Too Costly

Chinese Labour in Samoa

Proposal To Import

Gilbertese

From Our Own Correspondent APIA, November 20.

THE European planters of Samoa are bitter regarding the high wages they are forced to pay their Chinese labourers.

All over the world the workers are seeing their wages cut down considerably, while at the same time taxes are reduced. But here in Samoa we have to pay Chinese coolies the same high wages—3/6 a day—as in the most prosperous times of former years. In no other country where Chinese coolie labour is employed is the rate of wages as high as in Samoa. And in all those countries working conditions are not nearly so good as in Samoa.

For instance, in Nauru, Chinese coolies are paid 1/6 per day for working phosphate, a most unpleasant and possibly unhealthy kind of work. For some reason, the Administration seems unable or unwilling to reduce the Coolie wages, and planters consequently are reducing their labour requirements to the absolute minimum.

Some planters suggest that a more acceptable source of labour supply may be found in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. That group has a large population, and sufficient labour for Samoan requirements may possibly be obtained.

Gilbert Islanders were brought to Samoa to work on plantations in the old times, but the big German firm had to send them away as unsuitable.

The Planters’ Association is in favour of a trial being made with some of these islanders, to find out whether they could replace at least the “black” boys (New Guinea and Solomons boys) and Chinese coolies on the coconut plantations. It is doubtful whether they could also be trained for work on cocoa plantations, which requires considerably more intelligence and care. ... ===