The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1879-05-03

But the Fiji authorities profess to have satlsned
themselves that in the long ron Indian labor IS
cheaper than Polynesiau, even If the latter could De
depended upon to continue sufficient comparison
that was made some months ago showed that the
Indian would cost nearly e3 per annum more IMAM
I the Polynesian immigrant ut the then existing rate
1 Of wages for the latter, but that IL the wages OF the
Polynesiau we're raised to &c, as in Queensland-a
I contingency the planters dreaded-the lndian Wou!u
cost the same as the Polynesian. There IS very ltte
doubt that Indian coolies viii De found more lndus-
trious and intelligent servants than their dark
skinned brothers Of the Pacific, and 1t Is important
to notice that they will frequently remain long AFTER
their term Of industrial residence has expired, II
they are well treated. The experiment Will De
watched with interest"
We very decidedly question the statement that
Indian coolies '' will be found moro Industrious
and intelligent servants than their dark-skinned
brothers of the Pacific" According to Mr..
Horne's report at a public meeting last March,
1900 East Indians in Mauritius produce l2O,-
900 tons Of sugar a year. This is at the rate of
a ton and a half per man,-whereas in these
Islands we are accustomed to obtain about four
times that product per man, and that man a
Polynesian. Will any one acquainted with the
different races contend for one moment that as q
man the coolie is superior to the Hawaiian, the
Tahitian, the Rarotongan, the New Zealander, or
most Of the races OF Polynesia?
As q result Of the agitation in regard to former
abuses in the labor traffic il the South Seas, the
British Parliament, from a praiseworthy motive,
passed an act entitled " The Polynesian Island
ers' Protection Act" Sir Arthur Gordon holds
the appointment of High Commissioner for
Western Polynesia just what are mis- pre-
negatives under the Act we are not informed, as
we have never seen it in print but he appears
to have almost absolute authority as Governor of
a Crown Colony, and may and does prevent ves-
sells under the British flag from clearing at FIJI
in quest Of labor for foreign countries. Our own
experience is a case IN point. Some months
perhaps a year ago-a respectable mercantile
firm at LiVuka, FIJI, wrote to the Hawaiian
Minister of the Interior, stating that they had
had experience in procuring POlynesian laborers,
and having properly fitted vessels for the bust
ness they proposed to enter into an engagement
with this Government to bring any number for a
stipulated sum per man. The proposition was
fayorably entertained by this Government, and
an understanding was effected with the Livuka
firm, under certain precautionary rules and
regulations as to the mode of procuring the i'm
migrants, prescribed by this Government, and
which were such as would meet the approval of
the most jealous advocate Of the rights of man.
But after a long delay, our Government was in
formed by the FIJI firm that Governor Sir Arthur
Gordon had refused to allow them a permit or
license to engage POlynesian laborors for the
Hawaiian Islands.
The principal and influential planters of FIJI
have formed an Agricultural Association, which
meets periodically at Livuka, the capital, for the
purpose of protecting their own interests and
securing the advantages of combination in assert
ing their rights. The Association has formally
protested against many of the acts of Sir Arthur
Gordon regarding the Importation of Polynesian
labor, and the distractions to the business which
he has caused in order to substitute the importa-
ton of East Indian coolies. This policy he has
continued ever since his installation, some three
years ago, and now we hear of the chartering of
the first vessel for coolies to Fiji. His jurisdic-
ton however does not extend to New South
Wales, or other colonies, and vessels may be
cleared from those places for labor, subject only
to the regulations imposed by Act of Parliament.
This Government has as much right to engage
Polynesians to come here as laborers or immi-
grants as that of any other nation. There are
thousands of islands in this ocean densely popu-
lated with a race almost identical in their
physical characteristics with the Hawaiian-Our
object should be to civilize as well as to utilize
the Polynesians, thus advancing the interests of
humanity. This duty is imposed upon us by our
situation and by our civilization, and is rendered
feasible by our climate, soil and productions.
The ability is also ours. il we have but the will,
to discharge this evident duty to ourselves and
the Polynesians.