Defaulting Recruits In Solomons

Fiji's Strange Indifference To Very Serious Problem

From a Special Correspondent

Tulagi, Feb. 19.

the last two years, considerable loss and anxiety have been experi enced by recruiters, and through them by every industry in the Solomons, owing to a situation which has its origin in Fiji’s apparent indifference to the welfare of the Solomons.

To realize the seriousness of the matter, it is necessary to explain the system under which any native needing employment overcomes the difficulty of getting in touch with a job.

For a start, one can set aside fables and adventure-stories, and a lot of the romance that popular imagination in vests’ in anything pertaining to the savage isles and so forth. The fact is, that most plantations are situated in comparatively thinly-populated islands, where, by reason of the scarcity of popu lation, land has been available for development.

But, on the other hand, natives in need of jobs are living on thickly populated islands where land has not been available for development.

To bridge the gap between the native seeking a job, and the employer needing the native’s services, there has been evolved the “recruiter.” He is simply running an employment bureau, taking the place of a “Situations vacant”, column. But he has also to provide the native with sustenance till he gets to his job, and transport to his job, and some form of advance to enable his relatives to carry on while he is away working.

It can be seen that “overhead” is pretty heavy.

In the old days, the relatives were given a present of goods (money being of no use to them); the applicant for employment signed on the licensed recruiter’s book; and the native was brought in for medical inspection, and to have his contract ratified by an official, who would see that the agreement be tween native and recruiter was above board. Unless a native were medically unfit, too young, or otherwise disqualified, he had his contract ratified, and his wages started from the date of ratifica tion.

It is to be observed that the employer, through his agent the recruiter, main tained and transported the native from the time he signed the recruiter’s book, until his arrival on the plantation. The employer also maintains the labourer for the term of his employment, and, further, after he has worked for the stipulated period until he arrives at his home, to which transport is provided by the employer—the recruiter doing the land ing of the returned labourer.

It can be understood that all this main tenance and transport, which requires a ship and crew, and a responsible licensed ship’s master, costs money. This is allowed for in the recruiting fee; and so the recruiter makes his living.

The present situation is that, with the

march of progress, the old-fashioned and ethically-wrong gift to the relatives has been replaced by an advance of the native’s wages (if he wishes it—and he always does) which in the first place is found by the recruiter (unless he makes special arrangements witli the employer).

This usually amounts to £3.

A ship’s expenses vary, but they are so heavy that, recently, several recruiters have had to abandon recruiting, as the fee of £7/10/- is too low to afford them a living, unless they are having con tinually successful trips. At festival times, and when native food is plentiful, successful trips may be very rare. This

is in addition to the £3 advance, which, if provided by the recruiter, is refunded by the employer, being part of the em ployee’s wages.

Now, for the last two years, through a mis-wording or a misinterpretation of the regulation, and in any case through the indifference of Fiji to the strong representations of those who have any knowledge of the situation, natives have repeatedly accepted advances, signed with the licensed recruiter, been main tained for the period of the trip to the

recruiting ground, and then brazenly stood and, while admitting that they had agreed to the terms the employer’s agent offered, just would not go.

The ratification of labourers’ agree ments is done only before responsible and conscientious officers, and there has never been any question of misleading the natives, or of breaking the very strict and strictly-enforced Labour Regulation.

Lucky recruiters are sometimes able to collect their £3, or some portion of it.

All the other expenses are lost. Unlucky recruiters lose the expenses, which the recruiting fee of £7/10/- would have covered, and the £3 advanced to the native

out of wages which he brazenly refuses to do anything about. As a recruit is also entitled to his fare back home, another £2 worth, at the least, the loss runs into something about £l2/10/- for every defaulting native.

The very strongest representations have been made to the High Commis sioner’s Office, and nothing has been done in the matter; but a reply has been received that nothing l will be done.

The number of labourers getting this expensive round trip increases, and the effect on the natives we are trying to improve is wonderful. What the effect will be on the planters, mining companies, and other employers, and eventually on the revenue, can be left to the imagina tion.

The situation is past comment. Whai is the Solomon Islanders’ curse (Fiji) going to do about it?

Mr. Arthur Gaye, C. 8., United King dom representative on the Board of Bri ish Phosphate Commissioners, arrived in Suva, Fiji, by the Triona in February.