THE SAMOAN PARTY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12010, 12 March 1920, Page 2

THE SAMOAN PARTY.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Apia, March 11 Sir J. Allen and members the Parliamentary :party met the Europeans on Wednesday morning, when there was fall opportunity for discussion. The London Missionary Society representative dis so elated himself from the report re liquor prohioition. He said the Mission favoured prohibition, but mentioned that personally he was not in favour of the principle of prohibition. Dealing with labour and agriculture Sir J. Allen emphasised that the New Zealand Government recognised that throughout the occupation labour Was essential to the maintenance of the plantationa He detailed the efforts to secure indentured labour, Outpointed but that Government was under a bond to repatriate and also had definite instructions from the Imperial Government on no account to indenture more labour. The New Zealand Government was so impressed by the urgency that it again and again communicated with the Imperial Government asking permission to reindenture and eventually they were permitted to reindenture for two periods six months following the armistice. Government begged for longer reindenture license for two years, and optional reindeufcure for Chinese, hnVthe Australian Government declined further indenture or reindenture of Solomon Islanders. Inquiries were made about Javanese, but no definite information was available. He announced that a limited number of Niuans were coming to carry out public works, but Nine was most anxious to avoid further depletion of man power. Sir J, Allen explained that an undertaking was given llast session, after a debate in the New Zealand Parliament, not to increase indentured labourers beyond the existing cumber. He said the whole subject will be discussed next session. He continued that he personally believed it was necessary to provide labour for the present plantations, and, perhaps, provide for the development of other lands.