CO129-536-2 Recruitment of Chinese labourers for Samoa 26-5-1931 - 29-1-1932 — Page 38

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the Hostel of whom only 851 were passed on examination

and allowed to go to 3anca. Two were sent back leaving

249. More than 700 did not reach Samoa, It is

considered that these poor people first borrowed 20

in their villages before barking on vessels for

Hongkong and not being able to go abroad had spent

money on travelling. To proceed or return were alike

difficult and to remain in Hongkong as difficult as

returning home. Even if they could return to their

villages they would have no capital for agriculture

and there are no words to express the pity of their

loss of time and money. It is therefore thought

necessary that ways should be found to regulate the

drifting of poor people from villages and the loss of

their belongings.

Article 18 of The Sino-British regulations of 1904

for the protection of labourers provided that for each

Chinese labourer recruited under a contract in accordance

with the present agreement a fee should be paid to the Chinese Government to defray the cost of investigation

of matters concerning the recruiting of labour. If the

musber of labourere recruited did not exceed 10,000

Mex. 5 was to be paid for each man eto., etc., Messrs. Mbb Livingston & Company of Hongkong in now recruiting labour in Kwangtung for the Samoan Government should

first fiz number of men and apply to our Government

for permission and receive a certificate before

starting to recruit.

Huchaos to be issued as recruiting

requires and to stop when the full number has been

recrui ted, Not a single of

man can be recruited