The Deported Planters.

Samoanische Zeitung, Volume 23, Issue 32, 10 August 1923, Page 7

The Deported Planters.

(To the Editor Samoa Times.) Si r —« Observer's" screed on the above subject in your valuable journal of the 3rd inst. is quite liable to mislead some people who are ignorant of the true conditions prevailing in Samoa. To my mind the former occupants of Samoa have received exceptionally generous treament in comoarison to what would have :.;|SSeledautto M Ob^ver» and his countrymen had p* rations been reversed How "Observer" can pfl ■*H* litv of planters good or bau i s y beyona nie, and were be is. ucvuuM - -tateiuents even fair in his state one would notmiud; but ue

is obviously biased. He ignores the fact that conditions now are altogether different to what they were in pre-war days, and planters in all parts of the world have had the worst period in the history of of planting, during the past five years. Millions of pounds worth of plantations have had to close down.in some countries; not through bad management, nor even because "Observer's" super • planters were deported from Samoa, but merely because of the usual slump which succeeds all wars. "Observer" also for-get*-(conveniently) that sx« peoseY for labour and stores are higher now thuu ever before, but a small matter like that* would not worry him. Another .point he misses is

the fact that those persuaders of pre-war days, the boot and whip, are things of the past, so that the planter 'who formerly depended on brute force and stupidity to gain results is now a greater "dud" at the game than even some of the "Gvt." planters. Any fool can get results with cheap labour . and condoned brutality, but it takes a good planter, to get good results under present conditions; with the present class of labour,* worked with kid gloves on. "Observer" should visit some of the places he so glibly discnsses and condemn* in the press, instead ot gleaning doubtful information from "beach", planters, or from former planters who. very. natnraJ'y. sneer at every eflort made by the present occupants of 'Samoa. The newcomers are of the wrorig nationality to suit "Observer's" friends (?) and the latter would hate to see Samoa go ahead under the present regime. We are all aware of the fact that 'grave mistake* have been made in the past, but there is still time to rectify them ; hut people of ."Observers," caiihre will not help any by continually crying "stinking fish." When next "Observer" feels himself in the throes of "cacoethes scribendi" he should devote his remarks to some of the business firms and perhaps he would find an action for libel on his hands. He is lucky to have such a benevolent and lone suffering Administration to attack In any case the business firms have done nothing wonderful since the war but no one would be degraded enough to" blame them for the trade depression ; unless "Observer" can also trace that to the deportation of the former planters from Samoa. It is time this fetish of the occupants oi Samoa was buried. Surely the world's decision on tbem is sufficient for any right thinking person, and as tor their superiority as planters or otherwise, it is a myth, existing purely in th u minds of "Observer" and his friends. Although conditions were so much more favourable in Samoa hefore the war, I can name three British colonies where labour conditions were not so good, wages and salaries were higher, but results and profits were more than 50 per cent better than ever they were in Samoa, and all the managers and overseers were of the race that "Observer" despises. Had "Observer" the real future and progress of Samoa at heart be would not advocate the return of the deportees, but rather their retention in Timbuctoo or Lapland or wherever they have gone in preference to remaining in their own wonderful country.—l am, etc., M.8.0.