NAURU ISLAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16908, 6 December 1922, Page 7

NAURU ISLAND.

NO INDENTURED LABOUR. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received December 6, 1 p.m.) LONDON, December 5. The Hon W. G. A. Orinsbv Gore (Undersecretary of State for the Colonies). replying to questions in the House of Commons, said that approximately eighty Chinese mechanics and 490 Chinese labourers were employed on Nauru Island. They were not in dentured. There were no compounds, and the Chinese lived in defined areas unaccompanied by women. A member: “ What is the difference between a compound and a defined Mr Ormsby Gore replied that the object of defined areas was to prevent the Chinese living in native Nauruan settlements for social reasons. The Chinese were confined to their areas at night-time, but during the daytime they could go anywhere they liked. Labour from the Pacific native races had always been employed in the phosphate industry on Nauru. At the present about 360 natives were so employed. Recruiting from the Caroline Islands under the Japanese mandate had ceased. The Hong Kong Government had not' arranged to supply Chinese indentured labour for Nauru or Samoa, hut had afforded the New Zealand Government certain facilities. The report of the League of Nations sub-commission referred to the arrange merits effected by the New Zealand Government.