SAMOA'S WANTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 March 1920, Page 4

SAMOA'S WANTS.

THE LABOR DIFFICULTY. STATEMENT BY SIR JAS. ALLEN. By Telegraph ,—Press Received March 11, 125 p.m. Apia, March 11. Sir James Allen and the members of the Parliamentary party met the Europeans on Wednesday morning, when a full opportunity was provided for discussion. The London Missionary Society's representative disassociated himself from the report in regard to liquor prohibition. He said the Mission favored prohibition, but he mentioned that personally he was not in favor of the principle of prohibition. Dealing with labor and agriculture Sir James Allen emphasised that the New Zealand Government recognised throughout the occupation that labor was essential to the maintenance of the plantations. He detailed the efforts made to secure indentured labor, but pointed out that the Government was under a bond to repatriate laborers, and also had a definite instruction from the Imperial Government that on no account to indenture more labor. The New Zealand Government was so impressed by the urgency of the matter that they had again and again communicated with the Imperial Government asking permission to re-indenture, and eventually they were permitted to re-indenture for two periods of aix months following the armistice. The Government begged for longer re-in-denture and to secure a two years' optional re-indenture for Chinese, but the Australian Government declined further indenture or re-indenture oT the Solomon Islanders. Inquiries were made about Javanese, but definite information available announced that a limited number of Niueans were coming to carry out public works, hut Niue wa fi most anxious to avoid a further depletion of her man sower. Sir James Allen explained the undertaking given last session, after a debate in the New Zealand Parliament, not to increase indentured laborers beyond the existing number. He said the whole subject would be discussed next session. •Sir .Tames Allen continued that he personally believed it was necessary to provide labor for the present plantations and perhaps for the development of other lands-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn, ' THE PEOPLE'S DEMANDS. DISCUSSED WITH THE PARTY. SIR JAS. ALLEN'S REPLY. Received March 11, s.fi p.m. e . Apia, March 11 hir James Allen said the mandate clearly laid down that the natives must be the first interest of the mandatory Hower. bur <),., Minister added that recognising their duty to the world he could not believe it right to let such fertile land remain uncultivated. He endorsed, the action of the Administration of insisting on an improvement in the laborers' quarters. In answer to complaints in regard to forced repatriation he held no hope of a return of any part of the repatriation tees. He considered a scheme of advances to settlers hardly practicable until the labor question was settled, but he promised to bring it up before Cabinet. , He said he had not received the final instructions in reference to the mandate, but he would do his utmost to hasten the gazetting of the Imperial Order-in-Council to make the mandate clear It was intended that Samoa should be administered as an integral portion of New Zealand. Discussing . the liquor report, Sir James Allen said he would give a straight and unenmwomising answer. The National Cabinet had resolved that prohibition was necessary in Samoa and that decision was endorsed by the Reform Cabinet. He ouoted the "mandate's injunction against permitting slavery, fire arms, and liquor. He also emphasised the danger, in dealing with (he proud and dignified Pamoan race, of any sugwstion of discrimination in favor of whites as against natives. POLICE FROM NEW ZEALAND. Speaking to the report on the constabulary, a member of the committee said noborlv knew what the members of the force found to do. He also complained that they were not officially informed of the decision to bring police from New Zealand. Sir James Allen said- the announcing of the despatch of the constabulary would have meant the disclosure of the intention of the evacuation of the Expeditionary Force, which was not desirable, Tlie Government anticipated the constabulary would ho welcome as the first definite act marking a reversion to civil .administration. He added: "Though you may not see a good reason for sending 'the constabulary to Samoa the New Zealand Government does see a reason, which at the present moment I am not at liberty lo disclose." The Minister pointed out that the cost of the Force was borne by New Zealand. The editor of the local newspaper supplemented at length the report requesting the discontinuance of the censorship. Questioned, by Messrs Carncros?, Triggs, and Geddw he admitted sending much unedited matter to the censor, thus necessitating editorship by the censor. He was faced with the alternative of a continuation of the censorship or publication under the conditions the New Zealand Press was subjject to under the provisions of the Crimes Act as regards sedition. The editor considered the present censorship preferable. Sir .Tames Allnn said he believed in a free Press, but not an unlicensed Press. At the Minister's sugfjestion the editor agreed to edit the matter and then send it to the censor. THE EDUCATION SYSTEM. The Rev. Clark, questioned as to his statement in a published report that the attempts of the Government education were not encouraging, said he referred to the expense v compared with the mission schools. He'believed a compulsory system was desirable. The German administration always threatened efforts in that direction. Sir James Allen said the' members recognised to the full the valuable work done by the missionaries in the Pacific Islands. He did not want to interfere, but he thought it possible there was room for improvements- He instanced the Cook Group, where the State had taken over the schools at tho request of the London Missionary Society. The |