Post by nzbc on Apr 29, 2017 20:20:08 GMT 12
.
Chinese Coolies.
I'o tin- Editor Samoa Times
Sir, —As I am having such difficulty in gettiug Chinese for my plantation I would like to ask, "Where are the Chinese ?" I have been assured by many planters who arc near Apia that there is no shortage of Chinese. May be "they" have no difficulty in getting labour, as the Chinese like to be near their fan tan resorts in Apia, but outside planters simply cannot get labour. I have not had sufficient labour for months, aud can get no satisfaction from the Chinese Department. The Chinese were brought here for the plantations ; it was on this understanding that the New Zealand Government extended the privilege of importing labour under an agreement, and it is quite obvious that if all the Chinese here were allotted to the plantations there would be ample labour for all plantations. As far as I can see, it is the persistent abuse of this privilege which is making the shortage ou the plantations. The abuse I refer to is, the employment of Chinese by merchants in Apia, to the detriment ot the local people. Another cause of shortage is the tact that Chinese are running around the coast, trading washiue blue, soap , lollies, etc., for native produce, \vh eh they sell in Apia, and by this means, make their living instead ot working on the plantations, which they were brought here for. Ask any trader along the coast from Apia to Mulifanua, aud they will tell you they cannot buy an egg outside Apia, whereas before they could buy as many as they wanted from the natives, and the sale of certain articles (wash blue, soap, etc.) has almost ceased oil account of the activities of these Chinese hawkers. The Chinese seem to have the thin end ot the wedge in with a vengeance, and if chiugs go on like they are going, it will not take very long befote Samoa is iu the same plight as Tahiti. A far better plau to supply this country with labour would be to get Javanese under a two or three years agreement, after which give them land in the more remote districts, and allow them to settle down and make their homes here. These are purely agricultural people, and would be a great asset fo: Samoa. Something will soon have to be done, because unless there is better control of Chinese, outside planters might just as well turn the key iu the door and walk out, as it is getting more impossible every day to get labom. -I am, etc., i'LANTER.
SAMOANISCHE ZEITUNG, VOLUME 24, ISSUE 17, 25 APRIL 1924 paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SAMZ19240425.2.8?query=chinese%20samoa
Chinese Coolies.
I'o tin- Editor Samoa Times
Sir, —As I am having such difficulty in gettiug Chinese for my plantation I would like to ask, "Where are the Chinese ?" I have been assured by many planters who arc near Apia that there is no shortage of Chinese. May be "they" have no difficulty in getting labour, as the Chinese like to be near their fan tan resorts in Apia, but outside planters simply cannot get labour. I have not had sufficient labour for months, aud can get no satisfaction from the Chinese Department. The Chinese were brought here for the plantations ; it was on this understanding that the New Zealand Government extended the privilege of importing labour under an agreement, and it is quite obvious that if all the Chinese here were allotted to the plantations there would be ample labour for all plantations. As far as I can see, it is the persistent abuse of this privilege which is making the shortage ou the plantations. The abuse I refer to is, the employment of Chinese by merchants in Apia, to the detriment ot the local people. Another cause of shortage is the tact that Chinese are running around the coast, trading washiue blue, soap , lollies, etc., for native produce, \vh eh they sell in Apia, and by this means, make their living instead ot working on the plantations, which they were brought here for. Ask any trader along the coast from Apia to Mulifanua, aud they will tell you they cannot buy an egg outside Apia, whereas before they could buy as many as they wanted from the natives, and the sale of certain articles (wash blue, soap, etc.) has almost ceased oil account of the activities of these Chinese hawkers. The Chinese seem to have the thin end ot the wedge in with a vengeance, and if chiugs go on like they are going, it will not take very long befote Samoa is iu the same plight as Tahiti. A far better plau to supply this country with labour would be to get Javanese under a two or three years agreement, after which give them land in the more remote districts, and allow them to settle down and make their homes here. These are purely agricultural people, and would be a great asset fo: Samoa. Something will soon have to be done, because unless there is better control of Chinese, outside planters might just as well turn the key iu the door and walk out, as it is getting more impossible every day to get labom. -I am, etc., i'LANTER.
SAMOANISCHE ZEITUNG, VOLUME 24, ISSUE 17, 25 APRIL 1924 paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SAMZ19240425.2.8?query=chinese%20samoa