SAMOAN MATTERS.

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 56, 15 September 1928, Page 8

SAMOAN MATTERS.

Several points relating to the administration of Western Samoa were raised by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Hi E. Holland), in the House of Representatives last night. Mr. Holland asked what the position, was in regard to the collection of taxes in Western. Samoa. It appeared that in. the mass the Samoans were avoiding tlio payment of taxes. Mr. Holland also referred to the proposal toi repatriate a number of Chinese and to import in. Samoa a number of new coolies. This appeared to be a perpetuation ef the indenture system, of which he had never been enamoured. ■ The Minister of External Affairs (the Right Hon. J. G. Coates) said tho control of affairs in Samoa was entirely in' the hands of the Administrator. He was to use his own judgment1 entirely as to what he was to do. There were those in Samoa who were opposed to the normal state of government as it existed, but he thought he could say there had been a definite improvement! ,and he thought the Government would be able to make a collection of the taxation. In regard to the coolies, Mr. Coates said it was not the policy of the Government to keep Chinese in Samoa for a longer period than six years. In 1914 there were 3500 Chinese in Samoa, in 1927 there were 946, and in, 192^ there were 935.