COOLIE LABOUR IN SAMOA

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 January 1938, Page 4

COOLIE LABOUR IN SAMOA

GOVERNMENT’S POLICY [per press association.] WELLINGTON. January 2. Commenting on newspaper criticism of the Government's policy toward imported coolie labour in Western Samoa, the Hon. P. Langstone, who was a member of the recent goodwill mission to Samoa, said that these labourers were definitely engaged for a specified term of years, a. deduction of sixpence a day being made from their wages to pay for their return to their own country. Their term of engagement having expired, a ship was chartered for that purpose.

The Government had decided that no more coolies were to be brought from China, but to meet the requests of Samoan planters, who said that Samoan labour had not yet proved suitable*, for the cocoa and rubber plantations. the Government, had agreed that those coolies desiring to do so would be permitted to sign on for a further three years. About 259 labourers were still available and if a shortage still existed when the situation was clarified the Government would do what it could to assist. At the same time, the Government saw no need for the employment of imported Chinese as domestics or artisans, and felt it was entitled, to the cooperation of Samoan employers in the provision and training of suitable labour in the Territory itself.