INDENTURED LABOUR.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3439, 19 March 1920, Page 5

INDENTURED LABOUR.

OPINIONS OF PARTY LEADERS‘

Received 10.45 am.

(Wireless From Mokoia)

The Parliamentary Party has now completed its tour of the territories ,under New Zealand control. Interviewed by a United Press Association representat»ive, Mr Sidey, senior memibel‘ of the Liberal Party aboard, in giving his personal, not the party iview, said: There was ample justificaytion‘ for the trip, it was an earnest to ithe League of Nations of our desire ‘to understand Samoan conditions, and ‘faithfully discharge our obligations lunder our mandat.e. He thought it a [question whether we acted wisely in taking over the administration when ‘we were dependent on borrowed lmoney to develop our own New Zea}land resources. Itis clear from minisiterial utterances that the islands to 1901119. extent. will be a burden on New Zealand taxpayers. Referring to indentured labour, he said no doubt the .ultimate provision of the five thous--5 and la.bourers asked for would enormously increase trade, and ensure that the islands would be self-sup porting. There was not more than sufficient Samoans t.o-day to work their own lands. The consensus of opinion is that Europeans are capable only of light manual labour, but despite this, he was unable to give unqualified support to indentured lalbour. Liberalisin as one of its cardinal factors, took into consideration not only the material aspect, but the human factor. The influx of male'Chinese and their inevitable cohabitation with Samoan women, meant the fos-'ter-iug of a half-bred race, w-hose sympathies would be less with us than were those of the purebred Polynesians. He expressed the opinion that every effort should be made to obtain the services of married men, remunerating the wife for light employment. ,The term of indenture should be five years instead of three, to compensate for the additional expense af transport. The indenture -scheme should be regarded as temporary in character. He continued: The problems of the island are doubtless bound up with the land question. -He was inclined to think they might learn something from Tonga, where the titles were practically inidvidualised. The Tongan Constitution prohibited the employment of Chinese manual labour. He thought the Otago Medical School might give special attention to tropical diseases, the Go-vernment assisting in research. He favoured the repatriation of the Germans now in Samoa, and added that investigation should be ma'de with a View to the adoption of more scientific methods of destroying the rhinocerous beetle. Mr W. C. Carncross, M.L.C. said: Speaking broadly, he regretted it had fallen to New Zealand to govern Samoa. However, the die had been cast and it was now every politicians’ duty to -put party aside and loyally aid the Government in the difiicult task of administering the islands. There are ,many problems which would -test, the statesmanship of our New Zealand administration. Mr Carncross continued that he was firmly of opinion there must be indentured labour and plenty of it and as quickly as possible, otherwise Samoa_will quickly go back to a state of jungle. Years of labour and thousands: of pounds of capital would have been expended in vain‘. The education problem presented” diflicul—ties. In all the native schools education for many years had been semireligious. If religio-us education was abandoned, and New Zealand’s purely secular system substituted. it would shock the feelings -of the natives. Yet to give religious teaching to Samoa, and purely secular teaching in New Zealand would be anomalous and probably create future difficulties in New Zealand. This question called for serious consideration. In appointing administrators the greatest tact and judgment were called for. It was absolutely necessary that they must be men of the highest moral character if they were to maintain‘ the respect of the natives and uphold the white man’s prestige. Referring to Samoa, he, believed Colonel Tate had high ideals, and was doing well in endeavouring to administer justice to white man. The brown people was easily led in the right .-paths when once assured of absolute justice, but were a bit suspicious and easily led ‘in wrong paths by designing men. Mr Veitch, on behalf of Independent Labour said: I am satisfied that in the administration of New Zealand’s island territories, wherein almost the entire population are simple, untutored natives, our chief concern should be to -take a long distance, human view of the situation, in v.’-‘e>tel'-mining our policy. In our mandate over Samoa the danger is that we imiguify the problem of to-day and thus o,pscure the issues, the determination whereo-f may vitally affect native li.t'e and liberties for generations. The wholesale importations or‘ Chinindent'ured lalbour is advocated as the only means of salvation for the

big plantations. Whilst recognising from a purely commercial standpoint the desirability thereof, he was convinced under the mandate there devolves on us a fundamental and grayer responsibility safeguarding the Samoan race. Moreover, the propagation‘ of halfbred Chinese people within Samoa might ultimately add a menace to us in the Pacific. Our duty in Samoa is to systematically educate the Samoan people, to provide medical and hospital facilities, to assist in the sanitation of villages, to encourage the Samoans in the fullest. cultivu. tion of their own lands by the Government taking'over the entire output. of produce and selling it in the best available market. Already the natives produce 75 per cent. of the copra exported. Regarding finance, it was I-‘l‘imal‘ilY important that we teach the natives to become self-reliant and to d€V€lOD their own resources. Sufficient taxation is needed to prevent the island becoming a. burden on New Zealand ‘fmipayer-s. I hope Parliament" Wm Tlot 3-DDrove of the proposal to lend ITIOIIGY to Samoa free of interest. Mr Veitch concluded: Samoa is a fertile country if properly administered, with sufficient shipping, 5.11319 :5 bear the cost of its own Government and development.

3 Mr Holland declined to givean fulterview, but said that Official Labour lwould n.ot make a sta‘tement until -he reporfed to the National Council of §‘New Zealand.

Sir J, Allen said: The reports by Mr Bird on the education systems; Mr Vickerman on public works; Mr Gibbs, wirelessz; Mr McCristill, departmenal organisation in Samoa; and Prof. Black on tropical horticulture, would be of the greatest importance in deciding the policy of external affairs. Also Mr M~arsden’s report on an observatory at Samoa, where the most’ valuable observations and data are in course of completion‘, which in the immediate future are ‘likely to add to the world’s knowledgein weather forecasts, navigation, ivirele’ss transmission, and prediction of earthquakes. The question of the allocation of_ cost and upkeep must" be settled. ' Uiidoubtedly upon the labour supply depended‘ the solution of the difficulties in Samoa. Without labour there WOuld_beHli() plantations, no white population, and no revenue. Without reveneue it would |b‘e impossible to' embark on a_-programme of education or other”=undert:alr'ings. for the benefit of the Samoan people. An examination 0 the sources of supply showed the Chinese were the only labour available for inclenture. Three attempts had been made to secure Japanese, but they were unsuccessful. If “free” Asiatic labour was introduced it would soon result in Wiping out the Samoan race. As’ far as is known, the Chinese Government declined to allow wives to accompany indentured men. He thought. that limiting the indenture to three years would largely prevent trouble and prove most satisfactory. Questioned as to the duration of the semi-military administration, he said until the Imperial Order-in-Council referrence and the mandate Were received the Government had good reasons, which it was unwise to announce, for retaining the civil constabulary in Samoa at . present. - 7 '

Sir James Allen, speaking‘ at ‘Manga.ia., said he hoped it would be possible to exchange teachers of the Cook Group State Schools with the teachers of New Zealand Native Schools and to some extent coordin ate the two systems.