The Dominion THURSDAY, JULY 22, 1920. OUR ISLAND WARDS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 255, 22 July 1920, Page 4

The Dominion THURSDAY, JULY 22, 1920. OUR ISLAND WARDS

Several questions of great interest are cliscusßcd in tho report of

the Traclc Commission which recently accompanied a New Zealand Parliamentary party on a tour of the Pacific Islands in which this country, for ono reason or another, is particularly interested. As was shown in extracts from the report which were published yesterday, the

members of the Commission have dealt not only with the trade outlook, but with questions broadly affecting the present and future welfare of the native inhabitants of the Cook Islands and Western Samoa. They express a decided opinion, supported by what appears to be conclusive evidence, that better shipping services are urgently needed on the different island routes in order that this country may secure, its fair share of Pacific trade; and recommend the Government, if necessary, to acquire, ships and maintain State services between this country and Samoa, and some of the other islands. At the same time, thov chariro the merchants of the Dominion with n certain want of enternnsc in developing Pacific trade, and with lactgiiit; behind their competitors in Australia-. Keener enierorise on the part of the New Zealand merchant? who trade or might trade with tho

islands would no doubt make it easier than at present to isecure tho establishment of satisfactory shipping services. The commissioners in any case lay duo emphasis on the fact that it is open to this couijtry to extend greattv its present commerce with Pacific islands which" promise to become even more richly productive in future than they aro to-day. Prom this standpoint the report is a thought-compelling document, and one that ought to serve a very useful purpose in stimulating sound enterprise in a field that has been too long and most unwisely neglected.

In their references to the labour problem in Samoa, the Commissioners deal with issues that in some respects aro even moro important than practical questions of trade development. Nothing in their report is of greater interest than its emphatic assertion that imported labour is indispensable for the development of the Samoan islands, and that a well-considered policy of importing labour would be in the best interests of the natives themselves. Those findings are likely to be attacked in some quarters, notably by members of the extreme Labour Party, and it is so much the more desirable on that account thafc_ the question raised should be considered dispassionately on its merits. It ought to be realised at the outset that wild talk about slavery and tho demoralisation of island' natives is_ quite beside the point. No question of permitting slavery or conditions evidently detrimental to native races has arisen or will arise in islands that aro controlled by New Zealand in the ordinary way or under mandate. It is admitted that under Gorman administration serious abuses arose in connection with the indenturing of Chinese and other imported labour in Western Samoa, and undoubtedly these abuse's ought to be eliminated. The essential questions now raised, however, are whether it is possible to import labour under conditions which are in evory way fair and just to the labourers and at the same time will facilitate a policy of development and benefit, the native race. These questions the Island Trade Commission answers decidedly in the affirmative:

With a judicious selection of imported labour (the report observes), strict regulation regarding Mattel's sexual, with improved living accommodation and increased payments to meet the higher cost of living, with opportunity afforded for wives to accompany their husbands, wo think imported labour would bo in the best interests of the natives themselves. When, if ever, Samoa increases her native population, when Samoans learn the science of agriculture, nnd acquire the habit of work, then the importation of labour may happily be dispensed with. Until that time arrives imported labour is, in our opinion, a necessity.

In the minds of thoso who arc genuinely anxious to promote the welfare of the Samoan natives, tho alternative to' the policy of enterprising development in which the importation of labour takes an essential place will appear anything but attractive. Like the inhabitants of other islands for which New Zealand has assumed _ responsibility, the Samoans even in their present state of existence are a fine people, possessed of many admirable qualities, but a lotus life is likely to bo as fatal to them as it has been to many another_ race. Their present mode of existence, pleasant as it may be, gives free play to influences that make for racial decay, and arc to bo counteracted, if at all, by incentives _to purposeful action and expanding endeavour. Probably the best incentive that can be offered is to show them by practical example what can be accomplished by the effective utilisation of such lands as they themselves are content to leave largely uncultivated. In the interests of the Samoans, as well as on other grounds, safeguards are undoubtedly required in connection with the importation of labour, but it is probably true that the exclusion of outside labour _ would not only kill the planting industry in Samoa, and rob the world of the' important supplies of valuable tropical products the islands are capable of producing, but would destroy the only hope that exists of in. time inducing the Samoans to adjjpt the habits of life and work thitt- are best calculated to keep their race alive. If, therefore, as the Commission claims, it is quite practicable to import labour under, conditions fair and just to the labourers, nnd with benefit instead o f barm tn the native race, reasons of the widest scope will appear for approving such a policy.