After carefully reviewing all the available evidence collected in the Pacific islands, the special commission, appointed last year by the Methodist Conference with regard to indentured labour in the South Sea islands, has concluded that: indigenous free labour in Samoa is impracticable in this generation and climatic conditions prohibit the employment of white labour. All considerations compel the acceptance of some just form of contract system og a means of securing imported labour and "the industrial and spiritual up-lifting of the natives must go hand in hand." The native: nue at present half commercialized and stopping of the clock of pro gress now would leave them tragi cally without knowledge. The commission favours a short contract system for Chinese labour in the case of single men, if married men are unprocurable. Tt declares that there is no foundation for the assertion that the introduction of single Chinese has resulted in moral degradation of the Samoans. The Commission, in conclusion, acknowledges the New Zealand Govermment's sincere effort to carry out the terms of the mandate over Samoa. It hopes that ultimately Chinese will be unnecessary.
The report has been adopted.—- Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.