CO129-357 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [7-9] — Page 100

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I enquired under what conditions

the shipment was to be made, since under Section 14 of the

Ordinance I have no power to authorize the despatch of

coolles under indenture to any but a British Possession.

He argued that since by Treaty British and German subjects

received equal treatment in Samoa, the Islands for the

purpose of the Ordinance might be considered a British

Possession. I did not treat this contention seriously.

5.

He then said that although the

coolies were indentured he would insert a clause to the

effect that any labourer who after arrival might desire to

return should be repatriated at once. He stated that the

Colonial Secretary had informed him verbally that this

would satisfy the law, and that in point of fact it had }

been done in the case of coolies sent from this port to the

Pellew Islands last year. I promised to give the matter my

immediate consideration.

6.

On investigation the following

points presented themselves:-

In the year 1906, a notice in

Chinese had been posted up in the City purporting to be

written by a Chinese coolie in Samoa, complaining of

continual ill-treatment, and of being denied the means to return,