THE SAMOA JAUNT

Hokitika Guardian, 8 March 1920, Page 2

THE SAMOA JAUNT

—Sil**AT APIA. REPLY TO PETITION. j It’Eß PBEBB ASSOCIATION. — COPYRIGHT. i APIA, March 5. Sir James Allen said the question of European houses and the request for increased salaries of councillors and equal pay for Samoans and Whites in Government employ, as well as a pensions scheme, would be reconsidered. Ihe request for liquor prohibition had already , been granted. Sir James Allen added: ‘ ‘lf liquor importation is forbidden as far as I am concerned, there will be no relaxation whatever. What is good for Samoans is good for whites under simi- . lar circumstances.” In reply to a request that all expenditure be directed by the Native Council, ; Sir J. Allen said tiiis would be unfair to the whites who contributed largely to ■ the administration and must, for the time being, control the . expenditure. The Government finance policy was advances for reproductive works at ft' e per cent, exclusive of sinking fund. Non-productive works, such as hospitals and schools would be free of interest. The armed constabulary would be with-, drawn eventually, but he considered that immediately following the military occupation, some such force was necessary.

FURTHER PROBLEMS. APIA, March 0. The European citizens here have embodied their views in reports an Samoan problems. Sir James Allen and the Parliamentary Party will meet their committee for the purpose oi giving a reply on Wednesday. The report on agriculture and labour says:—The position to-day is that ■we mulst have more labor, or face bankruptcy. Without an adequate supply it will he impossible for the planters to carry on. The labour barracks which previously were considered to fulfil requirements, have been condemned, and we are compelled to make additions and erect new buildings. Ihe last straw was the forced repatriation of the indentured Chinese, costing from £2O 4s 4d to £2O 10s per head, against £2 10s before the war. To these causes as well as more costly provisions and ravages of the rhinoceros beetle is attributed the cause of the bankruptcy <"f some of the largest companies. One company reduced its labourers from 294 to 12 and its rubber output from 69,383 to nil; its cocoa from 189 tons to’2o tons.” Summing up, the report says: —“Five thousand labourers will ultimately be required for the maintenance and development of the present plantations and to meet the needs ot the merchants and public works. The opinion is expressed that Chinese could easilv be procured at an outside wags of 30s per month. Failing Chinese, the report suggests that Japanese be obtained by arrangement with the Dutch Government. Figures submitted show approximately 20.000 acres under cultivation. mostly German land. The New Zealand Government is interested in 76.000 acres of H.P.G. lands allotted to New Zealand by '-ho Peace Treaty. On European plantation there are at present at work indentured Solomon Islanders and Chinese, but t'oa Solomon Islanders are being repatriated and are no longer a factor. In 1910 the Chinese numbered 22C0 while now there are 830. The Solomon Islanders numbered 850 and now they total 105.

It is pointed out that a Sanioaq with his wife earns more per day cutting copra cm his own holdings than the olanters pay hint for a months’ work. Moreover the !,Samoans are insufficient to replace indentured labourers. The report asks Sir James Allen <o advise as to the status of the German properties. A report on the liquor control vigorously protests that the residents were not- consulted regarding the prohibition proclamations and considers the terms of the mandate do not stipulate for total prohibition

The report-also draws attention +o the fact that Germans employed two white policemen who practically prevented natives from drinking. The ieport advocates State control. iA report on the constabulary declares such a strong and expensive force is not warranted and assures tile visitors a native constabulary with present officers would be more conducive to the peace and safety of Samoa. A report dealing with the Press requests that the censorship on the local newspaper be discontinued. ,'A .report on education states the education of the children would be better and more economically carried out by the existing mission agencies., encouraged a.nd subsidised by the Government, than by a. State school system.