SAMOAN PROBLEMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17902, 6 April 1920, Page 5

SAMOAN PROBLEMS

LABOUR DIFFICULTIES. INDENTURE SYSTEM CONDEMNED. BAD MORAL CONDITIONS. CP*b Unitsd Prk,»B Association.) „ TT „ WELLINGTON, April 5. Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., in tno course of an address on Samoan .problems, said that tho Labour members had scan nothing during their visit that would lead them to modity their condemnation of indentured labour. The planters objected to paying £2 10s a month, demanded Chinese at 303, or Javact?so at 10s, and insisted that they must have 'at least 50CO coolies. They claimed that tho natives would not work, whereas tho bulk of the copra exported was put out by the natives. The Government had gone boliind the backs of tli© people by sending Captain Carter to China to look for more coolies, and it had also asked for Solomon Islandens and Javaneos. Members were' led to infer that the Samoan mandate would 'bo imperilled it New Zealand, refused to countenance indentured labour, and the suggestion conveyed was that the League of Nations wanted the system continued. Mr Holland complained that no opportunity was given for oificial inquiries from natives through the chiefs. The Labour members had to make their own iriquiries, and they were led to believe that some influence had operated to prevent tho chiefs from making protest against indentured labour. Tho natives whom he saw were practically united in opposition to tho system. Samoans nad stated that thoy were prepared to .work, but not for coolie wages or under coolie .conditions. They wanted 8s to 10s a day, and the Labour roenjbers considered they were quite justified in that demand. On moral grounds, also, the indenture system was unjustifiable. Mr Holland condemned militaristic tendencies and censorsliip. The presence of the constabulary, he said, was xi3sented by whites and natives alike. It was true that only acclimatised white men could work in Samoa, but the real problem was how to get for the natives democratic control of their own islands, and .how to train them in industrial administration far their own benefit. It would be bettor to let all the plantations go back to nature than to save them at the price of slavery, combined with an immorality which would mean, ultimately, the destruction of the Samoan race. Financially, tho present arrangement was going to be a huge burden on New Zealand, for the benefit of some wealthy planters. Both, wliites and natives were against New Zealand control, and the best thing, to do was to hand the mandate With ■regard to Fiji, Mr Holland said he had ten assured by Sir James Allen that no restrictions would be placed on investigation by members, but before going ashore lie had asked them not to put questions to the, Indians, as they were tho guests of tho Fijian Government. Mr Holland refused tho Minister's request, and got into touch with, the Indian leaders. Be had had a long interview with them, and, as later a report was _ published ot his ffovoments, ho was convinced he had been watched by spies The trouble ui Fiii was economic. The cooues wanted 5* a day, owing to tho high cost of hvine Tbings had been done that probably should not have been done, but he was told there was no need to employ force. Mr Holland condemned the houmng arrawemento and moral conditions He had leaned that Indians were still beaten over their work, and that many of them wanted to get away, but could not.