NATIVE LABOUR IN TONGA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10477, 14 November 1911, Page 4

NATIVE LABOUR IN TONGA.

Labour troubles in Tonga interfered with, the time-table of the Union Cb.'a steamer Atua, wMchonly arrived in Auckland from Nukualofa on Saturday manning, instead of Wednesday. The natives are not willing workers at present, tor they ■have enjoyed a prosperous season, and tlrev object strongly to any hustling. In fact, at first they went on strike for a. rise in wages. They asked for 6s a day instead of 4s, and Is 6d an hour overtime instead: ot SW. "We paid what they asked for, said one of the Atua',s officers, to a Herald reporter, "but then we found that thev were not working a* .aatrafaotionlv as they did for lower wages before the recent trouble wtftti the Government... It is probable too, that there will be more trouble, and that of a serious nature." The views of passengers on the Atua corded wdtli these opinions It was stated that the natives had adopted a *eiy independent attitude, and are averse S Eropeau control in «i.yth«g. A new system of shipping copra has been started, under which the chief men. in. the village are responsible fm- the quality, "there axe now no wfluite oopra inspectors, dative mSrs Wvp, it is alleged, been, concerned in several highhanded actions, and this, combined with the prosperous nature of tihe season is £ ven as the reason for the demands Stiver wages, and tlve unw,ll,ngiiess to enoiage in heavy work.