SAMOAN AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 5, 30 September 1922, Page 6

SAMOAN AFFAIRS

ALLEGED GRIEVANCES

PROHIBITION AND INDENTURED LABOUR

When tho estimates of tho External Affairs Department wero before the Hous© of Representatives yesterday afternoon, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. T. M. Wilford) presented some alleged grievances that had been communicated to him by Samoan residents. He explained in advance that he had no personal knowledge of Samoa. He thought it reasonable to expect some initial mistakes in the administration of mandated territories. Tho mistakes might not be avoidable, but they should be recognised frankly. Mr. Wilford proceeded to suggest that Samoa should have a representative in the Now Zealand Parliament. He was sure that such representation could be arranged through the League of Nations. A channel of communication between Now Zealand and Samoa was needed. Was the Government responsible for the hospital and school levies that had been imposed in Samoa ? The Hon. E. P. Lee said that he had visited Samoa last year, and had invited the white people to meet him and state their grievances. But for their own reasons the people did not meet him. They presented him with a written statement of their grievances just before he left, when he had no time to investigate. Ho did not think that their attitude had been reasonable. He was preparing proposals now for tho representation of the residents on tho Advisory Council. Representation in the New Zealand Parliament was a much larger question, which would involve legislation and the consent of the League of Nations. The Under-Secretary of the Department had visited Samoa lately, and his report had been exceedingly satisfactory. The Minister added that ho knew nothing of any tax for educational purposes. The Samoans themselves hqd suggested that a levy of £2 per told should be imposed on all males, ifie money to be used to extend greatly tile free medical service. The native people could easily find this money and thev needed the medical advice and assistance. There was less trouble in Samoa at present than at any time since New Zealand took control. 15Tost of the remaining troubles would disappear if the price of copra rose a few pounds a ton.

Mr. Wilford said the residents complained that they could get no. information about local affairs, owing to strictness of the censorship.. “Mandate Slavery” was the heading of an article in the Fiji “Times,” commenting on Now Zealand’s administration of Samoa. A public meeting in Samoa liad asked the Minister not to come back. Whv had the white comtnunity and the Uhamlier of Commerce taken up that attitude? The Minister said that the Samoa Chamber of Commerce represented people who objected to prohibition. Mr. Wilford asked for information about the Press censorship of Samoa. The Minister said that statements in the Tiji newspaper were not necessarily correct. The criticism of the Administration was linked with the protest against prohibition. There was no censorship of the Press ui Samoa and the Fiji newspaper, which had alleged a censorship, had withdrawn and apologised. Mr. Wilford asked if it. was true that travellers on shins visiting Samoa waters become liable to penalties if they were in possession of liquor. He quoted some “grievances” from the letters of correspondents. Mr. C. E. Statkam (Dunedin Central) said he had hoard that Chinese labourers were being reindentured. He objected to the system altogether. The Leader of the Labour Party (Mr. H. E. Holland believed that the Government was withholding from the League of Nations information which « should have about the system of indentured labour. He believed that if the League knew all tho facts it would call upon New Zealand to end the system. ' . , , Mr. Lee said that the indentured labourers working in Samoa at present had been there littlemore than two years. When their time expired they would be repatriated, and so far as he knew they would be replaced by a fresh band of labourers. The Government did not favour keeping one lot of men for more than three years. On another occasion he would speak at greater length about indentured labour.