THE SAMOAN VISIT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 140, 9 March 1920, Page 7

THE SAMOAN VISIT

PLANTATIONS INSPECTED MEMBERS ENTERTAINED AT SAMOAN FEAST 4 ! \ By Wireless Telegraph—Press Association. (Rec. March 8, 5.5 p.m.) Apia, March 7. On Saturday morning the party toured the State and various mission schools. The result of the missionaries' efforts is that all the Samoans read and write tbeir own language, and English is now generally taught. The native ehiefs were entertained at luucheon on tho Mokoia. In tho afternoon members visited Vailima and Stevenson's tomb, tho wireless station and the geophysical observatory, where tho visiting scientists were delighted with the. scope and value of the work undertaken. To-day, which is the Samoan Saturday, members motored to tho plantations, .visiting an estate where there is a fairly plentiful supply of labour, and later a property on which before the war there were 291 indentured labourers, and now 12. The former employs 41 Chinese and 7 Samoan women. Tho Chinamen weed and prune tho cocoa trees and pick tho pods. Their' pay is about .£2 10s. per month. Tho women break the pods and remove tho seeds prior to the process of drying. They receive 3s. per 'lay. The party inspected tho workers' quarters, and through an. interpreter closely questioned tho indentured • men. The Chinese are not permitted so far to bring their wives from China, and some have Samoan wives. The second plantation was a wilderness, choked with tropical undergrowth, and the homestead was dismantled. The few remaining indentured labourers pick the cocoa pods where the trees havo survived! while the rubber Is practically untapped. Tho planters stat# that the solution is more labour. They estimate that a thousand additional indentured labourers are needed immediately.

In tho afternoon the Samoans cave a feast. There wore generous supplies "* taro, plantains, pigs, poultry, and fish. The members partook of the food in native fashion. There was a great display of tribal dancing. The European residents were entertained on the Mokoia in tlio evening at a ball. Wo aro to take a cargo of sugar to Suva. Now we' shall probably reach Auckland on March 22. Tho weather is hot, but all are well.