Grievances And Fears Of
pp. 25-26 · Read in the full issue
Europeans
Prom Our Own Correspondent
Apia. Oct. 10.
THE grievances and fears of European residents in Samoa were set out in the N.Z. Parliament, when the Sa
moa Bill was under debate there some weeks ago.
We believe that the new laws are only another development of Labour’s disas trous policy of pandering to all demands of the Nelson-Mau party however un reasonable they may be. We refer es pecially to the abolition of the right of the Administrator to confirm or. refuse Faipule appointments, and the waiving of exile and deportation as punishment for political offenders.
The contention of v the Government member, Mr. O’Brien, that the reason for discontent of European planters was that they had to pay 4/- per day to Samoan labourers is made ridiculous by the fact that European planters are able to pro cure Samoan labourers at a wage of 1/6 per day.
That the Mau police is “helping to keep order” is another illusion of the N.Z. Labour Government. The Mau
police, who have usurped the right to stop and interrogate Europeans on the public roads, are unnecessary and use less.
Europeans in Western Samoa have no representation in the N.Z. Parliament.
The planters have received most unfair treatment from the N.Z. Government, which has deprived them of most of their Chinese labourers, and decreed higher wages for the remaining Chinese, without guaranteeing them a fair price for their produce, as was promised by the famous “Goodwill” Mission in 1936.
A Minister, Mr. Langstone, made the outrageous statement that the prestige of the white in Samoa was placed on
too high a basis. It may be pointed out that while the prestige of the old white residents of the Territory is still upheld and high amongst the natives, the pres tige of the N.Z. Labour Government’s Administration and the officials is being systematically undermined and lowered in the eyes of the natives by N.Z. Labour Ministers.
Sangara Rubber Plantations Ltd. has been registered in Sydney with a capital of £lO.OOO in £1 shares. Objects: To carry on the business of planters, cultivators and dealers in rubber, etc. Head office: Port Moresby, Papua.