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ADMINISTERING SAMOA.
ADMINISTERING SAMOA.
WHY THERE IS CHINESE LABOUR. Even if the Samoans were disposed to work,, says M/r W. H. Triggs, M.L.C., in the Quarterly Review, their numbers are not sufficient to develop and cultivate their own lands. 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 in New Zealand, and discusses, among oihet’ things, the Chinese labour question. The Samoans will not undertake sustained work for other peop U'hey have no need to do so. Cocoanuts, bananas and breadfruit supply them easily, with food,, and if they wish far European tinned food or biscuits they have only to collect cocoanuts from their own land, .dry the flesh- -thus making copra and trade it for what they want. In the cocoanut plantations the wefi’k needed is comparatively simple. The chief trouble is thq 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 picture entertainment. Before the influenza epidemic the pest was held in check, but since then it has began to increase.
The position is even more serious with regard to cacao (cocoa) and rubber. The work on irubber being of an intermittent character, Samoan labour, to the limited extent to which is available, can be employed. But the cultivation of cacao (requires constant labour and unceasing vigilance to keep down the weeds, fight the pest, and perform the various operations incidental to the industry. A weed called “mile-a-minute” spreads ovoi" the ground with remarkable rapidity, climbs the trees, and chokes them in its embrace. For the work in these* plantations, says Mr Triggs. the Samoans are useless, but the hard-working, intelligent Chines'- can be relied upon It is said to have been mau clear from the inquiries of the party hat the Chinese here nothing to complain of, and vi!'c better off than they would have been in Chine. They were engaged by the Germans at 20 gold marks a month, witlj food and quarters. At the time of the visit the current irate was £3 10s a
month, with food and quarters. Ever, the Labour members were unable t say that the Chinese had much complain of, so they based theiirmain objections 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 4ot for life —have taken place between the native women and Chinese. The visitors were informed that the Chinese were good and kind husbands,. and that the couples were faithful to each other. A distinguished miSsionairy, the Rev. W. E. 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 says that the principal merchant and leading men of affairs in Apia is a half-caste, his father being a Swede, his mother a Samoan. Mr Clarke confirmed the statement made by other residents that the Samoan-Chinese blend produces some very fine specimens, both physically and mentally. The Samoan, though handsome, is lacking in 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. It is a question, however, whether any of the Polynesian peoples is capable of surviving as a seperate race. With an adequate supply of labour and careful administration there is a reason to believe that not only will New Zealand be ab'e to carry out the Samoan mandate without cost to the New Zealand taxpayer, but that funds will be available fcjr further development, and that ultimately there may be something over towards the reparation payments due to Germany.
Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 10, Issue 801, 23 January 1923, Page 5
ADMINISTERING SAMOA.
WHY THERE IS CHINESE LABOUR. Even if the Samoans were disposed to work,, says M/r W. H. Triggs, M.L.C., in the Quarterly Review, their numbers are not sufficient to develop and cultivate their own lands. 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 in New Zealand, and discusses, among oihet’ things, the Chinese labour question. The Samoans will not undertake sustained work for other peop U'hey have no need to do so. Cocoanuts, bananas and breadfruit supply them easily, with food,, and if they wish far European tinned food or biscuits they have only to collect cocoanuts from their own land, .dry the flesh- -thus making copra and trade it for what they want. In the cocoanut plantations the wefi’k needed is comparatively simple. The chief trouble is thq 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 picture entertainment. Before the influenza epidemic the pest was held in check, but since then it has began to increase.
The position is even more serious with regard to cacao (cocoa) and rubber. The work on irubber being of an intermittent character, Samoan labour, to the limited extent to which is available, can be employed. But the cultivation of cacao (requires constant labour and unceasing vigilance to keep down the weeds, fight the pest, and perform the various operations incidental to the industry. A weed called “mile-a-minute” spreads ovoi" the ground with remarkable rapidity, climbs the trees, and chokes them in its embrace. For the work in these* plantations, says Mr Triggs. the Samoans are useless, but the hard-working, intelligent Chines'- can be relied upon It is said to have been mau clear from the inquiries of the party hat the Chinese here nothing to complain of, and vi!'c better off than they would have been in Chine. They were engaged by the Germans at 20 gold marks a month, witlj food and quarters. At the time of the visit the current irate was £3 10s a
month, with food and quarters. Ever, the Labour members were unable t say that the Chinese had much complain of, so they based theiirmain objections 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 4ot for life —have taken place between the native women and Chinese. The visitors were informed that the Chinese were good and kind husbands,. and that the couples were faithful to each other. A distinguished miSsionairy, the Rev. W. E. 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 says that the principal merchant and leading men of affairs in Apia is a half-caste, his father being a Swede, his mother a Samoan. Mr Clarke confirmed the statement made by other residents that the Samoan-Chinese blend produces some very fine specimens, both physically and mentally. The Samoan, though handsome, is lacking in 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. It is a question, however, whether any of the Polynesian peoples is capable of surviving as a seperate race. With an adequate supply of labour and careful administration there is a reason to believe that not only will New Zealand be ab'e to carry out the Samoan mandate without cost to the New Zealand taxpayer, but that funds will be available fcjr further development, and that ultimately there may be something over towards the reparation payments due to Germany.
Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 10, Issue 801, 23 January 1923, Page 5
