War Against The

Chinese

Samoan Appeal to N.Z.

Cabinet

From Our Own Correspondent

Apia, Oct. 1.

THE Samoan Planters’ Association, the elected members of the Samoan Legislative Council, supported by the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. O. F. Nelson, and other bodies, have forwarded a strong protest to the New Zealand Government against the threatened repatriation of Chinese and Melanesian plantation labour.

It is pointed out that this measure is unwarranted, and detrimental to the European and Samoan plantation indus try, and likely to have serious conse quences to the economic development of the territory. It is hoped that the N.Z.

Government will reconsider the matter, and allow the planters and also the Gov ernment-owned New Zealand Reparation Estates to retain an adequate labour sup ply essential to the maintenance and the development of the plantations in Western Samoa.

The local planters have asked the N.Z.

Cabinet, by wireless, to postpone any steps intended until the representations of the planters are received.

These representations are supported by the Chamber of Commerce, the Samoan- Born Labour Party, Mr. O. P. Nelson, the leader of the Mau, and practically all the residents of Samoa.

In regard to the Melanesians, of whom only about 75 are left in Samoa, and who are working on the coconut plantations of

the N.Z. Reparation Estates, the position is just as bad or worse. All these Mela nesians have worked in Samoa for 30 to 40 years, and nearly all are married to Samoan women, and have a numerous offspring. They are good workers, and law-abiding people. All are Christians, and have no desire to return to their for mer homes in New Guinea or the Solo mons, where they have no friends or relations left. The Melanesians in Samoa are completely de-tribalised, and unable to fit into the life and conditions of their former homes.

One of these Melanesians, who is threatened with repatriation (to New Guinea) after faithfully serving in Samoa for 40 years, has sent a touching appeal to his white overseer which, in the pecu liar pidgin English of the black boys, is a moving appeal for justice and fair play: “Dear Master, —Altogether boy him hear talk bye and bye all fella black boy go back along New Guinea. All boy speak Master you please no let send boy away.

We go, now no see Mary (wife) belong me again, no see piccanini. Master please, four fella ten year we work good along Crown Estates now why we must go away. Ail boy old fella man now, close up he die, no want go way now. Papa belong me he die, Mama belong me he die —no sabee man he stop New Guinea now, savee too much man along Samoa, all boy like too much Master along Crown Estates. Please Master you no let Gov ernment send black boy go New Guinea, lose him piccanini, no see one time more.

God bless Master.—TOKAN.”

For the sake of humanity and common sense, the N.Z. Government should let the small remnant of the Melanesians, who do not constitute a charge on the Govern ment, and are a harmless and ever-de creasing portion of the labour element,

pass their days in peace in the land they helped to develop and improve.

For the longest period in the memory of Samoan residents, Western Samoa has been without an Administrator. The task of selecting a suitable successor to Gene ral Hart seems an extremely difficult one to the New Zealand Labour Government, probably in view of the large number of applicants for this socially and financially very attractive position. That the busi ness of the Administration is suffering from this delay goes without saying, as the Acting-Administrator, whatever his ability and good intentions, has not the power and authority a permanent head of affairs would exercise, Mr. J. W. Matley, of Waigani Planta tion, Eastern Papua, returned to Samarai by the Macdhui at the end of September.

Captain F. W. Haig, chief aviation offi cer for the Vacuum Oil Company Pty.

Ltd., who flew to New Guinea in Guinea Airways’ new Lockheed Electra ’plane in September, returned to Australia by the Neptuna on October 10. He was favour ably impressed with the aviation organi sation on the Morobe fields, and was par ticularly enthusiastic about the work carried on by Guinea Airways Limited,

Residents of Fiji were pleased to learn recently that on August 1, a son was born to Lady Noel Richards, wife of Sir Arthur Richards, Governor-designate of Fiji.

Mr. Leslie V, Waterhouse, prominent Australian mining engineer, who is a director of Placer Development Co. Ltd., Bulolo Gold Dredging Ltd., and Guinea Airways Limited, reached Sydney on October 5 by the Mariposa after an ex tensive business visit to England, Europe, and America.