SAMOAN ESTATES

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1926, Page 2

SAMOAN ESTATES

DISILLUSIONMENT. WELLINGTON, Augt-c 12. M lien New Zealand took over from Germany the reparation estates in Samoa mi. y were '■ lid i, b.- worth » .in:! hen sterling but questiov to the Mm ister of External Affairs when the Samoa Bill was being considered in committee in the House to-day produced a much modified estimate.

The question was first raised by Mr M’Combs, who also wished to know when the Government would repatriate all tlie remaining Chinese from Samoa. New Zealand, he suggested, should not tolerate in Samoa, which was essentially a part of the Dominion, conditions which New Zealanders would not permit in their own country. The Imperial Government had inquired during the administration of Sir James Allen when the Chinese were to return home.

The Hon W. Nosworthy, Minister of External Affairs, replied that experience showed the impossibility of working -the estates without Chinese labour, but the House*could have his assurance that It would he reduced as fast as possible, though not right away. He hoped that members would have patience and await his opinion after he had visited Samoa. “ Did the tenders for leasing the exGerman estates hear out tlie estimate that they were worth' a million?” asked Mr Forbes. “ There was never any official estimate of one million,” retorted Mr Nosworthy. A politician’s value was placed on them.” continued Mr Forbes. “ Wo thought we were taking over estates worth a million, and we were much elated over it. Then a loss was shown in working, though we thought we had a gold mine.” Air Noswortliy explained that, on the basis of tenders for leasing, the estates were worth half a million, but the Government did not consider the tenders good enough to let them go. It considered it far better to work the estates itself, and results bad proved the wisdom of that policy. The estimated accrued profits to the end of tho year were £BOOO. and last year’s profits were between £25,000 and £26.000. „