ISLAND PROBLEMS

Evening Star, Issue 17312, 27 March 1920, Page 11

ISLAND PROBLEMS

TRANSPORT ANT> LABOR THE CHIEF [Special to the 'Star.'] AUCKLAND, March 27. There are wide differences between the problems of the Cook Group and Western Samoa. The chief need for Rarotonga is improved transport. That of Samoa (at all events from the European point of view) is labor. The Cook Islands, the most easterly of the British South Pacific possessions, cornprice two groups, ono aimost under the Equator, including Pfenryhu, Manahiki, and Rakahansa; the other, further to the south, including Barotonga, Itiu, Mangaia, Aitutaki, and Mauke. Three of these were visited. It was found that Rarotonga had suffered greatly by lack of transport durintr the war. The Union Company's fleet was so depleted by war service demands that only the tiny Flora was available for tho Auckland service. She could not carry a tithe of the fruit which could have been obtained, consequently production was allowed to fall off. Tho banana plantations diminished, and' tho oranges were left unharvested. There was nothing to justify a policy of industry and progress. Now, however, the Taluno is on the run. She takes much larger cargoes, and tjh© native growers show signs of greatly increased activitv on their banana plantations. Oranges grow wild. The second difficulty which tho members observed was the breach between the whites and the Administrator. The members were immensely impressed with tho fertility of the little islands and with its undoubted po&sibilities as a tropical orchard for the Dominion. The visits to the outlying islands also impressed them with the "difiicully of communication between ship and shore, and with the hardihood' and skill of the natives, who maintained that communication.

With Samoa the most urgent problem, so far as the Europeans are concerned, is that of labor. To this point practically the whole of their week's observations ashore were directed. It was shown beyond the possibility of doubt "that the existing plantations have suffered grievously through lack of labor, awU that further development is impossible until supplies of plantation workers from beyond the group are available. Beside this question Samoa's other problems pale into insignificance, .and -upon this battle ground will be fought a good deal of next warfare. Parliament must decide what workers are to bo obtained—whether Chinese, Indians, or Japanese ; whether they arc to he free or indentured, and what the terms of the indenture shall be. Many other matters were touched upon during' the Apia visit, the chief being the constabulary sent down by the New Zealand Government, a f-t-.'p which has aroused a great deal of npppositicn in tho group. .The question ox liquor supplies also proved a further source of discussion. No liquor can be imported- into the group, and ; _as a result all the hotels are closed and private stocks are running low. The Minister made it clear that the Government would sanction no loosening of the existing restriction, and absolute Prohibition will soon reign through Western Samoa. The visit to Tonga served the useful purpose of introducing the members to a self-governing community, an island kingdom which makes its own laws and ordini r.nces, but which has clearly shown that it

cannot stand alone, relying for its guidanc* in matters external to the State upon (Ireat Britain, whose consul has powers above the_yu!er, •and also relying upon British';!':' for the direct inn < i its finance. A ■wonderful litiie community is Tonga. It is a nation without- a national debt-; it has no alienated lands : its people are, comparatively wealthy without effort : and its productivity is amazing. The visit to Fiji wr.- the mrsc- odnr:r:iv-.> one in the matter of how not to tackle the labor problem. There is a mixture of races in Fiji, with, of course, natives and Indians •predominating, but with a sufficient addition of Japanese and Chinese to he disconcerting. Fortunately the Fijians and Indians do not mix. Each race despises the other. The Indian looks down on the Fijian as a dweller in the Mingle, and the brawny Fijian does not conceal his contempt for the poor phvsique of the Indian; and so, fortunately, there is no mingling of race?. But- the Fijian is neglectful and careless. Ho can work splendidly when he likes, but few rave to work, and the comparatively feeble Hindu, who is permitted to become a colonist, is in a. fair wav to outnumber the Fijian, and later to inherit his country. It was a very striking example of the danger of permitting the colonisation of the islands of the Pacific by an alien people, coming I as it- did on top of the disorders and riots of the last ebc weeks.