Post by nzbc on Apr 29, 2017 20:03:14 GMT 12
Chinese Voice.
(To the Editor Samoa Times)
Sir, —Chinese indentured labour has been introduced into Samoa for nearly a quarter of a century ; or during the German regime. The labourers have been proved to be a success to Samoa ; if not, when the New Zealand forces came here they would not have continued to recruit Chinese. At present there are more than two hundred old boys remaining, the rest consisting of new boys who were recruited by the present Government. I understand there only one thousand three hundred and twenty eight boys (1328). Oi course, among these boys some ol them (in a faa- Samoa custom) have Samoan women, and many half-caste offsprings cams into the world, consequently what these poor fellows have earned was spent in keeping their women and children. But what a pity, that after so much hard work and their very energy of life exhausted, in many cases, they were not free to take their women and offsprings to the land where they have come from. The situation is such that when time comes for their repatriation we often see these pitiful women and children standing by the shore crying their very eyes out, perhaps in many cases would never again lay eyes upon their what you may call husbands and fathers. In my humble opinion I believe the new boys are much wiser than the old. The new boys seem to keep away from the Samoan women, and in many instances have saved what they have earned, sending back their hard-earned cash for the maintenance and support of their aged parents, wives, children and poor relations. In the history of Samoa very few Chinese have come in as free settlers. But if Samoa wishes to be progressive and prosperous, more free Chinese settlers are needed to held her to achieve her aims.—l am, etc., M. H. YEE. Chinese Voice.
SAMOANISCHE ZEITUNG, VOLUME 23, ISSUE 18, 4 MAY 1923 paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SAMZ19230504.2.24?query=chinese%20samoa
(To the Editor Samoa Times)
Sir, —Chinese indentured labour has been introduced into Samoa for nearly a quarter of a century ; or during the German regime. The labourers have been proved to be a success to Samoa ; if not, when the New Zealand forces came here they would not have continued to recruit Chinese. At present there are more than two hundred old boys remaining, the rest consisting of new boys who were recruited by the present Government. I understand there only one thousand three hundred and twenty eight boys (1328). Oi course, among these boys some ol them (in a faa- Samoa custom) have Samoan women, and many half-caste offsprings cams into the world, consequently what these poor fellows have earned was spent in keeping their women and children. But what a pity, that after so much hard work and their very energy of life exhausted, in many cases, they were not free to take their women and offsprings to the land where they have come from. The situation is such that when time comes for their repatriation we often see these pitiful women and children standing by the shore crying their very eyes out, perhaps in many cases would never again lay eyes upon their what you may call husbands and fathers. In my humble opinion I believe the new boys are much wiser than the old. The new boys seem to keep away from the Samoan women, and in many instances have saved what they have earned, sending back their hard-earned cash for the maintenance and support of their aged parents, wives, children and poor relations. In the history of Samoa very few Chinese have come in as free settlers. But if Samoa wishes to be progressive and prosperous, more free Chinese settlers are needed to held her to achieve her aims.—l am, etc., M. H. YEE. Chinese Voice.
SAMOANISCHE ZEITUNG, VOLUME 23, ISSUE 18, 4 MAY 1923 paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SAMZ19230504.2.24?query=chinese%20samoa