Post by nzbc on Apr 29, 2017 20:59:38 GMT 12
Repatriation of Time-Expired Chinese Indentured Labourers.
The promise made by the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey to Parliament some three years ago, that indentured labour in Samoa would be discontinued as soon as possible,, commenced to be fulfilled on Wednesday of last week, when 352 time-expired|Chinese labourers were repatriated. The Sam oa n Administration, in conjunction with the British Phosphate Commission, chartered the s.s. "St. Francois Xavier"—a steamer of two thousand odd tons—to
repatriate coolies from Samoa,
Ocean Island and Nauru. The transport arrived in Apia at 8 p.m. on Monday 29th, and after being passed by the Customs and Medical officials, was boarded by the Chinese Commissioner and an Officer of the Crown Estates, with a view to (arranging the details connected with the embarkation, At 11 a.m. on Tuesday, the transport was inspected by His Excellency the Administrator who desired to satisfy himself that the terms of the shipping contract Mere being carried out. His Excellency was accompanied by the Consul for China, Mr J. Lee. At the conclusion of the inspection His Excellency, whose experience in fitting out transport ships during the war enabled him to say whether the ship was suitably fited for the purpose required, expressed his entire approval of the arrangements for the comfort of the departing men, which sentiment also had the unqualified approval of the
Consul for China, The labourers being repatriated had been employed on the Northern Coast of Upolu, from Vailele eastward, to Mulifanua westward. Those from Mulifanua to Vailele were brought to the port of Apia in the government tug "L,ady Roberts" and by motor launch, while those from Vaitele to Vailele were brought in by motor:. lorry. _or on foot, according to the distance of the plantations from Apia. Embarkation commenced at 1.30 p.m. on Tuesday, when about 109 details from Apia were placed on the vessel. These were men in the employ of the Administration or private . employers, hospital details, etc. On Wednesday morning, at 8 a.m., the Crown Estates coal depot was the scene of operations, where labourers of Tapatapao (Central Group), Vaitele and Vailele, were concentrated. Here the labourers' baggage was checked by the Police and Customs officials,
and on being passed as correct - the coolies and their belongings were put on a waiting lighter, in which they were taken to the transport at 12 noon. In the meantime the "Lady Roberts" had arrived with the men from Mulifanua and had taken on those from the motor boat which arrived about the same time. At 1.80 p.m. she was boarded by the officials who, after the usual examination, checked them on to the "St. Francois Yavier," and by 3.30 p.m. a total of 352 men had been embarked on the transport with not a singe accident of any kind. Consul Lee visited the ship at 5 p.m. in order to bid "Shun Fung" to the departing labourers, who cheered him as he left the ship. But for the fact that the "St. Francois Xuvior ' was delayed on account of taking in fresh water, she could easily have cleared Apia in daylight on Wednesday, but inorder to complete her supply of water, the vessel'* departure was
delayed until 10 a.m. the following morning', when she cleared for Ocean Island. Mr. Pope of the British Phosphate Commission is proceeding through to Hong Kong by the vessel, as the joint representative of the Saraoan Administration and the Phosphate Commission. At a low estimate, these labourers are returning with between £4,000 and £5,000 in drafts, in addition to which a large number of them have been remitting their savings regularly to China, during their three years' residence here. Duriug the embarkation, His Excellency the Administrator asked to see the weeping wives and children he had read so much about iu the New Zealand papers prior to his arrival here, but not one was to be found. It is the intention of the Government to review the position regarding Samoa's requirements of Chinese Labour early next year, and to arrange for the gradual repatriation of time-expired men and replacing them by the required number of new coolies engaged under the new terms of free labour, which, from all reports received to date, are proving far more satisfactory and economical, to both employer and employee, than the old indentured system.
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SAMZ19231109.2.14?query=hong%20kong%20shipping Repatriation of Time-Expired Chinese Indentured Labourers.
SAMOANISCHE ZEITUNG, VOLUME 23, ISSUE 45, 9 NOVEMBER 1923
The promise made by the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey to Parliament some three years ago, that indentured labour in Samoa would be discontinued as soon as possible,, commenced to be fulfilled on Wednesday of last week, when 352 time-expired|Chinese labourers were repatriated. The Sam oa n Administration, in conjunction with the British Phosphate Commission, chartered the s.s. "St. Francois Xavier"—a steamer of two thousand odd tons—to
repatriate coolies from Samoa,
Ocean Island and Nauru. The transport arrived in Apia at 8 p.m. on Monday 29th, and after being passed by the Customs and Medical officials, was boarded by the Chinese Commissioner and an Officer of the Crown Estates, with a view to (arranging the details connected with the embarkation, At 11 a.m. on Tuesday, the transport was inspected by His Excellency the Administrator who desired to satisfy himself that the terms of the shipping contract Mere being carried out. His Excellency was accompanied by the Consul for China, Mr J. Lee. At the conclusion of the inspection His Excellency, whose experience in fitting out transport ships during the war enabled him to say whether the ship was suitably fited for the purpose required, expressed his entire approval of the arrangements for the comfort of the departing men, which sentiment also had the unqualified approval of the
Consul for China, The labourers being repatriated had been employed on the Northern Coast of Upolu, from Vailele eastward, to Mulifanua westward. Those from Mulifanua to Vailele were brought to the port of Apia in the government tug "L,ady Roberts" and by motor launch, while those from Vaitele to Vailele were brought in by motor:. lorry. _or on foot, according to the distance of the plantations from Apia. Embarkation commenced at 1.30 p.m. on Tuesday, when about 109 details from Apia were placed on the vessel. These were men in the employ of the Administration or private . employers, hospital details, etc. On Wednesday morning, at 8 a.m., the Crown Estates coal depot was the scene of operations, where labourers of Tapatapao (Central Group), Vaitele and Vailele, were concentrated. Here the labourers' baggage was checked by the Police and Customs officials,
and on being passed as correct - the coolies and their belongings were put on a waiting lighter, in which they were taken to the transport at 12 noon. In the meantime the "Lady Roberts" had arrived with the men from Mulifanua and had taken on those from the motor boat which arrived about the same time. At 1.80 p.m. she was boarded by the officials who, after the usual examination, checked them on to the "St. Francois Yavier," and by 3.30 p.m. a total of 352 men had been embarked on the transport with not a singe accident of any kind. Consul Lee visited the ship at 5 p.m. in order to bid "Shun Fung" to the departing labourers, who cheered him as he left the ship. But for the fact that the "St. Francois Xuvior ' was delayed on account of taking in fresh water, she could easily have cleared Apia in daylight on Wednesday, but inorder to complete her supply of water, the vessel'* departure was
delayed until 10 a.m. the following morning', when she cleared for Ocean Island. Mr. Pope of the British Phosphate Commission is proceeding through to Hong Kong by the vessel, as the joint representative of the Saraoan Administration and the Phosphate Commission. At a low estimate, these labourers are returning with between £4,000 and £5,000 in drafts, in addition to which a large number of them have been remitting their savings regularly to China, during their three years' residence here. Duriug the embarkation, His Excellency the Administrator asked to see the weeping wives and children he had read so much about iu the New Zealand papers prior to his arrival here, but not one was to be found. It is the intention of the Government to review the position regarding Samoa's requirements of Chinese Labour early next year, and to arrange for the gradual repatriation of time-expired men and replacing them by the required number of new coolies engaged under the new terms of free labour, which, from all reports received to date, are proving far more satisfactory and economical, to both employer and employee, than the old indentured system.
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SAMZ19231109.2.14?query=hong%20kong%20shipping Repatriation of Time-Expired Chinese Indentured Labourers.
SAMOANISCHE ZEITUNG, VOLUME 23, ISSUE 45, 9 NOVEMBER 1923