The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1872-10-02
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labor and Population.

OF the reforms necessary upon plantations IN
order to attract our native laborers one hardly
knows where to begin; but cannot do better
than to commence when the two parties to a Ia
Dor contract come together. In the first place
the nature Of the work to be performed should
be as clearly defined as the nature Of the case
viii permit; there should be no deceit used as to
the locality to which the laborer may be sent, for
al the very outset distrust viii be engendered 10
strengthen with lapse Of time. The wages Of
fezed should be as large as the enterprise will
warrant, and here Of course there will be diver
sity Of opinion.
Planters are pretty well agreed as to the cost
Of imported labor. A Chinaman or japanese
bound for four years will cost the plantation be-
tween fourteen aud fifteen dollars . month, and
we must believe that this cost is not considered
uuwarrauted from the fact that our labor seekers
turn to these sources for their supply with full
knowledge Of the outlay demanded.
1t is readily admitted that a Chinese or ia
panese Is nothing more than an apprentice for
the first year. UuaeclimatiEed. lacking intelli-
/ genoe aS TO orders given from want of means Of
communication, offer sufficient reasons to justify
the admission. We rust admit that they are
over-paii for the first years work or under-paid
for the three last. 1t must be very poor native
labor that is not worth as much as that of our
apprentice Chinese or japanese. and yet We re-
fuse to pay the native laborer, engaging for .
year or two, as much as We pay the foreigner.
-, IL L., T.
nese, after cost Of importation, demands an ex-
penditure Of at least nine dollars per month, this
Is predieated upon the suPposition that they de-
maDd rice, which they alEays do; If to this is
added the monthly pay Of SIX dolIars-the whole
will amount to fifteen, and this is exclusive Of
cost Of passage with interest on the same; while
the natives wages, food and lodging certainly
never exceeds twelve dollars per month. and l
believe have put il at very liberal figure. The
above figures are founded on personal observation
snd such information ascan be obtained from per
sons Of experience; one fact is always admitted:
That it costs less 10 feed and lodge the native labor
er. The locality Of the plsstatiOn will make some
difference as 10 cost but the average cost will be
found within the above estimates. When we
bargain for s native laborer for six dollars a
month, board and lodging We are not paving him
by four or five dollars month as much as We psy
the inexperienced foreigner, and nstives have
been quite recently shipped st this rate, although
seven dollars month is probably nearer the
amount generally paid, which makes against the
native from three to four dollars a month in IA
vor Of bis imported competitor. Is this just to
the Hawaiian
Having fixed upon the amount to be paid it is
the part Of wisdom to engage for short terms, not
over year, and to pay as little in advance as
possible. The system of advance is pernicious
one and is certainly not in favor with the planter
Doubtless the custom Of paying advances may be
traced to the practice in the case Of men ship
ping for whaling voyages, where it is perhaps ne
cessary in order that the seaman may provide
himself with an outfit. 1t is also excusable in
the case Of men shipping to work upon the
Guano Islands for the same reason; but it can
net be defended in reason or upon good common
sense grounds in the case Of plantation laborers,
for the market from which they may draw needed
supplies is near at hand at all times often times,
Is in the case OF plantation stores too near. 1t
is possible that two or three months Wages may
be required in advance by the man who desires
to work, but where more than this is demanded,
except in rare cases, It may be accepted that the
nan is reckless as to the future. He fancies or
is led to believe that he needs The larger amount
for which he viii give months Of the poorest
kind Of labor. IN fact be is 5 dyed in the wool
eyeservant-
Any action, legislative, or on the part Of plant
ers acting in concert. to do away With the sys-
ten Of advances viii go far towards bringing
about much desired condition Of sfairs. In
fact believe that the advance pay is the key to
the evils which We wish to assail.
It seems to ne that the underlying motive for
the demand for large advances is not with the
laborer, but with the shipping master. The larg-
a. the advance the largest his fee It is well
known that the shipping master in United States
ports, particularly in san Francisco carried mat
tiers with such high hand, demanding such ex-
crbitant advance and wages, that Congress has
al last inierfered and placed the whole business
in the hands Of regularly appointed commission
ers, fixing regular schedule Of fees, &c The
fee for shipping nan Is two dollars. oBe-tourth
Of which Is charged to the seaman The Law re-
gently enacted appointing agents to take acknOw-
Judgments to contracts. causing the sum advanced 4
to be paid TO the labOrer in the presence Of the 1
agent, &C. was 4 step in the right direction, only
its provisions should have been extended so as
to name the fee for shipping and fixing penalty !