THE SOUTH PACIFIC ISLES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16769, 19 June 1920, Page 4

THE SOUTH PACIFIC ISLES.

LECTURE BY MR. S. G. SMITH, M.P. The member for Taranaki, Mr. S. G. Smith, delivered an interesting and instructive lecture on Friday evening at the Workers’ Hall, entitled “Storied Isles of the South Pacific.” The lecture was illustrated with a number of lantern slides, depicting the life, habits, and customs of the natives of the South Sea Islands, and some beautiful scenes taken at Samoa, Tiji, Apia, and Tahiti. At the outset the lecturer said that his remarks would deal principally with his impressions of the recent trip with the New Zealand Parliamentary party. Ho would have to ask tho indulgence of the audience to some extent. It was tho first occasion upon which ho had attempted a lantern lecture and slides which he had expected to use had not come to hand, and those he had no desire to use had arrived. However he would endeavour to make it a.s interesting as possible. There was a good attendance and.the speaker was frequently interrupted by applause. Referring to tho question of education at the Islands, Mr. Smith said that good work was being done, and the teachers and pupils were taking a keen interest. The governing of the Islands which were to ho controlled _by New Zealand was a. much more serious problem than appeared on the surface. They had been told that it was impossible to carry on without indentured labour. Far his own part lie was not so sure about that, and certainly did not favour indentured labour judging from the conditions which lie, had seen on his visit. They wore told that in Fiji every Chinaman had a Samoan wife, and at the end of his term of indenture he has to ho repatriated to China. That was absolutely compulsory. Well, then, the result was that he left behind him a Samoan wife with three or four halfbred Chinese children. In a very short time this race of half-bred Chinese would become a menace to be faced in the future. He (tho speaker) had been told that if tho Samoan was properly educated he would work, and from information which he had gathered he believed that that was so. Tho Samoan people were of an exceptionally kind and lovable disposition and as trusting as children. They wore highly moral and good living. In his opinion Samoa would have- to bo worked with other than indentured labour. Ho did not favour the introduction of indentured labour to make plantation owners wealthy. Tho type of Chinaman they saw in Samoa was a miserable puny creature, probably the worst type that there was in China. In conclusion, Sir. Smith paid a warm tribute to the work in the interests of tho natives which was being carried out by the London Missionary Society and the Marist Brothers. Tho natives appeared to take a great interest in the teachings and endeavoured to carry them out. At the conclusion of his address Mr. Smith was accorded a hearty vote of tlmnks for his able and instructive address. Mr. Smith expressed It's thanks to Mr. W. H. Moves, of the. High School, for tho use of the lantern, and to Mr. W. 6. AVilkio for acting as operator.