The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-07-15
POlyuesian Labor in Queensland

Polynesian Labor in Queensland
Apropos OF the - nice pilikia = at present taxing
tbs ingenuity OF your sugar planters on the subject
Of the introduction OF ehesp labor. perhaps a few
lines concerning 4 eognste difficulty presenting itself
TO another class Of eulivators Of the sugar soil, may
prove somewhat Of interest to those . whom it may
concern"
In Queensland, Australia, a similar barrier exists
to the extension Of this industry as is found to mill
tate Agains, operations here. oueenslAnders have
made an endeavor to meet me difficulties of their
csse-an attempt partially attended with success.
Planters there, at the outset. experimental with
what Chinese labor they found already settled il the
country; bat this " help f" proved neither to have
the Recommendation Of c~beapness nor suitableness.
Bengalese. too, upon q small scale. were introduced,
but neither did they serve satisfactory to solve the
problem. Ultimately il was decided TO attempt the
importation Of POlyuesians.
What prosperity has attended sugar cultivation in
Queensland is solely TO be attributed TO the success
full carrying out of the scheme for recruiting South
Sea Island labor.
The Queensland government was careful 10 impose
stringent provisions for the due regulation Of this
traffic.
at was provided that no vessel could recruit labor
for Queensland except by and through an agent sp-
pointed by the government, that this agent must &C
company each ship, ana can bring only the nuInber
specified in his Instructions, that upon arrival he
shall produce certificates signed by 4 consul, mission
airy, or responsible person for each man landed. that
the islander had quite voluntarily signed an agree
ment which he perfectly understood. The agent
and all on board the ship were liable for breaches Of
this act, and the captain had to execute q bond. un-
der heavy penalties, that no attempt at kidnapping
should be made. Upon their arrival these laborers
we're put under the special supervision OF the i'm
migration Office and Of the police magistrates Of the
various districts they went TO. who had to see that
they were properly treated. A scale of rations,
clothes and of more than all necessaries was fixed
for their allowance; no man could be transferred
from one 10 another district without permission Of
these magistrates; and at the end OF three years
all had TO be returned to their homes, free of all
expenses and charges of any kind no deduction
from amount of their stipulated wages was allowed
upon any pr~otext." Ranken's Dominion of
Australia"
According to Anthony TrOllope the cost to the
sugar planter of these Polynesians is about e75
per head for the whole term OF three years;
Computed thus:
Journey out and back, paid by employer of man. -Gl5
Average cos. of getting man to plantation 3
Ration. Is. Cd. per week for three years. 50
PcsnE foss Of time by Illness, &C,
SIS
This is equal to about los. per week for the en-
tire term-white labor is rated at 25s. per week,
including rations; q South Sea Islander is estimated
by the Queensland planter as worth three white
men among the canes.
There exists q very strong prejudice amongst q
certain class both in the Colonies and at home
against the employment Of these Islanders. Cases
of kidnapping by interruptions adventures have,
of an occasion, been brought to light; and the
fussy philanthropist has at once, without regard
to truth or Justice, laid tho blame at the door of
the Queensland Government. The ~shrieking
fraternity, too, at Exeter Hall have raised the cry
of I" Queensland slavery" To all, however, who
have had any practical experience Of the working
of the system, this sentiment IS apparent:
Those most qualified TO form an opinion admit that
it is greatly to the ~wellbeing of the Islander him.
self, and forms the creation of an extensive indus
try which otherwise must flag.
They are sent back to their islands with their
hands full, in good health, and with reports of a
life far better than that which Providence has given
them at home. 1t is on the reports of these men
that new contracts are now made, and it is by the
experience thus gained that they who have served
for one term of three years are induced to return
for another term"-Anthony Trollope.
While the present writer was in Queensland an
experiment was instituted on the importation Of n
limited number of the "fair sex''(O of Polynesia
for the purposes of 81 domestis utility as a re-
source against the tyranny of white servant
galism.'' These swahines'' have the reputation
of making elegant (the g snperative degree
with Americans) as helps"
Would it not be possible for Hawaiian sugar
planter and Hawaiian Legislator alike to find
solution OF the difficulties which beset each in
regard to the population question: by a well
organized plan,,' for the importation of both
sexes of the South Sea Islanders? Yours, &C.,
HAoLE.