The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1868-08-19

No STEPS have been taken as yet to
obtain reliable statistics concerning the
Chinese coolies and other bonded laborers
which haze been imported into this king
dom. Some have been introduced, served
out their contracts and been merged into
the mass of our population. while others
are still at work in our fields and houses,
without our having any data for determin-
ing the results for good or i'll, either on the
laborers themselves or the nation at large,
consequent upon their immigration.
1t has been suggested by member of
the Board of immigration that immediate
steps shall be taken to supply informa-
tion on this important point, not only
to serve as a guide for our own further
efforts to supply labor, but that the mode
and character of our immigration may be
apparent to the world.
The results thus far developed can easily
be made apparent, by requiring or soliciting
from the employers, an annual report of
the men and women obtained for service
from the Board. By circular, or form of
report. embracing series of lnterrogations,
returnable on set day of each yelr, mass
of facts can be gathered which will prove
valuable for future action in the matter of
immigration. Every one interested, both
10 the laborers and in the national welfare
will, we believe, be ready to impart any
information on the subject which they
may possess.
We have Chinese population of about
two thousand, many of whom came here
originally. as coolies, have settled down
after having served out their contracts,
and become amalgamated with our popu-
lation and pursuits. We cannot point out
q single one who has not bettered his con-
dition by thus being transferred from his
native soil to these islands, while very
many. 10 our personal knowledge, have at
tanned both real estate and cash, making |
them comfortably well off here. and posi-.
lively wealthy, if they chose to return to
their native homes. These facts, though |
known in general way to residents here,
and easily found by the most casual per-
sonal observation, are not in such an
authenticated and authoritative shape as
they would be if collected by the Board
Of Immigration, and could be used to dis
arm the suspicion, to remove the bindran-
ces and to correct the false light IN which
philanthropists at a distance are in danger
of regarding the plans in vogue here, to
supply the demand for more laborers.
The Board can at least keep a record of
all those persons brought here through
their agency, and from such record, event
ually be able to show what becomes of the
individual, what his condition was during
residence here, and his value to the nation
during the continuance of his contract,
and after becoming master of bis own
time.
Not little care will be needed at first
to really identify the individual, for it is
well known that the name in the contract
is not always that of the person bound by
its clauses. The individual has answered
to the name in the making of the contract
at the port of departure, and in the assign
ment here, yet nevertheless. he soon be-
comes recognized by his employer and his
fellows by bis proper name, different one
from that assumed by him. The name
being secured We have clue by which TO
trace him in all his future residence here
Let every planter, and every person who
has received bonded laborers from the
Board be requested to send in the contract
name, and when it differs, the true name