The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-12-25
The Labor Question.

The Labor Question.
The return of the r.. w. Wood. as chronicled
above, conclusivcly settles the question that
South Sea Islanders are not procurable as laborers
or permanent settlers here, ut least under the
management Of the present Board Of Immigra-
ton. That the Board did not go to work in the
right manner, in the first instance, was manifest
to all; and TO expect success in any future efforts
made by it in the same way, is useless though
this last expedition was not undertaken by the
Board itself as principal. From all accounts,
Captain English deserves credit for the manner
in which he has conducted his part of the enter
prise; inasmuch rs he has not countenanced force
or deception. and all his dealings with the
islanders that he has visited have been fair and
honorable. The reports current among the South
Sea Islanders, that the missionaries at the Ha-
waiian Islands dc not endorse the system seem
to put n quietus on any further attempts, for
without their cooperation and a radical change
in the Board, il is idle to hope for success in that
quarter.
The question again presents ITSELF" WHERE
AND HOW SHALL LAEORERs BE oBTAINED?" for it is
admitted that we are dependent to some extent on
foreign help to carry ON our agricultural enter
prises. Some claim that China or Japan offer
the most available help, and on our own terms.
II this be 50, AMI If our laborers must be had
~there-gocd, bad or Indifferent, Us they may prove
to bet il easy to adopt terms which, while the
wants Of the planters are satisfied will be n COM
promise with conflicting industrial interests,
which are injured by the locating of coolies here
alter their terms of service expire. In the first
place the services of tire Board of Immigration,
as an importing agency, should be dispensed with,
and its duties restricted 10 a super r,sion Of labor
es rhIie IN serrioe. Next allow each planter or
his agent To procure all the laborcrs he may
require, under certain judicious regulations. and
under an improved form Of contract.
The idea thrown out by n writer some weeks
ago, apd promulgated IN one of the resolutions
of the Trades Association, that The coolies be
returned at the expiration of thar term of serrice
10 thar Olcn country, has been thought by some
to be practicable and if so. why not adopt it?
1t is said that the Chinese arc SO eager to migrate
that they are willing voluntarily to enter into
such IN engagement before leaving their country,
and that this clause insures an approval of their
emigration, by the Chinese local authorities.
The plan is this Every Chinese coolie coming
here engages to- serve five or moro years, the
to be made directly between him
and his employer or the authorized agent of the
latter, who agrees to see him returned to China,
whenever he declines to serve, but the laborer to
have the option to extend his contract to any
term Of years he may choose to remain here.
NOGhing but the introduction of this or some
similar clause, will save the country from being
ycrrun with the Mongolian race, which will in
|, ime drive away every skilled mechanic. 1t is al
developing this result: Fifteen years ago
there were several very good hotels here where ira
velers could obtain lodging; now these are closed
and supplanted by scores Of lin some cases disrepu-
tablc) Chinese boarIing-houscs. And ten years
hence, if this Asiatic coolie influx continues,
there Will not be n foreigl shoemaker in this
group, as this branch will be monopolized by the
Chinese. The same changes may take place in
other branches OF industry.
While the wants of the planters should be
cared for, the interests OF other classes must not
be sacrificed that one alone may prosper, however
great that may be. The recent public meetings
md discussions have shown the importance of
his question and how vitality it affects all classes.
il not be wise to listen to the laboring classes,
before they are compelled to take such action as
hall secure what they now quietly ask for?
One thing is settled-No MORE COOLIES CAN DE
NPoETED TO he THROWN on THE COMMUNITY WHEN
HEIR TERN or SERVICE EXPmEs. without doing
Iiolenec to public opinion. Some provision can
md must be adopted to guard against this, or
rouble will breed from it.
The British contracts, rs shown in the late
discussions, are much more liberal than these
in use here, and some Of their provisions, in
addition to that above referred to, might be in
in any new contracts adopted here.
We have not seen any OF the British contracts,
ut the New York Nation, Of June 10th, gives
he following outline
he engagement Of coolies for British colonies binds
he ~emigrant 10 work seven hours and n half daily
Dr. i've years from the time Of landing. and allows
i'm at least i've holidays yearly, besides Sundays
lie receives free passage, and food and clothing on
he voyage, four dollars wages for each calendar
lonth, 20 long as he is employed, daring the five
cars, and FREE food, house, garden-ground, and
'edical attendance. At any time during the first
ear he may, II he choose, arrange to be paid for
BY the task be then finds his own food and
but still has house. garden, and medical
tendance free The contract provides for making
fvances to him before sailing. and for paying regular
out Of wages. 10 friends in China He q
at liberty 10 cancel the agreement at the end Of =
ny one Of the i've years, ON paying back seventy
We dollars for the passage money, less fifteen dollars '
'r each year served out The means Of correspond
ig monthly with China free of expense is promised q
4 the contract. and he is encouraged to take out his ,
le and family, by the offer Of free passage to these,
'gether with q gift Of twenty dollars to the wife I
nd ave dollars to each child, TO provide comforts for s
be voyage. The women are entirely unfettered by
ny agreement. being left free 10 accept work or to .
tend to their own household duties and il Is
Epressly stipulated that families are not to be
The aloptim of these proyisiops uonld holm IN =,