SAMOAN GRIEVANCES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20044, 6 September 1920, Page 6

SAMOAN GRIEVANCES.

deputation To hew ZEALAND. GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION CRITICISED. A deputation from Samoa, consisting of Messrs R. I>. Croudace (chairman of the Chamber of Commerce), K A. Cobble (ex-editor of the “ Samoan Times ”) and T. Andrews (of the linn of Andrews and Sydall, merchants), arrived in Christchurch on Saturday. The deputation is visiting New Zealand with a, view to giving publicity to various grievances of the residents of tho islands. in the course of an interview Mr Croudace said that tho deputation had been sent to the Dominion by the Samoa Chamber of Commerce, and represented all tho merchants of Samoa. One of their main grievances was as regards tho Legislative Council, which consisted of the Administrator as chairman, three officials and three non-official members. As tho lastnamod, however', were appointed by the Government of New Zealand, it simply meant that if they did not agree with the views of the Administrator ho could dispense with their services. Tho residents asked that the non-official members of tho Council should be elected by popular vote by the ratepayers. They would thus bo represented by men who had an intimate knowledge of Samoan conditions, and not, as at present, by men who were not only not conversant with the needs of Samoa, but declined to accept any advice from men who had lived all their lives in tho islands and knew their requirements from A to Z. They had hoped against hope that there would bo an improvement, in the Administration as time went on, but their hopes had beeq disappointed, hence the deputation to New Zealand to ask tho Tnme Minister for relief from the present position, which was becoming intolerable and avou ld lead to New Zealand having another Ireland on her hands if some radical action were not taken soon. B The civil Government, said Mr Croudace, was practically tho old military Government under a different name—an autocratic Government in which the people had no voice. There was a multiplicity of Government officials— one-third of w‘hom could be dispensed with if an eight-hour day were worked in the Government offices. Another cause of complaint was that the deliberations of the Legislative Council were held in camera. The public and the Press were not allowed to attend, and the Press were denied details of the proceedings. Tho people complained, also, of the wastage that had gone on, and was going on, in tho Administration. Instances of extravagance, Mr Croudace said, were the expenditure of somo iIoOOO on a new quarantine station, £4OOO on a new leper station to house nine leprous Chinese, £4500 on a new harbourmaster’s house and reclamations, when the old buildings would have done just as well. Another was the building of the Paluli Bridge against the advice of old residents. The bridge had proved practically useless, and had since fallen into the riverbed, as had been predicted. Three new roads also had been constructed, and had never been used. The people feared, that unless they get representation on the Legislative Council and strong men were elected to it. such reckless wastage would continue. Reference was also made by Mr Croudaco -to the purchase of the Central Hotel at Apia at a cost of TIU.OUO. It was at present being run at a loss of probably £IOO a week, and he had been given to understand that the Administration now proposed to spend a further £6OOO on the hotel. The people wished to make the strongest possible protest against this further outlay, for which there was no justification, 'as private interests were willing and able to supply accommodation at Apia. " The question naturally arises, Who is going ,to pay for tho losses that are being incurred by ihe Administration in Samoa i”’ said Mr Croudace. “Wo are quite convinced that the public of New Zealand will not want to foot the hill, and mo can assure you that the taxpayers of Samoa are unanimously opposed to seeing their money spent in such a way while urgent matters are crying out for immediate attention.” The rhinoceros beetle, for instance, was overrunning the country, and bad copra was causing loss of trade. The preferential tariff lately adopted operated against the United States, which had kept the copra trade going during theMai. If some of tho money now being expended by tho Administration on "worthless enterprises were devoted to the development of the island's natural resources, it would do much to restore the conlidence of the residents. The Government was now engaged in the following enterprises:—A hotel, icecream shop, butcher’s .shop, barber’s shop, motor garage,-workshop, and had m contemplation, ho ’ understood, a cold storage plant, cattle ranch’ laundry—this in competition with tho Samoan women—and last, but by no means least, a Government store' _ It was mainly on account of this Government store proposition, said Mr Croudace, that the deputation had been sent to New Zealand. If it were confined to Civil servants it would not pay, and tho natives, who paid the Government officials, would want to know why they should not also.have the benefit of the' cheaper goods sold at the store, which would moan the ruination of the merchants. . It was impossible for merchants to sell their goods at less than 30 per cent on cost yet the Government proposed to sell stores at 10 per cent on cok. The vhole matter appeared to be merelv

ON A SHAKY THRONE.

camouflage on the part of tho Government, who did not want to do the right thing by its servants and pay them the increased wages they More asking. Some of the Government officials were opposed to the store proposition, and wanted an increase in their salaries, which would enable them to meet the high cost of Jiving and still deal with the legitimate traders. Although a promise had been made by the Administrator that only one store , w °uld be opened, it was now proposed to open a second one. further, the Trade Commission had distinctly rocommended that the old D.H. and P.G. (German) stores should bo reopened! which meant direct competition with private enterprise. It was also feared that what had happened in the case of the military canteen would also happen with tho Government store. The Government imported goods duty free and any native could buy these goods at the canteen. It had been stated authoritatively that all tho employees on the Crown Estate (the former Ger-man-owned plantations) were Government servants, and this meant that somo 1500 natives and Chinamen would bo entitled to buy from tho Government store. As regards indentured labour Mr Croudace said that the deputation regarded indentured or “ assisted ” labour as an absolute necessity. Unless more labour were secured to work the plantations they M-onld revert to a state of nature. At present there were some 1300 Chinese in Samoa, including 500 who had just arrived, as against 3500 under German rule. The plantations were going back, and the biggest British plantation company had been involved in difficulties because labour was not available to work its plah. tations. It must be remembered that tho 11 assisted ” labour in Samoa was entirely different from that in Fiji. In Samoa the coolies were not allowed to remain when their five years’ service had expired, but were sent back forthwith to their homes. Mr Andrews endorsed all that Mr Croudace had said, adding that although he had had over thirty years’ experience of life in Samoa tile Government officials persistently Refused any advico which ho offered. He had been asked to allow himself to bo nominated for the Council, but until the members were elected and not merely holding office at the Administrator’s pleasure he could not see his way to stand for office. Tho delegation Is expected to proceed to Dunedin to-morrow.