Samoan Demands

Attitude Towards Chinese

From Our Own Correspondent,

Apia, Oct. 28.

THE Fono of Faipule continued its sit tings last week, (See report on page 49 of this issue).

On October 23 the Fono sent a lengthy resolution to the Acting Administrator (Mr. A. C. Turnbull) expressing deep re gret that the N.Z. Government would not permit a delegation of Samoans to visit New Zealand and emphasising that all their remits and requests were based on the agreement reached between the Mau and the “Goodwill Mission.”

The Fono asked for a large increase in the district and village officials of native birth employed by the Administration— that is, from 178 to 384, representing an increase in expenditure from £1,834 to £6,161.

The Fono asked that Samoans be em ployed on banana inspection.

The Acting Administrator said he would employ anyone irrespective of race or creed, if he had the necessary qualifica tions. He reminded the Fono that the banana industry would not have been pos sible without the assistance of New Zea land in providing a means of transport—• the N.Z. taxpayers actually had financed the banana industry.

The Faipule indicated great anxiety about the Europeans’ strong opposition to the demand for the repatriation of all Chinese. They said that the Samoans since 1902 had not liked the system of indentured Chinese labour, but had not previously objected, out of respect to the wishes of the Europeans. The “Goodwill Mission,” however, told the Samoans that it was the wish of the N.Z. Government to repatriate all Chinese—and this was why the Sa moans now came out and advocated repat riation. Now they found that the Euro peans were disturbed and had formed a party to oppose the Samoans’ demand. The Faipule wanted to know what the position really was. Did the N.Z. Government still wish to repatriate the Chinese, or had they changed their minds?

The Acting Administrator said that the position was that the present contracts of Chinese labourers did not expire for a year, and the matter would be considered then.

The Fono continued to discuss the mat ter in an indefinite fashion, and Mr. Turn bull said that their representations would be considered by the Government.

The Fono asked for the formation of a Medical Board, an Education Board, and a Public Works Board on which the Samoans would be represented; for a Government dentist to be attached to the Apia Hospital; that the Samoan language be declared the official language for Samoa; that all Gov ernment officials unable to speak Samoan after one year in the country be sent back to New Zealand: that there should be second grade schools for Samoan children in all districts; that only departmental heads should be Europeans from New Zealand and that the staff be composed of half-castes and Samoans; and that small hospitals should be provided in every district.

The Faipule pointed out, in support of its claim for the employment of Samoan clerks instead of Europeans, that at pres ent 18 white officials receive remuneration equal to the wages of 339 Samoan officials.

A request indicating an extraordinary change in the Samoans’ habits was that the members of the Fono should each be supplied with a desk and a chair and that a wooden floor be laid in the Fono house.

Since time immemorial, the Samoans have sat on their mats, which cover clean, hygienic floors of smoothed coral.