37

A.—4

QUESTIONNAIRE. I. SLAVERY. (re.) 1. What measures arc being taken with a view to insuring the suppression of the slave trade { 2. What results have; been obtained ? (b.) 1. Is slavery recognized legally ? 2. Does domestic or other slavery still exist ? Give statistics. 3. What are the principal causes of slavery (gambling, drink, (fee.) ' 4. Is the pledging of a person recognized le;gally 1 5. Under what conditions can a slave get his freedom ? 6. What measures have been taken, or are being taken, to provide for the emancipation of slaves and to put an end to all slavery, domestic or otherwise 1 1. Is there any time-limit fixed for the emancipation of slaves ? if in the affirmative, how long is the period ? (a.) 1. Slavery does not exist in the 'Territory. (b.) 1-7. Slavery is not recognized h;gally. 11. LABOUR. (re.) 1. Have measures been taken to insure, in accordance with Part XIII of the Treaty of Versailles, the taking into consideration of conventions or recommendations of International Labour Conferences ? 2. Are these conventions or recommendations being carried into effect ? 3. By what other provisions is free labour protected ? (b.) 1. What are the measures intended to insure the prohibition of forced labour for purposes other than essential public works and services, and what are the effective results of these measures ? 2. For what public works and services is forced Native labour required ? How is this regulated ? 3. Are there any other forms of forced labour, such as labour in lieu of taxation, maintenance of highways, <fee. ? If in the affirmative, how are these regulated ? (<?.) 1. How is the recruiting of labour required by private enterprise organized and regulated ? Does Administration participate in this recruiting ? 2. Does the Administration allow recruiting in the mandated area of labour for another territory ? If so, under what conditions \ 3. Is there any system of indentured (Chinese or other) labour in the Territory ? If so, what are the conditions of indenture, and what steps are being taken to provide for the; moral and material well-being of the Natives of the Territory, vis-a-vis the indentured labourers ? 4. What compulsory and disciplinary measures are authorized with respect to Native labour ? 5. What powers has the; Administration for controlling labour contracts in order to insure their loyal fulfilment both on the part of the employer and employed, and what powers does it possess to prevent any abuses in this respect 1 (a.) 1-3. Those conventions or recommendations are not applicable, in the Territory. Labour has the same protection that similar labour enjoys in the Dominion of New Zealand. (b.) 1, 2. No measures are necessary, as there is no forced labour. 3. There is no form of forced labour in lieu of taxation. As to maintenance of highways, the weeding and keeping clean of the sides of roads and streets is required of all landowners, Native and non-Native. Suppression of rhinoceros-beetle by collection of beetles, larvae, and eggs is required of all male Natives, who own most cf the coconut-palms, and of all other owners of plantations. (c.) 1. There is no recruiting of Samoans for definite periods under contract, and no organization exists. Native Samoans are employed as day labourers by private enterprise and by the Administration. Samoans are also encouraged to take contracts for roadmaking, c&c. 2. No. 3. Chinese labour is imported by the Administration under the terms of the Chinese Free Labour Ordinance, 1923, for work mainly on the European plantations. A copy of the Ordinance referred to lias already been forwarded to the Librarian of the League of Nations. The labourer undertakes to serve in Samoa for a period of three years, and the Administration undertakes to pay the cost of passage to and from Samoa and that the labourer shall receive a wage of not less than 3s. per diem so long as he complies with the terms of the Ordinance. If he is dissatisfied with his employer the labourer is free to seek another employer. Whilst serving in Samoa the labourer is subject only to the statute law of the Territory. The moral well-being of the Samoan Native is not affected by the presence of the Chinese under the conditions existing. Neither is their material well-being affected, except beneficially, through the maintenance of trade and revenue by means of this labour. Further, without this labour the cultivated plantations would soon be devastated by the rhinoceros-beetle, and become breeding-grounds for this pest, and so a real menace to the existence of all Native plantations. 4. None. 5. Chinese labour can be imported by the Administration only, and therefore the allocation of such labour is entirely in the hands of the Administration. An officer called the Chinese Commissioner has been appointed to watch the interest of the labourers. Further, the labourer is free to leave an employer if not satisfied with his treatment, and in case of illtreatment can invoke the protection of the statute law of the Territory. As regards prevention of abuses by the labourer, he is entitled to a day's wages for an honest day's work, and the principle "No work, no pay " applies. The employer is entitled to dispense with the labourer's services if the latter does not carry out his work satisfactorily.