DISAFFECTION AT NAURU.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16570, 1 November 1921, Page 6

DISAFFECTION AT NAURU.

SLAVERY, IN A THIN DISGUISE. NATIVES AT 5s A MONTH. Recently the people of Australia have been exercised in their minds regarding the condition of affairs in ex-German New Guinea, and there is a disquieting impression abroad that Australian administration in that territory is not of a character desired by the citizens of the Commonwealth (says the Melbourne “ Age ” of October 15 last) Government secrecy and apparent lack of knowledge have contributed in large measure to the growth of this feeling. W hat of the other possession over which the Commonwealth has been entrusted with a solemn mandate? Little is heard of the doings at the rich little island of Nauru, which is now administered by Australia, and from which the Commonwealth, in common with Great Britain a;jd New Zealand, draws considerable wealth in the shape of phosphates. Those reports which are reaching Melbourne, however, suggest that the government of that island is being conducted on a basis which is not in accord with the wishes of the community, and -there is need for much closer attention to the possession than is now being given by the responsible authorities. Nauru is not beset with those problems, associated chiefly with the protection of the native population, which make ex-German New Guinea a difficult territory to administer. It is not free from its problems, however, and the manner in which these have been handled under the present regime is subjected to trenchant criticism by those who, after a residence on the island, are qualified to speak. A widely travelled engineer, who is now in Melbourne, and who has worked on the island for nearly a year, has many charges to level against the management of the commission. The most serious of these allegations relates to a question of policy, and suggests the introduction of a very thinly disguised form of slavery in the phosphate fields which will arouse the indignation of the people of Australia. Hitherto the labourers employed on Nauru have consisted entirely of Chinese coolies and Kanakas. Thero are about 700 Chinese and 200 Kanakas employed in various capacities. These are indentured for two years, and are paid at the rate of 32s a month, with 4s a month bonus, and food supplied Recently a new system has been introduced. Members of the staff have been sent recruiting in Admiralty Islandß, and have enlisted a number of “ boys ” from that territory. In the last three? months the first batches of these “ boys,” numbering forty-one, have arrived and have been set to work. These are being paid 5s a month. They receive 2s of this 5s each month, and the remaining 3s is retained until they have finished their term, which varies from two to three years. These natives, though unaccustomed to carrying heavy burdens, are put to the same task as the Chinese, and are required to do the same amount of work each day, loading 5 tons 15 cwt into trucks. They are herded in a compound, and, according to all reports, have anything but a happy time. The allegation is a grave one, demanding the immediate attention of the Government. These are methods which are not likely to appeal to Australians. The Chinese, too, apparently have little reason to rejoice over the change in management which has taken place recently. It is declared that their rations were drastically shortened a few months ago, being limited to 201 b of beef per day per 100, and many irritating restrictions were imposed an their movements. This led to a number of strikes and disturbances, of which nothing has been heard. In on© of these disturbances the Chinese came in conflict with the police, and two coolies were wounded. They opened a theatre, for which they subscribed nearly £4OO, and imported costumes from China. The manager did not like the performance and the theatre was arbitrarily closed. Severe penalties have been imposed for trifling offences. One Chinese was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for stealing a handsaw. Another was awarded six months’ gaol for stealing some old sleepers, although he had the explanation that they were given to him by another Chinese, who received them from a white resident. These and many other similar instances are quoted by the traveller as indicating the antagonistic policy adopted toward the Chinese, which, he declares threatens to lead to serious trouble. Thero is a further complaint against the management, which is declared to display an unreasoning antipathy toward Australians. The officers of the commission are drawn mostly from men who before the change over were employed as clerks or in some other minor capacity, and they have adopted it policy which has established cliques and led to many quarrels on the island. A typical instance is given, in which the manager and an Australian who served for four years in the A.I.F. was concerned. The Australian was at work in his office when the manager entered—and he went on working. The manager rebuked him, and ordered that he should stand up when his superior entered the room. The Australian resigned on the spot. Other Australians have had similar experiences, and have frequently been compelled to “toe the mat ” because they gave utterance to opinions unfavourable to old employees or tho management—expressions which never failed to reach the ears of the chief officers. In proof that there ia cause for disaffection it is shown that within the last three months three overseers, two carpenters, two fitters, two stevedores, on harbour master and one chemist have resigned and left the island.

Little attention is paid to even the elementary requirements of sanitation, and the island is infested with mosquitoes and rats. Last year, when an epidemic occurred, the neglect to take ordinary health precautions was tragically revealed in the death of about 340 coolies within a month. The Administrator seems to be in the unhappy position of a man with nothing to do. The management is virtually the government of the island, and very few functions are left for the performance of Brigadier-General Griffiths, who was appointed as Administrator by the Federal Government. From the reports brought by this observer, however, it appears that there is much for somebody to do and that it should be done at once. The evil of the present system lies largely in the fact that nobody in Australia has anything more than a vague idea of what is going on in this, its new and rich possession.