Chinese Labour

Complaints In Samoa

Industrial And Social

Problems

From Our Own Correspondent APIA, July 15.

A GREAT problem for the European planters of Samoa has always been that of labour.

The present rate of wages for the Chinese coolie is 3/- a day, and over head expenses of about 15/- a month.

The planters consider that these wages are far too high in comparison with other cocoa-producing countries, and that the Chinese coolies have of late years grown less and less efficient.

The newly founded Planters’ Association of Samoa is trying to get cheaper and more efficient labour imported; but, so far, there are no prospects of success.

Many planters have had to reduce their labour staffs and as a result a few hundred coolies are unemployed at present. They are loafing about in the Chinese quarters of Apia and only recently a coolie was knifed by an other in one of the gambling and opium-smoking dens and fatally injured. The police seem to benevolently overlook the existence of the Chinese slums and there are no raids nor any effort made to clean the vice out.

A complaint of long standing is that nearly 100 of the Chinese coolies who were brought to Samoa for the sole purpose of providing plantation labour, have been granted the rights of settlers by the administration, and are free of the obligation to return to China. These so-called “free restricted settlers” have taken up all kinds of trades and professions — taxi-owners, lorry drivers, salesmen, peddlers, bakers, mechanics, refreshment room owners, etc./ and they constitute a serious competition to Europeans and half-castes, which is keenly resented.

Strenuous efforts are being made to induce the Government to repatriate these Chinese at a time when so many settlers are out of employment, but the administration has refused to accede to these requests.

A Chinese transport is expected in September next, to bring 200 new coolies and take about 400 old and time-expired coolies back to China.

Many of the latter have been living with Samoan women and have numerous offspring. These women and children will have to return to their Samoan relations, and it is extremely doubtful whether they will find a hearty welcome there in these hard times. ===