CONDITIONS IN SAMOA.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 February 1920, Page 5

CONDITIONS IN SAMOA.

loss of indentured labor 'progress of island retarded^ prospects for settlement. By Association. Invereargill, Last Night. Speaking at a social tendered to Mr. Adum Hamilton, M.P., at Otautau, last night, Sir James Allen referred to the Parliamentary visit to Samoa and the important questions Parliament would have to deal with in order to carry out the Dominion's duty in the administration of the territory. During the war, said Sir James, it had been his duty to administer affairs in Samoa. He must admit that at timea he had made mistakes, but everyone did that, and he had endeavored to carry out the administration *« the best of his ability. He was son , y that owing to difficulties impost., oy the Imperial Government Samoa w-day was not in the state that it should be. When hj» tiok over ita administration there were 3000 indentured laborers, but under instructions from the Imperial Govern* ment indentured labor was stopped, and Chinese Workers had to be repatriated to their own country. Re-indenturing was also limited to three months, hut as the result of representations it had now been extended to two years, and they were in the position of being able to get further labor from Ohina. The action of the Imperial Government had reduced the number of indentured workers from three thoniand, to one thousand, and the effect was most serious. It was the duty of the members of the Government to go and see for themselves the conditions which were veiled, and to study on the spot the beat methods by which to overcome the difficulties of the situation.

Under German rule the land had been cultivated, and very highly cultivated by indentured labor, but since that rule hud been changed trouble had arisen over small holdings previously held by Germans. These had been neglected, and many of the plantations were in a desperate condition to-day. Many valuable products were being destroyed, and ha believed that early steps should be taken to protect the copra and co«oa plantations.

The New Zealand Government had a duty directly to the League of Nations, and to every one, to see that under its administration Samoa was made as highly productive and prosperous as it was possible to make it. The question of land settlement would, also require to be carefully understood. He believed that a great part of the Island was suitable for settlement, and that anyone placed on a ten-acres farm could make a decent living if he knew anything about the job. He hoped in time he would see many of his own countrymen possessing holdings there.

The Parliamentary visit was by no means the pleasure jaunt which many people suggested it would be. There would be some very hard work, and as a result of the trip the members should be better prepared and have a better knowledge of how to solve the many problems which the administration of Samoa presented. It had been suggested by some that the trip would cost a great amount of money, but if the arrange-, ments which the Government were endeavoring to make were successful, the trip would not prove to be so expensive as some people imagined. It wa» hoped to bring back a cargo of raw sugar, and as sugar was in very short supply in the Dominion, it should be of great benefit.