COLOURED LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 254, 21 July 1920, Page 7

COLOURED LABOUR

PROBLEM IN SAMOA

RECOMMENDATIONS OF COMMISSION

IMPORTED WORKERS ESSENTIAL

t "Overshadowing the whole trade de- : velopment of Samoa stands the labour problem," says the Island Trado Com- ! mission in its roport. "At present there are 338,500- acres of alienated land and 686,500 acres of land still held by the Samoans in Upolu and Savaii Of this 1 alienated, land 18,380 acrcs are in coconut, cocoa, anil rubber plantations, for which there is little Samoan labour available. Prior to the war there were about two thousand contract labourers employed ; at . present, owing to extensive repatriation, there are about 1160. Naturally this decrease in labour implies a corresponding falling-off of production. With insufficient labour, moreover, plantations become overgrown with weeds and undergrowth, which form a safe breeding-place for the ihinoceros beetle. This dangerous pe6t. if allowed to spread, would rapitlly destroy not only tho 16,000 acrcs of European plantations, but the far greater acreago owned by the Samoans. We are informed by reliable witnesses fnat the Samoan profits by the example of tho well-cultivated European areas. "It has been objected tlint there is an undue amount of sexual intercourse between the imported Chinese and the Samoans, but wo are convinced the'reports on this subject are much exaggerated. It is untrue that tho introduction of Chinese into Samoa is reducing tho Samoan women to a state of prostitution. Perhaps regulations might be made stricter. If, for example, thero were a rigorous inspection of Chinese quarters, and absolutely enforced repatriation at the. end of three years, little trouble, we thirilc, wonld be experienced.. Unfortunately, during the war period, owing to the shortage of shipping, theChinese ,'have been kept in the islands for much longer periods, and as a consequence opportunity has been afforded them to learn the language and to become closely acquainted with Samoan women. When shipping becomes normal, regularity of service will ensue, and contracts ought then to be rigorously carried out. The housing question perhaps needs looking into; but, even as things are, living conditions in Samoa are much tetter than in Canton No one would deny that S'ainoan laibourwould be better than Chinese labour If the Samoan would work, but ho will not work as an employee. Tlttie is a growing demand for tropical .produce, ana as far as Samoa is concerned that demand cannot bo satisfied except by tho use of imported labour. The death of eight thousand Samoans during the recent epidemic has further aggravated the labour problem." The commission believes that under proper regulation the uso of 'imported labour would, be in the best interests of the natives themselves. ''When, if eyer, Samoa increases her native population, when Samoans learn the science of agriculture and acquire the habit of work, then the importation of labour may happily be dispensed with," says the report. "Until that time _ arrives imported labour is, in our opinion, a necessity. It lias been suggested that the islands should be handed over entirely to the Samoans, and that they should work out their own destiny as the Tongans are doing. This also is a dream, and a dream not in the best interests of the Samoans,, for it would leave their country an easy prey to any aggressive Power.' While their methods may not 1)0 perfect, Great Britain and New Zealand will at least deal honestly with the Samoans and govern them fairly. "We understand that Colonel Logan, the Military Administrator, 1914-18, bo. lieved it possible for the whole work of the islands to be done by the Samoans, and he accordingly repatriated indentured labour, without trying to repi'.ace it. Results proved that his idea was a mistake, .which he admitted and tried to -un- - do before ho resigned his. Unfortunately, the Samoans are communistic in their ideas of life, and this fact has an important bearing on labour matters. It is expected that tho man who has should support the man who has not, and as a consequence the man who does work is preyed upon by the man who does not. It has been asserted that the Samoan is physically unfit to pui forth sustained effort for any lengthened period, hut this theory is difficult to believe. It seems more probable that the principle of communism rather than any physical unfitness is responsible for his unwillingness to work."

"From tho evidence placed before us atp are led to believ* that ,SoloTnnn Islanders are more suitable than Chinese for work in coconut plantations, but we understand that tho whole question has been carefully considered, and that certain steps have already been taken in resold to the matter. W6 do not hesitate to assert that (imported Habour 13 required for the development of the islands. Until the labour question is finally and definitely settled there is not the slightest, chance of the areas which aro now held by Europeans being improved or extended; the future trade of the islands, both native and Euroyean, is entirely dependent on the result of such settlement."