LABOUR IN SAMOA.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 July 1936, Page 7

LABOUR IN SAMOA.

THE COOLIE PROBLEM. PLANTERS OPPOSE CHANGE BUT MINISTER DIFFERS. (By Telegraph-Press Assn.--Copyrightj (Special to Press Association.) APIA, July 12. The view that any alteration in the conditions of indentured Chinese labour would seriously affect the wnoio territory was expressed by tno Samoa Planters’ Association in an interview with the Now Zealand Government delegation. The deputation pointed out (hat the Chinese were law-abiding citizens, gooa workers, and very reliable. The Samoans, on the oilier hand, oved in plenty on the products of tlimr own land, which for centuries iiad kept them in smiling abundance and ha-1 produced a race of natives known throughout the world as ‘‘idle Gentlemen of the Pacific.” No offer of additional remuneration would induce them to remain at work on the plantations when a new church or rowing boat was to be built or when some grand feast was the order of the dav.

The leader of the delegation, the Hon. F. Langstone, in replying, said; “W.) are greatly concerned about the cheap coolie labour exploited here. We Jon’t like it. We hate it. Cheap labour has never been of benefit to any country. It seems that your great problem is lack of sufficient income. What you need more than anything else is stabilised prices for cocoa and copra. The present system of marketing is stupid, like playing at blind man’s buff. ’ ’

The Minister said that an endeavour would be made to inc Jude the mandated territory in any reciprocal agreements entered into between New Zealand and other countries. The planters could rest assured that wages \fould not be increased until they were provided with the means to pay higher rates.

He did not see any reason why the Samoan could not be trained to do the work now being done by Chinese. Th.* astonishingly large number of verc beautiful churches scattered thronghcut Harnoa was surely a striking tribute to the ability and industry A the natives.