PLANTERS' CONCERN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 258, 30 October 1936, Page 7

PLANTERS' CONCERN.

NEW PARTY FORMED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) APIA, October 19. A large gathering of European residents of Western Samoa took place at the Tivoli Theatre on October 16. After hearing a speech by the convener, Mr. A. R. Cobcroft, a planter of long years standing, tlie meeting decided upon the formation of a new party of European inhabitants of the territory. A large number of speakers were unanimous m the view that the new party was an urgent necessity in order to safeguard and defend the rights and the economic and political interests of the European residents, as laid down in the terms of the mandate granted to New Zealand, which interests, speakers said, were seriously* endangered by the avowed intention of the New Zealand Government to deprive the planting industry (which is a basic industry on which all Europeans depend for their livelihood and existence) of the essential labour force. The name of the new party will be the United Progressive Party of Western Samoa. The appeal to the European population' was signed by about 100 of the more prominent settlers, mainly planters, traders and business men. An executive was elected, of-which Mr. A. !R. Cobcroft is chairman, Mr. R. P. Berking vice-president, and Hon. I. H. Carruthers, Messrs. Bruce, Wetzell, Meyer, Williams, Harrington and Brighouse members of the committee. During the debate the Hon. I. H. j Carruthers, elected member of the Legislative Council, pointed out that the Samoans would and should never work on the European plantations as day labourers, an occupation for which the Chinese coolie had proved himself preeminently suitable. The Samoans had large holdings of their own and it was preferable that they should extend and intensively work these holdings insteaij !of working for the European. The freej born Samoan was indeed born for somej tiling better than for a labourer.