Polynesian Workers

Make Big Demands Repercussions From Labourites' Howling About Makatca

From Our Own Correspondent

Ratotonga, Feb. 1.

RAROTONGA experienced a period of turmoil in January. While the elements raged without, Administra tion and business offices wrestled with the problems presented by a strike of wharf labourers.

The wharfies announced a strike a few days before the arrival of the “Maui Pomare.” Their demands were that they should be paid 8/- per day, and 2/- per hour overtime, also that they should be paid 10/- for Sundays, receive an in crease in food rations, and not be re quired to work in rough or wet weather.

The existing rate of pay is 4/6 per day and 9d. overtime.

These demands were laid before the manager of the USS Co., and the Ad ministration. The USS Co. countered with an offer of 6/- per day and 1/overtime. This offer was turned down, and the situation remained in a state of deadlock while the “Maui Pomare.” which had arrived in the meantime, wal lowed in the heavy seas left by the pass ing storm.

In view of the alternative of sending the ship away without unloading, plus

the fact that food supplies were urgently needed in the storm-battered outer islands, the leading local traders, in con ference, decided on this occasion to make good the difference between the USS Co’s offer and the men’s demands. This sug gestion was finally permitted by the Administration, and the shipping com pany and the men agreed to commence work the following morning (Saturday).

ON Saturday morning the seas proved to be still too rough to work the cargo, but the passengers were brought ashore in surf-boats through a passage on the leeward side of the island.

The men stood by to work the ship as soon as possible. On Sunday morning, however, there was a further slight de lay caused by the tally-clerks, who were anxious to know whether they were to receive the same rate of pay as the labourers. They were assured by the traders’ representative that thev would, and all hands then proceeded work.

There really was no unavoidable delay in working the ship, as weather condi tions had made it impossible up to the time when the men were ready to start.

Mr. Montgomery, a NZ Trade Unions inspector, who has been in Makatea in vestigating labour conditions, will be back in Rarotonga in a few days when he will examine the wharf labourers' case.

FOR some time, Rarotonga has been disturbed bv labour unrest, led by a few agitators of both races. At tention has been directed to the Cook Islands because of preoccupation of some people with the workers employed by the French phosphate company at Makatea, over in French Oceania.

Since first complaints were made re garding the living conditions of the Makatea workers, improvements have been made in general conditions and in wages, but agitation has continued, and in some quarters has been ridiculously exaggerated. One NZ Labour journal headed an article. “Have New Zealand Subjects Been Sold Into Slavery?” and

asked, “Has the local administration of the Cook Islands virtually connived at the ‘blackbirding’ of hundreds of Islanders for the French Phosphate Com pany?”

In view of sensational allegations, it would seem peculiar that Cook Island workers continue to eagerly volunteer for a spell in Makatea. Many sign on again and again.

The Phosphate Company’s reply has

been quiet but effective. When workers from the outer islands were returned to their home islands recently, on the com pletion of their twelve months’ spell-on Makatea, they were told, to their dismay, that no further recruits would be re quired from those islands.

It is believed there is a strong pos sibility that when the Rarotonga con tingent is returned home, they also may find that their services are no longer required.

As a result of the publicity given the “Makatea scandal,” Mr. Montgomery, a NZ Trade Unions official, has been mak ing an investigation of conditions in Makatea and the results of his visit are awaited with interest.