INDENTURED LABOUR.

White Ribbon, Volume 25, Issue 294, 18 December 1919, Page 11

INDENTURED LABOUR.

(To the Editor.)

Madam, —In the last issue of our excellent little publication (for 1 write as an old White Ribboner), 1 should like to say a little about your article on ‘‘lndentured Labour.” With all vou say about the subject as it per tains to Fiji l agree. From Mr Hurton personally, as well as from his books, and from Dr. Andrews reports, as well is from a recent visit paid to Fiji, we know that the condi tions there were unspeakably bad. But Indentured Labour in F iji and in Samoa are two totally different matters. In a recent issue of the C hristchurch papers appeared an article dealing with the subject. Unfortu natelv. I have not that bv me, but enclose a later article appearing in the “Press’’ of November jSth, which shows that the condition of both the Chinese coolies and the Solomon Flanders in Samoa cannot in an\ sense of the word be said to be that of slavery. We were privileged recently to spend a month in Samoa in close touch with people' interested in the Chinese and Solomon Islanders, and with many Qf the missionaries. Wc saw the men at work, and one of the members of the party c av\ the conditions under which they live, their oav, etc., and the' only fault to be found with the system was that as the men on the plantations cease work at 4 m.. they have ample leisure time on their hands, some of which should b<‘ used for educational purposes. Ihe authorities, 1 believe have that under consideration. Ihe necessity for Indentured Labour is obvious, valuable ('.erman plantations, now the property of the New Zealand Goveinment, and which, when properly cultivated, will help to pay some of the' war expenses, would soon be ruined without outside lalxmr, and instead °f Samoa being more than self-supoon ing, she would become an expense to New Zealand, and the fust to suffer would be the Samoans themselves.— Yours truly. THOMpsox . George Street, New Brighton, Christchurch, 30th Nov. 1 0 1 0.