r?indonturfs hnvn only boon allowed for periods nf six month , ! until 1!)10. wl<«n two yws , indentures wore sanctioned, jiny coolie in Snrnon has on four or fivn occasions in Hie Inst throe years had tlie opportunity of boiu? rrniatrinM at his omplivpr's pxp<"i<;r\ if tho enolio desired it. The fart that very few hnvo done so, nnd tlint fonipwlifre ivbout ifflW hav recently reindontured for a period t\° two vnrs, proves conclusively that tlify conditions under which they work are snHcfitctory to them.

"The question pbnnM bo poltlcd without delov. mid if the drcisirm be thut no labour Tip imported, thr> islands should l)i> lnndw' ovr to fohip Government which will fake means to prevent t'to min of a splendid native race. The Samomi hates indecision in those in anthnritv. nnd th.r> present procrastination will alienate thorn."