SAMOA'S WANTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 March 1920, Page 4

SAMOA'S WANTS.

THE SCARCITY OF LABOR. . PLANTATIONS GOING TO RUIN PARLIAMENTARY PARTY'S VISIT, By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellingtno, Lust Night. The following wireless message has been received from Apia* dated the Bth inst.:— On Saturday morning the party toured the State and various, mission schools. The result of the missionaries' efforts is that all Samoans read and write their own language, and English is now gensrally taught. The native chiefs were entertained at luncheon oil the Mokoia, In the afternoon the nWaiber* visited Vailinva and Stevenson's tomb, the wireless station, nad the geographical observatory, where the vwitingjsoiwi'tlats were delighted with the scope and value of the work undertaken. I •

To-day, which is the S&moan Saturday, the members motored to plantations, visiting a* estate where there is' a fairly plentiful supply of labor, and later > property on Which before the war (here wore 294 indentured, laborers, and wfcere there are now twelve. The former MB* ploy* forty-one Chinese and -seven Sw moan women. The Chihafawi weed and prune ootoa trees and pick the Jwds, and 'their pay is about £2 10s per month. The women break the pods and remove the seeds prior to the process of drying. They receive ithree shillings per day. The party inspected the workers' quarters, and, through an interpreter, they closely questioned the indentured men. The Chinese are not permitted «o far to bring their wives from China, and some have Samoan wives. The second plantation fat a Wilderatss, choked with tropical undergrowth, and the homestead is dismantled. The few remaining indentured laborers.pick Cocoa pods where trees have survived, while the rubber is practically untapped. The planters state that the solution is mere labor. They estimate a thousand additional indentured laborers are needed lav mediately. ; Jn the afternoon the Samoans gave a feast, with generous supplies from the taro plantations of figs, poultry and fish. The members partook of their food in native fashion. A great display of tribal dancing was given. The European residents were entertained on the Mokoia in the evening at a ball. We take a cargo of sugar at Suva, and will now probably reach Auckland on the 22nd inst, The weather is hot, but all are , well.