“Black” Boys Leave
p. 42 · Read in the full issue
Samoa.
Plantations Now Worked by Polynesians.
From Our Own Correspondent.
APIA, Sept. 26.
BY the m.s. “Nairnbank” on August 30, 22 Solomon Islanders were repat riated to their homes, after having worked on the former German coconut plantations for 20 to 28 years.
Most of the “boys” were married to Samoan women in the “fa’a Samoa” fashion, and their progeny numbered about 50. One boy is stated to have left eight children.
A large crowd of Samoans assembled at the wharf, when the boys left and there were touching scenes of farewell, and wailing and crying of women and children.
There are now only about 50 “black boys” left in Samoa, where in the old pre-war times there were hundreds and even thousands from Buka, Bougainville, Maleu-ba and other Solomon Islands, working for the old D.H. and P.G., which firm had its own recruiting vessels run ning between Samoa and New Guinea.
Most of the large plantations of the firm have been planted and worked by Solo mon Islands labour.
At present the Reparation Estates are worked by Samoan labour, which, with the present low prices of copra, is offer ing cheaply and in sufficient quantity.