Solomons

Chinese In The

Tragic Position of British Traders

Letter to the Editor.

IN view of its far-reaching and destructive effects, the public is entitled to know the facts upon which the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific bases his policy of unrestricted Chinese competition in the trade of the British Solomon Islands.

To date two reasons have been given for this policy: 1. That the white British traders were exploiting the natives, and Chinese com petition was a definite check on this. 2. That the encouragement of Chinese traders has resulted in lowering the cost of living among the natives.

Both of these “reasons” are the baldest assertions and have been unaccompanied by any supporting evidence. Surely it is just that the High Commissioner should state the facts responsible for his policy.

The British traders deny the official al legations in toto, and challenge the Go vernment to prove its case. They invite the fullest investigation of their trading methods and policies.

The British traders contend that His Excellency’s conclusions have been found ed on ex parte evidence. If the High Commissioner has relied upon native re presentations transmitted through official channels, he has built upon the most un reliable and flimsiest of foundations. It would seem but elementary justice to have given the traders an opportunity of re butting the charges made against them.

Answering the first of the above “rea sons” it must be strongly stated that there has been always such keen and adequate competition among British tra ders that native interests have been thoroughly safeguarded and fair-treat ment assured, so that there was no call to encourage Chinese competition to pro tect the natives from a non-existent ex ploitation.

The second “reason” will bear even less examination than the first.

The Administration, in its usual ill informed, half-baked way where business matters are concerned, has given to Chinese traders credit for the fall in the prices of goods which is but the local manifestation of a world-wide movement.

That fall would have been reflected here had there not been a single Chinese trader in the Solomons.

The use of the term “cost of living,” where Solomon Islands natives are con cerned, shows a lamentable ignorance of the economy of the native people.

In the sense that Europeans understand the term, there is no such thing as “cost of living” among these primitives.

As the employer is obliged to feed, clothe, house, and provide medical atten tion for all his workers, in addition to paying their wages and taxes, the term is meaningless if applied to the large sec tion of the native population employed in commerce and industry.

The remainder of the native popula tion are provided with all the necessities of life by their lands, gardens, and the sea. With trifling exceptions, what they purchase from the traders therefore might

truly be called “luxuries.” The traders are only too acutely aware of how utterly independent the natives are of their wares.

This is evidenced by the fact that they have ceased to produce copra on account of the low price ruling since the beginning of this year. Yet they have lived quite comfortably. Throughout the lowest period of the depression the natives of this district have been offered a price for their copra which left absolutely no profit to the traders. By the acceptance of this offer, a native working copra could have earned from ten to fifteen shillings a week But they were so independent that they could afford not to work, and so practic ally no native copra was produced throughout the district. Meanwhile, the natives had no hesitation in complaining to the Government of the small price offered by the traders; making that an excuse for the non-payment of their taxes.

Notwithstanding that the Government has seen hundreds of tons of native copra go to rot in the groves this year, it seems to see nothing inconsistent in prattling about the natives’ “cost of living!” How much consideration would a community of whites receive who elected to remain idle in similar circumstances?

The principal concern of the Govern ment, however, is not with the “cost of living” of the native at all, but with the collection of native taxes. And because it has been misled into the belief that the British traders were robbing the na tives, thereby making it difficult for them to pay their taxes, the Government has arisen in its warmth and proceeded re vengefully to smite the unfortunate white traders over the head with the bludgeon of unrestricted Chinese competition.

The Government praises the Chinese traders for assisting the native commun ity to weather these hard times. But the fact remains that during this year, while the British traders have offered to pur chase the copra of the natives, the Chin ese traders have refused to buy it at all.

So much for the much-vaunted service of these Celestial businessmen.

The white traders stick to their native clients through thick and thin. When copra entered the doldrums the Chinese promptly stopped dealing in it, and con centrated on the more profitable trocas shell. If the Government were in more intimate touch with conditions in the Group it would know this, but as it is not it is desirable that the fact be brought to its notice. —I am, etc.,

Only A Trader.

Gizo, B.S.I., 8/10/1934.