SAMOAN PROBLEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17429, 26 March 1920, Page 5

SAMOAN PROBLEMS.

LABOUR QUESTION VITAL.

THE EFFECTS OF SHORTAGE.

SIR J. ALLEN'S EFFORTS

Several reports dealing with the problems of Samoa were compiled by the Citizens' Committee appointed by the citizens of British Western Samoa, and addressed to Sir James Allen, Minister for Defence, and the New Zealand Parliamentary Party on their recent visit. The reports embraced the subjects of labour and agriculture, a municipality for Apia, a free press, education, finances of Samoa, Legislative Council, cost of constabulary, the prohibition proclamation, status of German property, and other matters.

The report upon the labour problem stated that without an adequate supply of economic labour it would be impossible for the planters to carry on. The position they were facing was ; More labour or bankruptcy. There followed an analysis of lands in Samoa,' returns of shipping, exports, etc. The disposition of labour was given as follows:—Chinese, 838; Solomon Islanders, 405. Tremendous cost had been involved in repatriating coolies, a large number of whom, the report asserted, would have been prepared to sign fresh indenture* for a further period of three years. The limiting of the period, for reindenture to six months had caused dissatisfaction to the coolies as well as to the farmers.

A plea for ipdentured labour is made in an article embodied in the report written by Mr. Alan Cobcroft. an acknowledged authority on the subject. This pointed out that there were at the time about 800 Chinamen in Samoa whose original indenture expired years ago. Each of these men had had numerous opportunities of returning to China, but they preferred to be reindentured. Emphasising the seriousness of the shortage of labour the article' stated that three large companies, representing a capital of approximately £120,000. had already gone into bankruptcy, while another with a capital of £90,000 was on its last legs. Most plantations were working shorthanded, unable in many cases even to harvest their crops, while weeding and many other important requirements had to be shelved. The policy of forcing the planters to repatriate those labourers whose contracts expired during the occupancy, and who desired to return "to China, and of refusing to sanction the recruiting of labour to replace them had had a disastrous effect upon tropical agriculture in Samoa. Dutch East Indian Workers. Discussing the type of labour possible to be secured to make up the deficiency, the report said :—" We have not yet heard for certain whether Captain Carter, who was despatched to China, has been successful in his mission. There are rumours that he has not. In our opinion he should not have had any difficulty if he had gone to the right place in securing all the Chinese coolies required at an outside ■wage of 30s a month. Failing this, it would appear that our only other .hope of securing sufficient labour is from the Dutch East Indies, where there are teeming millions of population ready and willing to be employed providing the Dutch Government's permission is secured to their introduction as indentured coolies. We consider it possible that some arrangement might be come to whereby some of the many surplus acres of Samoa might-be given to Javanese settlers in return Tor their work, or that they might be induced to work here for a share in the crops of the estate.

"We consider that 5000 permanent labourers would ultimately be required to carry on the present areas under cultivation and necessary development on these areas, for the work of the merchants, ■ as servants, and for public works. Fresh numbers would have to be added as business increased and new settlers arrived to take up virgin bush. " For public works, where higher wages' could be paid, we ' consider that Niueans could be procured on contract from Nine, with the permission of the Minister for External Affairs. Despite Colonel Logan's original idea that natives could be trained to work on the plantations, we have no hesitation in saying that for many years tc come their numbers will only be sufficient to look after the acreage they already have under cultivation. The necessity for the improvement of roads in the plantation area is apparent, as we hope to show you. Two hundred labourers could be used on this work alone.

" The planters also pray you that yon will consider some scheme of advances to settlers. Our only bank, the Bank of New Zealand, owing to the unsettled state of the planting industry, will not advance a penny on the most valuable plantation property, thus putting, the plantation owners frequently in difficulty between # crops and when the trees are nearly coming into fruition. Should the labour difficulty be satisfactorily settled, in the future when the country is opened out more by roads and the operations of large companies, no doubt fit men "of energy aDd resource will be able, as. in. other colonies, to carve out homes for themselves, but the wherewithal for them to exist must first of all be created." Six James Allen's Reply. Replying to the subject matter of this report at a gathering held at Apia on March 9, Sir James Allen stated, as was mentioned in a cablegram published in the Hebalb on March 12, that he had definite instructions from the Imperial Government on no account to indenture more labour, and that the Australian Government had refused to permit further indenture or reindenture of Solomon Islanders. The Citizens' Committee, he said, had asked for a return of part of the repatriation expenses, which had increased during the war. He did not think it was fair to ask New Zealand to do this. Everybody had to make sacrifices, owing to the war, and this was their "sacrifice.

The committee also asked ■ that Niue Islanders be brought to Samoa. When in Niue he asked the Resident Commissioner

to permit a number to be taken. .He replied that practically no labour was available, apart from that required for the work of their own island,, but he agreed to spare a few for public works, and they would be despatched shortly, remaining for one year, and being replaced by a similar number. He did not think it possible to make advances to planters on the lines of the advances to settlers scheme in New Zealand until the labour question was settled, and until they knew where they stood.

" Labour Must be Obtained."

The Chinese Government had consented to the future indenture of Chinese labour. That matter > had been discussed in the New Zealand Parliament, and as a compromise on the differences of opinion existing, it •was' decided that until the matter had again been discussed the number should not be increased beyond that in Samoa at the moment, and the -whole matter would be reconsidered after the end of. June and a definite policy arrived at.

The Minister added 'that he had been much impressed with the visits paid to the various plantations which they had inspected, and it was his opinion that labour must be obtained somehow to work the plantations and to keep them ut) to pre-war standard, and if possible for the future development? of the country. Under the mandate New Zealand had clearly to consider the interests of the natives first, but it had also to consider the rest, and it was neither possible nor right that these rich islands should remain uncultivated.