CONDITIONS IN NAURU.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18267, 7 December 1922, Page 9

CONDITIONS IN NAURU.

EMPLOYMENT OF CHINESE.

NO INDENTURED LABOUE. A. and N.Z. LONDON., Dec. 5.

Mr. W. Ormsby Gore, Under-Secretary for the Colonies, replying to questions in the House of Commons, said that approximately 80 Chinese mechanics and 490 Chinese labourers were employed at Nauru. They wero not indentured and there were no compounds. The Chinese lived in denned areas, and were not accompanied by women.

A Member: What is the difference between a compound and a defined area ?

Mr. Ormsby Gore replied that the object of the denned areas was to prevent the Chinese from living in the native Nauruan settlements for social reasons. The Chinese were confined to their areas at night time, but in the daytime could go anywhere they liked. Labour from the Pacific native races had always been employed in the phosphate industry at Nauru, and at present there were about 360 natives so employed. Recruiting from the Caroline Islands under Japanese mandate had ceased. The Hongkong Government had not arranged to supply Chinese indentured labour to Nauru and Samoa, but had afforded the New Zealand Government certain facilities. The report of the League ot Nations' sub-commission referred to the arrangements effected by the New Zealand Government.