THE SAMOAN MANDATE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 17936, 2 August 1920, Page 9

THE SAMOAN MANDATE.

DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE. WELLINGTON, July 31. After the Telegraph Office closed on Saturday evening, Mr MacDonald said this was not a party question, but was a big Empire problem, and his side of the House would not take up any concerted action to embarrass the Government. He was firmly of opinion that Samoa would bo better under British rule than under any other, but he agreed with the Premier that they should get rid of indentured labour at the earliest moment. If the Government could give the House some definite idea of when that could be it woijld create a better feeling in the House. Mr Massey: So far as I am concerned I will do my level best to replace indentured labour with free labour. Mr MacDonald concluded by stating that under all the circumstances he would vote with the 'Government on this question. Mr Veitch emphatically opposed indentured labour. If the House agreed to it that night it would be many years before they -would be able to eradicate it. Messrs Reed. Forbes, Luke. Horn, and Harris gave qualified support to the Government’s proposals. At 2.40 a.m. the debate was concluded, when a division was called, and the amendment moved by Mr Holland defeated by 33 to 11. The House rose at 2.47 a.m. DIVISION LIST. The following is the division list: For amendment: Messrs Bartram, Dickson (Chalmers), Fraser, Hanan, Holland. Howard, Jennings, Kellett, Smith (Taranaki), Veitch, and Wilford: Against the amendment: Messrs Atmore, Bollard. Campbell, Coates. Dickson (Parnell), Field. Forbes, Guthrie. Hamilton (Wallace), Hamilton (Awarua), Harris, Hawken, Herries, Hookly, Horn. Hunter, Lee, Isitt, Luke, MacDonald. McLeod, McNicol, Malcolm, Massey, Nosworthy, Parr, Pomare, Potter, Powdrell, Reed, Rhodes (Thames), Sykes, and Young. Pairs. For the amendment: Messrs McCombs, Parry. Savage, and Sullivan. Against: Messrs Glenn, Nash. Bitchener, and Craigie. ■ » '