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Post by NZBC on Jun 7, 2010 21:31:48 GMT 12
NEW ZEALAND. CHINESE FOR SAMOAN PLANTATIONS.
AUCKLAND. Thursday. I
Tho Governor of Samoa is making arrangements for the importation of between 300 and 400 Chinese labourers for plantation work.
The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954) Friday 22 July 1904
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Post by NZBC on Jun 7, 2010 21:58:08 GMT 12
SAMOA UNDER NEW ZEALAND. WHY THERE IS CHINESE LABOUR.
Even if the Samoans were disposed to work, says Mr. W. H Triggs,M.L.C in the "Quarterly Review," their numbers are not sufficient to develop and cultivate their own land. Mr. Triggs was a member of a Parliamentary party from New Zealand which visited Samoa. He treats of the position of Samoa under the mandate granted to New Zealand, and discusses, among other things, the Chinese labour question. The Samoans will not undertake sustained work for other people. They have no need to do so. Cocoanut, bananas, and breadfruit supply them easily with food, and if they wish for European tinned food or biscuits they have only to collect cocoanut from their own land, dry the flesh-thus. making copia-and trade it for what they want.
In the cocoanut plantations the work needed is comparatively simple. The chief trouble is the imported rhinoceros beetle, which eats out the crown of the cocoanut palm, and, if it is not mastered, will destroy the plantations. A quaint method of inducing the natives to search for it, tried some years ago, was to make a charge of so many beetles for admittance to a moving piocure entertainment. Before the influenza epidemic the post was held in check, but since then it has begun to increase.
The position is even more serious with regard to cacao (cocoa) and rubber. The work on rubber being of an intermittent character, Samoan labour, to the limited extent to which it is available, may be employed. But the cultivation of cacao requires constant labour and unceasing vigi- lance to keep down the weeds, light the post, and perform the various operations incidental to the industry. A reed called "mile-a-minute" spreads over the ground with remarkable rapidity, climbs the trees, and chokes them in it's embrace. For the work in these plantations, says Mr. Trigs the Samoans arc useless, but the hard working, intelligent Chinese can be relied upon.
It is said to have been made clear from the inquiries of the party that the Chinese have nothing to complain of, and are better off than they would be in China. They were engaged by the Germans at 20 gold marks a month, with food and quarters. At the time of the visit the current rate was 3/10/ a month, with food and quarters. Even the Labour members were unable to say that the Chinese had much to complain of, so they based their main objection on morality and the duty of keeping the Samoan free from any racial admixture. A certain number of marriages according to the custom of Samoa at will and not for life-have taken place between native women anti Chinese. The visitors were informed that the Chinese were good and kind husbands, and that the couples were faithful to each other. A distinguished missionary, the Rev. W. K. Clarke, told Mr.Triggs that the policy of the London Missionary Society was to keep the race pure as far as possible, but his own opinion was that it was now impossible to do so; it was too late. At the schools bright young half-castes, representing crosses with half a dozen nationalities, were pointed out. Mr. Triggs' savs that the principal merchant, and leading man of affairs in Apia is a half-caste, his father being a Swede and his-mother Samoan. .Mr. Clarke confirmed the statement made by other residents, that the Samoan-Chinese blend produces some very line specimens, both physically and mentally. The Samoan. though handsome, is physically rather soft, and is incapable of application or long-sustained industry. The Chinese, with his patience, endurance, and tenacity, supplies some of the very qualities in which the Samoan is lacking.
The New Zealander, like the Australian, says Mr. Triggs, will fight to the death against an Asiatic infiltration into his own country. lt is a question, however, whether any of the Polynesian peoples is capable of inviting as a separate race. With an adequate supply of labour and careful administration there is reason to believe that not only will New Zealand be able lo carry out the Samoan mandate without cost to the New Zealand taxpayer, but ultimately will be available for further development, and that ultimately there may be something over towards the reparation payments due by Germany.
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848-1954)Saturday 30 December 1922
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Post by NZBC on Jun 7, 2010 22:00:42 GMT 12
THE EXPULSION OF CHINESE FROM SAMOA [BY TELEGRAPH.](FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
AUCKLAND, March 5.
News reeeived from Samoa, states that King Malietoa has ordered all the Chinese lately arrived to leave the islands.
The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879-1954) Friday 7 March 1890
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Post by NZBC on Jun 7, 2010 22:12:23 GMT 12
It was true that Chinese women were unwilling to recruit unless they received the same pay as men but that was a reasonable demand It had been said that a three-years' indenture was insufficient to enable a Chinese to learn the linguagc and become associated with the natives of his new country but he maintained that this was not a sufficnet guarautee against the danger of importing male, exclusively.
Referring to indentured labour, Sir James Allen said that the moral issue related to the employment of Chinese at Samoa was investigated, and as a result it was determined that the Chlnese should bring their wifes if possible Ihe result was that the Chínese brought women, but not their wives, so the attempt failed Sir dimes Allen defended the introduction ot Chinese In Samoa on the ground that the Samnans were a proud race who owned the lands communally and were able to supply their limited necessities easily, and were not prepared to accept pay as day labourers The heavy work of cultivation would have been abandoned unless labour had been inported.
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848-1954) Friday 22 September 1922
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Post by NZBC on Jun 7, 2010 22:27:46 GMT 12
The Acting Vice-Consul at Samoa, in bi annual report on the trade of Samoa, says the labour question is of more Importance than any other, Imported labour being an absolute necessity'. A few months since nearly 300 Chinese coolies were taken there from Swatau. Governor Self, during his journey to Europe last year, called at Swatu and arranged the matter with the Chinese authorities A Chinese coolie cost the planter £3 10s per month. This Includes board and their passage money to and from China. So far it Is said they have given satisfaction. The | report concludes:-"It is proper to mention that on some of the plantations the Chinese work on the Sunday, whether voluntarily tor extra payment or compulsorily is not at present I known by me." _
The Sydney Morning Herald... Saturday 16 July 1904,
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Post by NZBC on Jun 7, 2010 22:34:45 GMT 12
According to Mi Lin Jun Chao there are about 8OO Chlnese In Samoa, the majority of them being Indentured labourers They are the Consul says, better treated than they were some years ago. His view is that there is a big development ahead of Samoa if the Government will allow the Chinese to settle there The present condition is that when their contracts expire as indentured labourers they have to return to China
Sent by the Viceroy ot Canton to Samoa in 1909 to look after the interests of the Chinese labourers, Mr Lin Jun Chao obtained exequatur from the then German Government under Dr Self, and he has exercised his consular duties since 1909 It Is stated that on his arrival In China a higher post will be offered to him.
The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954) Friday 16 July 1920
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Post by NZBC on Jun 7, 2010 22:36:52 GMT 12
TROUBLE WITH CHINESE COOLIES REPORTED FROM SAMOA.
Types of coolies employed on plantations. According to cable messages differences between rival tonga caused riots in Apia on Sunday.
The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954) Friday 16 August 1929
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Post by NZBC on Jun 7, 2010 22:38:16 GMT 12
The Ministerr for External Affairs says the Chinese labourers 'in Samoa number about 1600, whereas, when New Zealand first occupied Samoa, the number was about 3000.
The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954) Friday 23 September 1921
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Post by NZBC on Jun 7, 2010 22:41:07 GMT 12
CHINESE FOR SAMOA.
THOUSAND TO BE IMPORTED
Our Apia correspondent writes that arrangements are being made to take over to Samoa a batch of about 1000 Chinese for plantation work, and It Is likely that nearly al of the Chinese, whose time will soon expire, will remain In the colony as the previous lot did in 1910, when about 80 per cent of the time-expired Chinese elected to stay and re-enlist. Such acts as these, itis held, effectually refute the charges made that the Chinese coolies in Samoa are badly treated.
The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954)Friday 20 September 1912 >
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Post by NZBC on Jun 7, 2010 22:42:44 GMT 12
CHINESE FOR SAMOA.
Sydney. October 3.
Dr. Schultz, Chief Justice of Samoa, arrived in Sydney yesterday morning on the steamer Prinz Waldemar. While in China he engaged about 500 coolies to work on the island plantation, and a special steamer will be chartered to take the laborers' to Samoa. The plantation laborers have been giving the German Government some trouble of late, and the seed of discontent appears to have been scattered broadcast throughout several of their island possessions. The rebellious spirits will be dis- pensed with on the arrival of the Chinese workmen, who are said to be particularly adapted, to the arduous duties of the plantations. Dr. Schultz intends to return to Samoa as soon as possible.
The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889-1931) Monday 4 October 1909
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Post by NZBC on Jun 13, 2010 18:32:41 GMT 12
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