Chinese In Samoa

Vol. 2—No. 1

August, 1931

IF it is true that Chinese are being permitted to settle down in Samoa, and cohabit with Samoan women— and the main facts seem clear enough —it is a damning indictment of the New Zealand administration.

There is no reasonable objection to Chinese as settlers and citizens, where they enter a country under such con ditions as to cause no interference with the existing standard of living; but, in certain circumstances, there may be strong objections to them, on racial grounds. There are certain races with which the Asiatic blood may not mix, and the Polynesian race (particularly the superior branch to which the Sa moans belong) is one of them. It may be a desirable and necessary thing that Chinese labour be introduced tempor arily, for the economic development of the Polynesian territories; but if the practice is to be attended by social consequences of the kind described elsewhere in this issue, and which have been only too tragically illustrated in Hawaii and Tahiti, then the economic advantage is immeasurably outweighed by the sin against the Polynesian race.

The Pacific territories have been cut up among the great Powers; and we hear much about their trading and production possibilities. We do not hear nearly enough about our respon sibility for the protection and encour agement of the native inhabitants.

The position of New Zealand as a Mandatory Power, in relation to settle ment of Chinese in Samoa, appears not to be a creditable one; and may even be dangerous to the future good name of the Dominion. The very first obligation placed upon a Mandatory is that of protecting the subject people The League of Nations is more con cerned about that than about anything else. In the light of that fact, the statements published in this issue— assuming they have not presented an exaggerated view of the situation — make most unpleasant reading.

Mr. R. C. Laycock, the well known trader, of Tulagi, Solomon Islands, ar rived in Sydney, on a visit, in July, and spent the next few weeks nursing a series of influenza colds. He had in tended spending some months in Aus tralia; but, when last seen, he was at No. 7 Bridge Street, examining the Montoro’s time-table.