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Post by nzbc on Aug 11, 2008 22:28:52 GMT 12
GERMAN PLANTERS CHARGED WITH CRUELTY. PETITION FOR PROTECTION. By Telegraph.¡ª Press Association.¡ª Copyright. SYDNEY, 16th July. The Chinese Commissioners who visited Samoa to enquire into charges of cruelty to Chinese by German planters state that the reports of German cruelties are substantially correct. A petition has been sent .to the Chinese Consul-General of Australia requesting him to communicate with the Viceroy of Canton, and to ask for protection tor. the Chinese in Samoa. Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 15, 17 July 1909, Page 5
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Post by NZBC on Aug 11, 2008 22:33:35 GMT 12
CHINESE IN SAMOA. A MANDARIN'S MISSION. [BT tEIEGRAPH. ¡ª PKESS ASSOCIATION.} AUCKLAND, This Day. Thomas Ling, the Chinese Mandarin, charged with the mission of enquiring into the condition of Chinese workers on the German plantations in Samoa, arrived at Auckland by the Atua to-day. Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 95, 22 April 1908, Page 8
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Post by NZBC on Aug 11, 2008 22:37:59 GMT 12
PLANTATION MANAGER ATTACKED
By Chinese Labourers. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND. December 28. News from Samoa states that a man panic:! Niwpal, manager of a plantation it Falclauniu, was attacked by five Chinese labourers in consequence of a dispute about dinner-time. Nieepal fell down some steps, and five coolies were tracking him, when he drew a revolver and the coolies ran away. Nicepal is in a critical condition in the hospital. Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12961, 29 December 1909, Page 5
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Post by NZBC on Aug 11, 2008 22:39:09 GMT 12
CHINESE IN THE PACIFIC.
Interview with a Mandarin
(Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, April 23.
Thos. Ling, a Chinese mandarin, who was sent by the Chinese Government to Samoa "to investigate the condition of the Chinese coolies there, stated that it did not appear likely his report to his Government would result in any cessation of the flow of his countrymen into the Germanowned islands of the Pacific. The trouble on the plantations had arisen owing to the agreements failing to distinguish between 1 the American dollar and the Mexican dollar of Is lOd. Ling is satisfied the Chief Justice and the Acting Governor will remove all-causes of complaint. There are now 1038 Chinese in Samoa. The Chinese Government did not encourage emigration, and the Chinese went on the advice of friends or relatives.
China, Ling . further said, was getting a big army together, but it »was only for defence. "We Chinamen," he added, "do not intend to take what does not belong to us. We have plenty of territory of our own."
Ling was reticent on the subjects of the poll-tax on Chinese and the boycott of Japanese goods by China. He said he had broached the subject of establishing Chinese Consulates in Australasia to Lord Plunket, who favoured the idea. It was hoped to have a Consul in Sydney and one in Samoa. Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 12446, 23 April 1908, Page 5
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Post by NZBC on Aug 11, 2008 22:44:12 GMT 12
ATTACKED BY CHINESE.
AUCKLAND, Dec. 29.
News from Samoa states that Mr A. Nicepal, manager of a plantation at Fatelaunui, -was attacked by five Chinese labourers over a dispute about dinnertime. He fell down some' steps and was so badly injured that he was taken to the hospital, where lie is in a critical condition. His assailants ran away when' he drew a revolver. Grey River Argus, 30 December 1909, Page 4
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Post by NZBC on Aug 11, 2008 22:49:28 GMT 12
LABOUR AT THt ISLANDS. CHINESE v. WHITES. ¡ª By Press ASSOCIATION.}
AUCKLAND, This Day. Among the passengers by the Atua from the Islands wae Emil Krauee, who was Acting-Chief Justice of German Samoa, during the Governor's absence. He states there has been trouble at Apia in consequence of the shortage, of labour, for work on the plantations. Tho Chinese, through their Consul, demanded the came wages as are paid the whites. This was resented by the latter, and caused ill feeling, but he thought the arrival of a transport with a fresh supply of Chinese labour shortly would relieve the situation. It was expected a satisfactory settlement would be arrived at. Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 59, 7 September 1911, Page 8
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Post by NZBC on Aug 11, 2008 22:55:19 GMT 12
COMMISSIONER'S INQUIRY. (From Our Own Correspondext.) AUCKLAND, July 21. The Herald's Apia correspondent writes that Mr Lin Jun Choo, a Chinese , Commissioner is on a visit of investigation to Samoa to 'inquire into the conditions of life amongst the. coolies. He found very little to complain of and so far, his recommendations have been few and moderate. About 60 per cent, of the time expired Chinese who were to return by the steamer determined to re-enlist Jf eyare receiving 20s per month, with food, lodginv and doctoring. The Chinese investigator asked that administrative or judicial fleeing of coolies should be discontinued unless it were decided that other criminals 'and offenders should bo punished m a similar way. He could not see how it came about that the coolie alone should suffer thi« correction. Likewise, no considered that the wearing of conspicuous brace numbers on their arms was humiliating, hie reasons being that the coolies who came to Samoa' were free men, who came to labour for a term, and that they must not be looked upon as slaves or cattle. Probably the rations will be slightlv improved, also under his suggestion. Otago Witness, Issue 2837, 29 July 1908, Page 3
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Post by NZBC on Aug 11, 2008 22:59:36 GMT 12
FUTURE OF SAMOA
SERVILE STATE WANTED.
'BY LIBERALS AND REFORMERS INDENTURED CHINESE LABOUR CARRIED' AGAINST LABOUR PARTY. . BY 29 TO 10. (By Telegraph¡ªSpecial to Argus). WELLINGTON, October 20. The Debate on the Government's proposal to legalise indentured labour for Samoa was continued into the early hours of Saturday morning, when Mr Holland launched a bombshell by moving in Committee that employment of indentured Chinese 'labour in Samoa be expressly forbidden. Sir James Allen and Mr Massey both. spoke against the amendment. S'r Joseph Ward first suggested that indentured labour -would be inevitable in Samoa. Later, he declared he was opposed to it. Finally, he left the Chamber to avoid voting for the amendment. Mr Seddon actually declared that he was against indentured labour, but then he went and voted for it. Most- of the Liberals declared that they wc.ro opposed to indentured la. bour, but when a bell rang for a divi. sion, they went int 0 the lobby along with Mr Massey against the Labour. Party. The following is the division list: ¡ª Against indentured Chinese labour Holland. Semple. MeCombs. Frascr. Dr Newman. '"¡ö>'' Poland. Veitch. Smith,' Carroll, Witty. For indentured Chinese labour. Allen, Anderson, Bollaiid, Coatcs, J. M. thingyson, "" ' W. 11. Field. Forbes. S'r W/Fraser, ' ' ' ' Harris, ;, Herrics, . Hine, Hornsby, ' " . ' Isitt, • Luko, McCallum, Mander, Masscy, T^ash, E. Newman, Pomare. R. H. Rhodes, Scott. Reddon, Soddon, Statliam, Sykes. . Talbot. Wright. Young. The majonty for, was thus 19. The. 29 members in favour of indentured labour constitute only a little more than a third of the House. . Therefore Ihe decision in -favour of Chinese indentured labour represents a minority decision Grey River Argus, 21 October 1919, Page 3
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Post by NZBC on Aug 11, 2008 23:04:48 GMT 12
Samoa has an area of about 1300' sqr.are miles. It is much smaller thaa Fiji, and has a native population of about 25,000. During the past two years, registers of births and deaths have been accurately kept; and a census taken the otfher day showed that the number of Samoans was increasing. This is rather a remarkable fact," comments Dr Schultz, "because all other Polynesian races are gradually dying out. In Samoa, the man with a large family is highly honored, and' is considered fortunate from a worldly point of view, for the ohildten are soon able to earn money in the plantations. Copra is the principal product, but attention is also being directed to cocoa and rubber. Labor has been a difficulty with the planters. The natives ar? shy about binding themselves to contracts; they prefer to work just as the spirit moves them, ajid therefore the employer is harassed. Consolation has been found ,in the importation of laborers from the southern ports of China, under contract. The planters aTe •fiideavoring to make the coolies discontinue the opium habit. The Simoans 'ook upon the Chinese as a lower race and have little to do with them. Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue 9306, 5 April 1907, Page 6
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Post by NZBC on Aug 11, 2008 23:09:01 GMT 12
W. A. Veitoh on behalf of Independent Labour, said — I am satisfied that in administering New Zealand Island territories, wherein almost the •entire population are simple untutored natives, our chief 'concern should be to take a long distance human view of the situation, in determining our policy of the mandate over Samoa. The danger is that we magnify problems of to-day and thus obscure issues, determination whereof may vitally affect the native life and liberties for generations. The wholesale importation of Chinese indentured labour ; s advocated as the only means of salvation for the big plantations. Whilst recognising from a -purely commercial standpoint the desirability thereof, I am convinced that under the mandate there develved" on us a fundamental, graver responsibility— the safeguarding ofl fthe' Samoan. race. Moreover the proposition of half breed .Chinese 'people within Samoa, might ultimately add a menace to us in the Pacific. Our duty in. Samoa is -to -edu-' oate the Samoan -pedpfe, to provide medical and hospital f abilities to assifet in the sanitation of the villages, to encourage the Sambans in the fullest cultivation of ttosir own lands, by' Go-i: yernmerit taking over l the' dritire'Outi^ put of produce r and -iseMng it in the •best available markets. Already the natives produce 'seventy five per cent of the cop^ra'e^&rtiEd. Regarding finance it 'is ; important that we teach, natives ] If "Free" Asiatic labour were introduced, "it would soon result in wiping out the Samoan race,. As far as was known, 'the Chinese Government declined to allow wives to r accompany indentured men. ''"He thoughVthat "the limiting of the indenture to three years would largely end the trouble and prove most "satisfactory.
Grey River Argus, 20 March 1920, Page 4
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Post by NZBC on Aug 11, 2008 23:12:27 GMT 12
CHINESE SLAVERY
THE SAMOAN PROBLEM. Tlie Labour Pary carried its figbt against Chinese Slavery in Samoa through the second reading, committ«e? ? and third reading stages. The Bill was an exceedingly short one— a few lines only ; but they confered power on the Government to extend the period of Chinege slavery in. Samoa by an additional yar. During the discussion on the first clause ,Mr Holland made the charge that the wages of the indentured Chinamen who were now being brought out represented a . reduction of. £1 per month on the ruling ra*te at the time the Parliamentary Party visited Samoa. Then the wages were £2 10s. per month .»nd found. Now, Mr Holland said, the Chinese were being indentured at 30s. a month. At first there was a tendency on the part of the Prime Minister not to admit that this was so ; but later on tho Minister of External Affairs made a clean breast of it. ' He admitted that the new men were being brought out at 30s. but he declared there was a provision in the arrangement* entitling each man to an extra two shillings a month provided he was well behaved. • This called forth a storm, of derisive laughter from the Labour benches. After a lengthy debate, in which Mr Holla-nd (Buller) moved an amendment, intended to reduce the period of extension of the Government's powers from one year to nine months in order that the House might have an opportunity to< consider the matter before the end of next session. The amendment wa s defeated by 44 votes to 10. . Mr M'Callum (Wairau) moved the following new clauses: "From and afthe the passing of this Act, no person of any nationality shall be employed on terms otherwise than in accordance with the laws of New Zealand at the time of the taking-over of the mandate, and all contracts of service now current shall be modified, varied, and construed so as to conform to such laws at the date aforesaid. •'* This wa s rejected by 36 to 16/ the minority including all the Labour members. . * A further amendment by Mr Holland, providing for the repatriation of all indentured labourers on the terination .of their indentures, a-nd pro-, hibiting the indenturng.of new labour in Samoa, was rejected by 33 votes to 20. After having passed through Committee, the Bill was at* once sent along for it s third reading, when the Labour Party forced another keen debate, Mr Holland quoting from the planters' own statement to show that they openly dec!,ared: they wanted Chinese labour at 30s. a month — and fUrther to show tha?t the Government was carrying out the demands of the planters in its present policy. The Minister of External Affairs made an attemupt at a conciliatory speech in closing the debate, and the Bill was passed on. to the House of j Privilege. j Grey River Argus, 6 October 1920, Page 4
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Post by NZBC on Aug 11, 2008 23:14:46 GMT 12
GERMAN SAMOA.
' 'Dr Solf, Governor of German Samoa, was Interviewed (says, the Auckland, correspondent of the Press) by a representative of the Auckland Herald on the outlook in ( Samoa. His Excellency expressed himself as much gratified with the development of 3fche Islands - from the social -and industrial ipoints of view. " What," he was asked, '¡ö'*' has been done to solve the apparently ihsoltible labour problem of the Pacific?" •"That," he replied, "is a very large question, and one that is most difficult to dispose of. Of course you know of the in{herent'objection of the native to systematic and continual labour. We imported 200
Xfhows who, on the whole, have done very ',X7eH, an<2 it >» proposed, to make further importations, but some difficulty may be texperienced in -this, as the:, demand for JDhinese coolies for South. Africa has been Jo great. The planters will in some cases Require. to get' used: to Chinese, for masters, as well as servants, have to gain experience. have had no trouble with natives to fpeak of. J^Tataafa. appears to be, quite content with his position as leading chief. As |or the whites, we have but little difficulty frith them. I do not say so because I am jaow enjoying the hospitality of a, Britisn polony/ but I cannot refrain from referring to' the English in Samoa as being the moat brderly and law-abiding. I have found, too. -mat the missionaries are wisely disinclined ib interfere in political or civil affairs, although, of course, among themselves they iha-ve their little differences, but these do not concern the Government. W& took a census in 1900, and again in 1902, and-,i strange to "say, the figures agreed. It is 'always difficult to get precise figures from a "population of this sort, as they fear information is required for taxing purposes. J cannot say whether population is increasing or not at present, but steps are being taken lor another census, -where we shall be in. a .fcettsr position, to see. whether there has, been,
any falling off or any increase. I go about the Islands a good deal, and I must say that I notice a large number of children about; but then again the males are in excess of the females, which is the reverse of the position in countries where population is increasing. There is a steady influx of new arrivals, principally Germans. Extensive and careful cultivation of the cocoanut palm for copra is progressing all over the Islands, and much attention is being turned to the cocoa tree, for the cocoa of commerce, and, I think, with every chance of success." _, During Dr Solf's absence from Samoa Dr Schultz, Chief Justice, will be Acting- Governor.
Otago Witness, Issue 2653, 18 January 1905, Page 48
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Post by NZBC on Aug 11, 2008 23:16:47 GMT 12
Interviewed just before reaching Auckland, Sir James Allen said: ¡ª "I am fully satisfied that we cannot keep these islands, especially those in Western Samoa, up* to their present state of cultivation without the introduction of labour from outside. The main difficulty with regard to the present system is that the Chinese and the Solomon Islanders were brought into Samoa without their women, thus raising a moral issue. It has been suggested that this may be got over by the Chinese bringing their own wives with them, but it is a question whether the Chinese Government would consent to this. As Minister for the Exterior lam ascertaining from China whether this is so. If we, can bring them with their wives it would be more expensive, undoubtedly, but we may be able 1 to avoid a portion of the expense by indenturing for double the period, that is to say, for six years, that we indenture thesingle man for. This would, spread tha cost of passage over a longer period. 1 personally have come to the conclusion that the indenturing of Chinese for three years, and then returning them to China without a further term, is the simplest solution of the problem." It is plain, therefore, that the* New Zealand Government is bent upon restoring in Samoa the indentured labour system, and the form in w^ich they are prepared to do so depends, so far as the G-ove?n--ment's preference is concerned, upon financial considerations. In that case, it is ,to say the least, hardly I imcs . t claim that the paramount consideration is the ipfter,es£s of +' ~ original, inhabitants, who', under t>hc League of Nations, have rights +¡ö» which, tie interests of no capitalists, New Zealand, German, or otherwise, can be given precedence. There are lamentations that Samoa as a commercial proposition¡ª that as a figld for capitalistic exploitation's not nearly the good thing it was in 1014, and the interdict against the maintenance in war time of indentured labour system is denounced as a terrible mistake. It is almost laughable to read the-lamentations of politicians at this distance over thedeteriofation of the plantations. One . argument used in favour of more jnden- _
tured labour is that 'the Samoans refuse to work the plantations inHhe very docile way the Chinese or Solomon Islandindentured men do, one reason given being that they can do muck better working on areas* of their own, and another, that the best labour from the planters standpoint is the sort-that must be procured." Now this supposes that the plantations are the principal -thing to consider, for it -means running the risk of contaminating the native population, morally and physically, through the bringing of a low type of temporary immigrant into contact with them; It is important to insist upon this point now, for it is a matter of history that hitherto in the relations between the Samoans and modern civilisation the interests of the Samoans have been regarded as subordinate Grey River Argus, 31 March 1920, Page 2
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Post by NZBC on Aug 11, 2008 23:22:53 GMT 12
SAMOA
INDENTURED CHINESE LABOUR
AND OTHER SAMOAN PROBLEMS.*
LABOUR MEMBERS' REPORT TO
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE;, N.Z.L.P.
In accordance wi#h our, .promise- # before leaving iNew -Zealand, we hasten to present 'the followin.gr constituting; ari ohxtlibe K>f pxir investigations, aid to the mem bers of the National Executive of the New Zealand Libo^r P^arty for transmisision. to the affiliated industrial organWttions and 1 political^' branches*
WORK AND WAtfES,
According to the Citizens' Committee, Apia, the number of indentured Chinese coolies in Sariipa at the time of our. visit was 838, while the Solomon Islanders were said to num"ber 405 ¡ª 1243 in all. Of these wo had an opportunity of "officially" questionings ten Chinamen an# nine Solomon Islanders. ' ¡ö
. 'One of four Chinamen' dntervieweff at Wetzel's plantation,' when asked whether they ¡ö had ever befen subjected to punishments; replied that he was afraid, to answer; but, after further
questioning, was interpreted as saying: "These four are good coolies; they have .never been up for punishment." They said their wages were rather more in Samoa than they had been in China, but the cost of living ¡ª which was very high in Samoamade up the difference. The working hours were ten per day; but sometimes they had task work, "which, might shorten the day. The manager of the Upolu Rubber and Cacao Estates, Ltd., said the Chinese coolies cost the company 4/6 a day, including repatriation. The Samoans 3/10 or 3/11 a day Cutting out the cost of repatriation the Chinese would cost about 4/1 a day Now> the, Salomon Islander, who is considered to be an infinitely better worker than ther Chinaman, receives £2 per month and found as against the Chinaman's £9 iOs and found. The allegedly superior workman" is thus the worst paidv ¡ö*
One Chinaman employed at Langen V plantation had a wife in China towards the support of whom he contributed he told us, "but not very sufficient" ¡ª about £1 or £2 a montn. He would like to bring his wife to Samoa, but although he had been 13 years in the country he had not beeji able to save any money for that purpose. Other men who had been 11 or 12 years in Samoa said they would like to return to China, and would go if they had 300 shillings;, saved. After 11 or 12 years' work none of them had been able to save £15.
According to the manager of the D.H. and P.G., the Solomon Islander* work from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 1.30 to about 6.30 p.m. They; are given ¡ö either day work or task, which ever the manager thinks is best for the plantation. They have no choice in the matter. The manager said he considered the Solomon Islander a better man than the Chinama ¡ª "he is more amenable to discipline, more obedient, and not so menacing as the Chinaman. A Chinaman would refuse to do a task if he did not think it a fair thing.' .
One Solomon Islander, when interviewed complained: "Plenty; work, very sm.aH/kai-kai. ' 7 ""Ti^-s :j HOUSING. " """¡ö¡ö' The Labour members were by no' means impressed with the housing conditions. At the first (German) plantation visited the coolie quarters consisted of a number "of small wooden huts or cubicles and a number or others built of kerosene tins. At the second plantation %als6 German ¡ª and where the Chinese appeared to. receive better treatment than elsewhere) a large number were herded together in one large room ¡ª the proprietor ex- „ plaining thaf it was his wish that they should live, separately, But tEey preferred to herd together. On one "part of the "big" German plantation ¡ª • /-* the DJL and P.Gi¡ª -where we found Solomon Islanders and some Samoans employed; ¡ª the "lines' consisted of tuts built with two compartments, each compartment ' having four shelves (two on oach side, one above the other) running "the full length of the room. On these "shelves, without any bedding, the inaenturefl-' blacic boys sleep." Each hut appeared to be built to accommodate : about 50 boys. In another case the hut comprised a number of closed-in compartments, not at all unlike a large meat safe. In one of these a man slept, while his wife occupied the adjoining one. At one place the married "boy" occupied a detached hut. Grey River Argus, 8 April 1920, Page 3
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Post by NZBC on Aug 11, 2008 23:28:51 GMT 12
Sir James Allen- said that if the amendment wore carried the present indentured .Chinese labour in Samoa would" ha'e to be repatriated. It would be humiliating if we had to re. fuse the mandate, but would have to refuse ?t if the amendment were carriod. j Dr. Pomare said there was no dan. v ger with Chinese labour. The Chin, cso Government lookeel after its own people. It had its own consuls and i staff for that purpose. Unless inden. tured labour was employed Samoan trade would be ruined. White men would not go to work th"ere, and it was a question of black men or yellow. Mr. Massey made an appeal to the House to pass the Bill and accept the mandate; otherwise there would be the greatest danger of Samoa passing into the hands of foreigners for ever. That was a responsibility which we should not talto for the sake of posterity. He would undertake that -the number , of indentured labourers would not be increased above 1000, which was the smallest- number tliey could ilo with. . Grey River Argus, 23 October 1919, Page 4
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