AFFAIRS IN SAMOA

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1931, Page 8

AFFAIRS IN SAMOA

CHINESE LABOUR QUESTION. BANANA SHORTAGE OVER-STATED. Statements concerning certain conditions in Western Samoa were challenged by Mr. R. J. Carter, commissioner of labour in the Samoan administration, who is visiting Auckland. It had been stated that there were now more than 3000 Chinese in Samoa, but Mr. Carter said the Government had reduced the number to 950. The Government was making every endeavour to get Chinese labour away from the islands and replace it with local labour. No artisans of any description were now imported. The Administration welcomed local labour wherever it applied, and substituted it for Chinese labour whenever and wherever possible. There was no foundation for the statement that any Chinese had been brought to the islands to work in stores or behind counters. It had been stated that recent stormy weather had brought down most of the banana trees, and that it would take many months before Samoa would be able to send away full shipments. Mr. Carter said he was at the islands during the last two hurricanes, and the damage was not nearly so serious as had been reported. His own impression was that .by next month the island would be sending away the standard quantities of fruit.