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Copy.
ADMINISTRATION HEAD QUARTERS,
NAURU, Central Pacific, 21st April, 1930.
7
MEMORANDUM for -
The Secretary,
Frime Minister's Department,
CANBERRA F.0.2.
OUTBREAK BETWEEN RIVAR FACTIONS OF CHINESE EMPLOYED BY BRITISH PHOS-
PHA COMMISSIONERS
I desire to confirm my radiogram dated 15th April, 1930,
reading as follows:-
"Chinese Coolies. Illfeeling which has been prevailing for a considerable period between rival factionsof Chinese Codies employed by B.P.C. culminated in outbreak on the afternoon of Sunday stop Owing to the splendid behaviour of the Nauru Police disturbance has been quelled six ringleaders arrested and normal conditions restored stop Unfortunately two Nauru Police were injured as the result of explosive bombs thrown by the Chinese Colies and I regret to inform you that one of these Police Boys succumbed to injuries Government Hospital There were no other fatalities stop Report follows by the next mail."
Practically the whole of the labour required by the British Phosphate Commissioners for the purpose of mining the phosphate deposits on this Toland is supplied by Chinese Coolies engaged under contract for three years.
A recruit ship makes two trips annually from Hongkong to
The men Nauru conveying new coolies and repatriating time-expired men. are usually selected by Agents for the British Phosphate Commissioners from the various Districts of the Province of Kwang Tung.
As pointed out in my monthly report No.6 of June 1929 there has been considerable ill feeling for a long time between two factions of these employees the men from the District of Dou Moon in the Hiang Shan Division are more or less hostile to the men recruited from the various districts of the adjacent Division of Dze Yap and these rival factions constitute themselves into separate Tongs or Companies called respectively the Don Moon Tong and the Yan Ping Tong.
While there is usually harmonious working-relationship between these bodies there is always a danger that an illadvised action
The on the part of one of the Chinese may precipitate an outbreak. underlying cause of the hostility is, I understand, traceable to happenings in China during that Country's period of internal unrest. Suitable precautions have been adopted by the Administration including a scheme of operations for use in emergency. There are 34 Nauruan Police Boys under the control of a capable European Officer and there are available at prompt notice about 250 members of the Nauruan Physical training class.
There are about 1,100 Chinese on this islend (all males) and the adult male population of other nationalities is about 514, made up
It of 81 Europeans, 417 Nauruans, and 16 other Pacific Islanders. will thus be seen that the Chinese male adults greatly outnumber those of other nationalities. The outbreak on Sunday last (these troubles usually occur on Sundays when the men are not working) arose through a dispute between two members of the rival tongs and hostilities commenced immediately. The Police were at hand and, under the command of the Director of Police, they held the gates of the locations. Most of the members of the Dou Moon Tong are sampan boys and live in No 2 Location while the Yan Ping Tong members mostly reside in the general or No.1 Location. Each location is securely fenced with barbed wire and a main roadway separates the two locations.
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