The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1877-06-23


economical than 6rewood. This being the case
in this particular instance, we think that the
owners and managers of plantations would do
well to take this matter into their consideration.
Any saving Of the standing timber Of these
Islands is a matter Of paramount Importance,
and it would be a great gain for the remaining
forests, if they could be spared the drain upon
them arising out OF the heavy consumption of
6rewood upon our plantations. Since it appears
that coal is equally as economical, it is highly
desirable for our plantation owners and mana
gers 20 look into the matter, so as TO ascertain by
experiment whether, without any prejudice to
their own interests, they may not find it posi-
bic to save our sadly decreased woods and forests,
so essential to the fertility of the soil, as we hold,
from the enormous annual drain upon them for
the supply of frewood to the plantations.
TEE LABOR QUESTION at present occupies so
prominent q place in the eyes of the public,
that a few remarks upon this subject from an
especial point of view may not be inappropriate.
We propose to make some suggestions upon the
systems employed towards laborers on the plan
tations.
Experience proves that on some plantations,
Z 10 III NlnSdllJ nHoACftI III OOtdiilbS
hands, where labor is abundant whereas, on
other plantations, it is often quite the reverse.
1t is very natural to enquire what is the cause of
this difference. Without intending to offend
any of the employers of labor on the plantations
by inyidious reflections, we believe that we may
explain the case by stating that the system of
treatment Of laborers by the managers of plan
tations is at the bottom of it. The native Ha-
waiian is as tractable as q child, when fairly and
kindly treated but, on the other hand, he is
VIGOROUSLY obnoxious to be . driven - by undue
authority, in a severe and high-handed manner.
Perhaps no race under the sun exhibits more
sturdiness of character in this respect than the
Hawaiian and we are disposed to think that it
is a special trait of character by no means to be
condemned or found fault with. The Hawaiian
may justly feel proud that servility is not his
natural Characteristic. He yields at once to
kindliness, but is the very last man to submit to
what he may consider as undue authority. Now,
1t is doubtless owing to a want of understand
ing and appreciation of the real character of Ha-
waiians, that so much difficulty is encountered
by some managers of plantations to ''ship"
hands, as they say themselves, and to keep the Ia
borers on their plantations satisfied. The fault
is really their own. They want tact. They do
not possess that knowledge of the Hawaiian
character which is required in persons who I'M
dertake to direct and control the will Of others.
They say to themselves these Hawaiians have
no mind, they are mere machines, and we must
try and knock as much work out of them as we
can. Adopting this view of the people employ
ed, they set to work to 90 drive - them, and then
come the difficulties. Where a little kindliness
would at once influence their Hawaiian laborers,
and make them the most willing of working
people, a harsh and unduly authoritative man
ner at once sets their entire batch Of Hawa-
ian laborers against them, and the result is that
the employer generally finds in the long run that
he has the worst of it, very naturally in our
opinion, the fault being entirely his own from
the very beginning. On the other hand, when
the plantation manager is kindly and friendly
towards his Hawaiian laborers, it is astonishing
how little trouble he has to get along with them
satisfactorily for both sides.
Some plantation managers have adopted
a particular system, which they say
that they find to work admirably. 1t is
what is known amongst the Hawaiian laborers
as the uku pau system, for which the old English
acceptation of the word, Z" stint " still IN vogue
in New England, and meaning an allotted task,
is a good rendering. By this system of :" STINT
the manager of the plantation lays out what he
considers a fair days work for his hands, and
then says to them as soon as you have done so
much as l have fixed for the days work, you are
free to knock off, and go about your own business.
The result is, that the laborers turn in with a
heart and a will, and get through their days
work often-times at two or three O'Clock in the
afternoon, thus securing for themselves a few
leisure hours in the day for their own interests
and bodily and mental culture, the advantage of
which from a moral, social, and religious point
of view can not be over estimated. Whereas,
in those plantations where the manager adopts
the g driving - system, although his men are at
the work from sunrise to sunset-it really often
happens that he does not with all his 6 driving
get relatively speaking by any means as good a
days work out of his laborers as the manager
who is kindly towards them, and adopts the
tku pau or " stint - system for the days work.
Recent conversations with some of the most
intelligent managers on plantations has induced
US to enter into the foregoing remarks and we
believe that the adoption of this system is well
calculated to remove q great deal of the trouble
and annoyance that results in consequence of
plantation managers being blind to the true
character of the Hawaiian race, so easily man
aged by kindness, but so intractable and discon-
tented when unduly pushed.
The LATEST NEWS, by the steamer from Aus
tralia, is not of so important a nature as might
have been expected. So far the " Eastern war -
has not become general. Russia and Turkey
still continue to be the sole belligerents on the