WESTERN SAMOA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18562, 24 May 1922, Page 7

WESTERN SAMOA

REPORT TO LEAGUE OF NATIONS. THE LABOUR PROBLEM. (Pbb Ukited Push Abbooiwioh.) WELLINGTON, May 23. The first annual report by the New- Zealand Government to the Council tot-the. , League of Nations on the administration i of the mandated territory in Western Samoa was issued to-day by the Hon.. E. P. Leo (Minister of External Affairs). Tho report reviews tho occupation of Samoa by the New Zealand troops. A constitution, by Order-in-Council in 1920, latet passed as the Constitution Act of &nn», , is summarised; the powers of the Legis-- ; lation Council axe outlined, also the extent; to which tho native Samoan exercises. Ashare in the government of his people.. ’ Tho repatriation of German tb» ( 4 taking over of their plantations a* Crown estates, are dealt with. The worktof tho 1 j rarious departments is reviewed, also the. efforts made to combat the rhinooerous ; beetle. Vital statistic* show that, despite J the ravages of the influenza epidemic, the, > native population, 32,815 in 1902,. is jiowj \ 32,953. Custpms returns show agrowing l ,* revenue, and an increase in the total trade ,; L | imports and exports, from £529,490 in 191&5 $ to £947,740 in 1920, the export* initwoy years being respectively £262,389 and * £386,587, the imports £267,091 and £561,153. Considerable space is devoted to ,'j the labour problem. The report, states “Tho Samoan people do not pfovid© a re- .. liable source of unskilled labour. The Aus- ] tralian Government now controlling the i Melanesian Island* desires to retain ail available labour (Solomon Islanders) there," - leaving only Chinese available for labour. jV In 1914 there were 2200 Chinese or. Samoan j plantations, reduced by three repatriations ,r’ to 832 in 1920. In August of rthab-asear . some 500 CJiineee were recruited. " The number then totalled 1321. Arrangement* ■■■>,- are now made lor the repatriation of the y older labourers and the introduction of more men from Hongkong to replace \ them. When it is estimated that the -j number of Chinese, in addition to 201 black ■ M hoys, will be 1502; whereas it is estimated' i that 2200 Chinese axe required to make', j* plantations fully productive.”