Labourers’ Wages

Move to Reduce Natives Must Share in General Sacrifices

From Our Own Correspondent

Tulagi, Nov. 2.

WE, in the British Solomon Islands, are all bordering on a state of bankruptcy these days, owing, of course, to our one product (copra) be ing below production costs.

As there does not appear to be any hope of a return to a decent price within years, we are asking that the native shall bear his part in accepting a lower wage, i.e., 10/- per month, food and clothing, as against 20/-, food and clothing.

Ten shillings was paid until a few years ago, when recruiting costs, owing to enormous beach payments, became so high that it was decided to cut out the beach payments, and give the na tive £1 per month, with an advance of £6 (cash) on signing. This advance is rather deplorable, but it was thought that it might be a “sop” to the re cruit’s people, or chief, who hitherto had been collecting cases of tobacco, etc., for each recruit.

Alas! Few natives (fresh or raw re cruits) thoroughly realise that the ad vance has to come out of the £1 per month. Indeed, they mostly speak of it as a “bonus” for signing on; and are somewhat disappointed on arrival at their destination if they are refused a further advance until such time as they have worked off the £6.

To the uninitiated, the proposed cut may seem drastic; but with his food, clothing and tobacco, and 10/- per month to spend on luxuries or gamble away, the native is happier a dozen times over than “white brother” on the basic wage—and infinitely happier than those on no wages at all, as is so pain fully common nowadays the world over.